On Friday night, Boston College Football emerged triumphant in a defensive battle, defeating Syracuse 17-10.
Heading into the game, the major storyline surrounded the unexpected absence of Syracuse QB1 Garret Shrader, who was sidelined with an undisclosed injury during pregame warmups. This absence dealt a blow to an already struggling Orange offense, particularly in the passing game, which Syracuse essentially abandoned.
Boston College received the opening kickoff but failed to convert it into points. Despite a promising start to the drive with two quick completions to Jaden Williams, Castellanos threw two consecutive poorly executed passes that should have been intercepted. Nevertheless, the Eagles made a deliberate effort to attack the underneath areas of Syracuse’s 3-3-5 defense and sustain drives through quick, short throws and the run game. On the other hand, Syracuse employed a fast-paced offense and a heavy dose of designed QB runs to advance the ball. However, their first drive came to an end when Del Rio-Wilson threw an interception to CJ Clinkscales. Boston College capitalized on the turnover and managed to get into the red zone, but ultimately settled for a field goal after an incomplete pass on 3rd and goal. Surprisingly, the Eagles deviated from their dominant run game in the first quarter and attempted to rejuvenate their passing game. Syracuse scored the first touchdown of the game on a 27-yard run up the middle, concluding a 4-play, 65-yard drive highlighted by two significant gains on the ground.
In the second quarter, Boston College stuck to their quick-strike gameplan, relying on screen passes and a run-heavy offensive strategy. However, the turnover bug struck again when Castellanos fumbled a handoff to Robichaux, allowing Syracuse to recover. Fortunately, Boston College’s defense effectively countered the struggling Orange passing game and garnered a crucial stop. They followed it up with an Elijah Jones interception in the endzone on Syracuse’s subsequent possession. This interception finally provided the much-needed spark for the offense, leading to a grinding 18-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. The Eagles successfully converted twice on 4th and short situations, consistently overcoming the challenges posed by Syracuse’s defensive line. Castellanos capped off the drive with a quick completion to linebacker Owen McGowan, granting the Eagles a 10-7 lead. Despite a quick Syracuse drive that nearly put them in field goal range, thanks to a roughing the passer penalty, the Orange missed a 57-yard field goal attempt. Ultimately, Boston College held onto their 3-point lead heading into halftime.
As the second half commenced, the Eagle defense showcased their strong performance by stopping Syracuse on their opening drive. Edwin Kolenge secured BC’s initial sack of the game. Offensively, both teams struggled for most of the third quarter, with BC experiencing several slow-moving drives that were thwarted, including a pivotal 4th and 1 stop by the Orange defense on their own 30-yard line. Entering the fourth quarter, Boston College held onto a slim 10-7 advantage, but Syracuse posed a threat by advancing to BC’s 30-yard line following a 56-yard rush by LeQuint Allen. At the start of the fourth quarter, Syracuse tied the game at 10 with a field goal. In response, Boston College found themselves victim to another turnover when Robichaux was on the receiving end of a massive helmet-to-helmet hit that somehow evaded targeting. Syracuse successfully recovered the ensuing fumble.
However, the turnovers didn’t matter. Elijah Jones had other plans. He collected his second interception of the game, forcefully snatching the ball away from the receiver, reigniting the Eagles’ momentum. The momentum carried over when Sam Candotti converted a fake punt on fourth and medium, keeping BC’s drive alive with nine minutes remaining. However, Syracuse managed to recover once again and force a punt, allowing them to keep the game tied with seven minutes left on the clock. The Eagles’ offense appeared disjointed throughout the game, committing multiple turnovers and Castellanos making several throws that could have easily resulted in additional turnovers. But as the clock ticked down, BC finally found their rhythm for only the second drive of the game. The run game answered the call, allowing BC to maintain their advantage, and Tommy Touchdowns rushed in for a crucial Eagles touchdown. With less than three minutes remaining, BC secured a 17-10 lead.
The game was effectively sealed when Cole Batson intercepted the ball, marking the Eagles’ fourth interception of the game. Despite their offensive struggles and a slow start, Boston College emerged victorious. The Path is still alive.
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