Syracuse’s struggles continue as the Orange fall to Boston College
SU’s struggles continue as the Orange falls to BC
SU football lost its fifth game in a row for the second straight season.
For the first time in over a month, Syracuse football was back at the JMA Wireless Dome after three straight away games. Despite sophomore running back LeQuint Allen setting a new career high with 142 rushing yards, turnovers and costly penalties limited offensive momentum as Boston College defeated Syracuse 17-10.
Syracuse has now dropped its last five matchups in a row, all of them against ACC schools, after winning the first four of the year.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard first with just under five minutes left in the opening quarter after a Liam Connor 24-yard field goal. Syracuse responded with its only touchdown of the game as redshirt sophomore quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who started in place of the injured senior Garrett Shrader, kept the ball himself and walked into the endzone from 27 yards out.
The lead would be short-lived, as with just 48 seconds remaining in the first half, Owen McGowan caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Castellanos that allowed the Eagles to go into halftime with a 10-7 lead.
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the game was at halftime, when Orange alumni Dwight Freeney was honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. During the ceremony, Syracuse athletics announced Freeney’s number 54 jersey would be retired and sent to the rafters during a game next season.
“No words can describe how honored I am,” said Freeney. “There’s so many great players in those rafters.”
The ceremony’s momentum lifted the Orange to tie the game at 10 on a Brady Denaburg 36-yard field goal 42 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Still, turnovers continued haunting Syracuse as Boston College took its time marching down the field late in the game. Castellanos would polish the game off with a seven-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter as Boston College held on for its sixth win of the season.
“Extremely disappointed with the outcome,” said head coach Dino Babers. “It was a game that we felt like we had an opportunity to win. We were in it all the way until late, and the score was close enough for us to capitalize on that. Just didn’t make enough plays out there. There were plays to be made, and we didn’t make them. Too many turnovers [as well].”
“They [the offensive line] did a hell of a job today,” said Allen. “We came up short, but I feel for those guys. They played their hearts out today, and I was just following behind them.”
Allen’s career day of 142 yards was on just 18 carries, he averaged 7.9 yards per carry. Only being a sophomore, it was a great step forward for him to be able to put the weight of the offense on his shoulders.
Sitting under .500 for the first time all season, Syracuse will look to respond next week when it takes on Pitt at Yankee Stadium in the 100th anniversary of a college football game being played in the iconic baseball venue. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
is a sports reporter for The NewsHouse.
is a photographer for The NewsHouse.