Syracuse football dominates Boston College in final regular season matchup
SU football defeats Boston College in final regular-season game
After a disappointing loss last week against No. 3 Notre Dame, Syracuse was able to come back and play one of their best games of the year against a solid 7-5 Boston College team and win 42-21.
Quarterback Eric Dungey, who was a game-time decision because of a back injury he suffered in last week’s loss, scored the six Syracuse touchdowns, running for three and throwing for three. The six touchdowns are a career-high for the senior QB playing his final regular-season game.
“It feels great — BC is one of the most physical teams we go against,” Dungey said after the game. “Coach (Babers) kept telling us it’s time to be physical, and I think today we were the most physical team out there today.”
After both teams missed field goals in their opening possessions, the Eagles managed to put together a great drive going down the field, even converting a fourth down in the process, until Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown hit Jake Burt for the game’s first points.
However, Syracuse reacted in just one play when Dungey took advantage of a blown coverage by the Boston defense and found Sean Riley for a 75-yard touchdown.
That touchdown sparked the Orange, because in the ensuing kickoff kicker Sterling Hofrichter forced and recovered a fumble, which gave the offense great field position. Dungey capped off the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown that gave Syracuse a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
After a Boston College three and out, Syracuse scored again to make the score 21-7. Both teams traded another touchdown and the Orange led 28-14 at the half.
Syracuse started with the ball in the second half, but BC defensive back Taj-Amir Torres took advantage of a late throw by Dungey and intercepted a pass, setting the Eagles at Syracuse’s 31 yard-line. They capitalized with a touchdown to cut Syracuse’s lead to 7.
After the offense stumbled, Syracuse punted the ball and BC had a chance to tie the game. That’s when Orange safety Trill Williams intercepted a deep throw and gave the ball back to Syracuse. Syracuse scored again and put the game away for good.
“We’ve been through a lot, I’m kind of at a loss for words,” said Dungey after the game. “It feels good, but the most important thing is the win.”
It was the Orange’s ninth win, the most since the 2001 season. As a matter of fact, this Orange team only won 8 combined games in the previous two seasons.
“I really had faith that this group of guys was different,” Head Coach Dino Babers said. “I’ve only been on five teams that’ve won 10 games or more. I haven’t been in programs like USC, Ohio State or Alabama, so to not be one of those schools and have an opportunity to win 10 games is something special, and we have that opportunity.”
Syracuse will find out what bowl they’re in and who they’ll face first next Sunday, Dec 2. It’ll be the first bowl for the team since a 2013 Texas Bowl win, when the team finished 7-6. However, this year they’ll play a bowl as a ranked team for the first time since 2001.
is a contributor at The NewsHouse.
