Syracuse football (4-4, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) returns to the Dome on Friday to take on Boston College (5-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Orange haven’t played a game on the Hill in over a month. Coincidentally, SU’s loss to Clemson on September 30th spurred a four-game losing streak that the ‘Cuse have yet to break.
Syracuse’s and Boston college are on two completely different trajectories. The Orange started the season with four straight wins before conference play handed SU four-straight losses. On the other hand, the Eagles opened up the season with an overtime loss to Northern Illinois and barely eked out a win against FCS Holy Cross. However, BC has righted the ship, securing two conference wins in the process.
The difference between both sides lies in the offense, specifically the passing game. Boston College is led by sophomore quarterback Thomas Castellanos. The Eagle’s signal caller is a dual threat, leading the team in both passing and rushing yards. Boston College radio analyst Scott Mutryn spoke highly of Castellanos on WAER’s Ostrom Avenue Podcast.
“I like to call him an eraser,” Mutryn said. “Because he’s able to erase a lot of mistakes, he’s able to erase people if they run the wrong route, if they miss a block, if the defense has great coverage or sends pressure. He’s able to erase it with his ability to never let a play die.”
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The spark that Castellanos had provided to BC’s passing attack has lifted the Eagles from their early season woes. On the flip side, Syracuse’s passing game has ground to a halt. The Orange went from averaging 44.25 points per game through their first four, to just 8.5 over the last four. SU quarterback Garrett Shrader hasn’t cracked the 200 passing yards mark since the ‘Cuse’s skid began in September. Head coach of the Orange, Dino Babers, spoke about SU’s lack of passing success in Syracuse’s most recent matchup with Virginia Tech.
“To throw the football a lot of things have to go right,” said Babers. “There was just too much pressure, not enough guys open at certain times and decisions need to be faster.”
Babers spent the bye week before SU’s matchup with Virginia tech claiming that the Orange’s offense would reappear against the lesser on the schedule. That didn’t happen on the last go-around. The good news for the ‘Cuse is that Boston College hasn’t been stellar on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles allow just over 28 points per game, putting them eleventh in the ACC.
Syracuse football can end the slide on Friday against Boston College. You can tune into the game on WAER. Coverage from the original home of the Orange starts at 7 p.m. with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff.