Boston College dominates on ground, upends Syracuse 37-31

Syracuse football found itself in a familiar position against Boston College Saturday: down two scores in the first quarter. It’s the same spot SU was in when it failed to battle back against Pittsburgh two weeks ago and last week when it charged back to beat Virginia Tech.

Ultimately, the Orange (6-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied to take a third quarter lead, but the Eagles (5-4, 2-3 ACC) — backed by 313 ground yards — scored 23 of the game’s final 33 points and prevailed 37-31.

It was another slow start for the ’Cuse, which fell behind 17-0 against the Panthers and 14-0 against the Hokies in its two previous first quarters. Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Boston College got out to a 14-0 lead. Running back Kye Robichaux struck on a 34-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter, then quarterback Thomas Castellanos found receiver Lewis Bond for a nine-yard score in the second. While the Eagles ran 14 times for 108 yards in the first 15 minutes, SU’s offense mostly sputtered.

“I’ve got to figure that out,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said postgame. “We’ve got to do something different in practice to get guys to want to start faster.”

Just like it did last week, Syracuse’s offense found its groove in the middle of the game. The Orange tied the game in the final seven minutes before halftime on a one-handed touchdown snare from tight end Oronde Gadsden II and a three-yard score by running back LeQuint Allen. Gadsden led all SU receivers with eight catches.

Out of the break, the Orange defense strung together its best defensive series of the day. The SU defensive line stuffed two BC runs before linebacker Justin Barron sacked Castellanos, who hobbled off the field for good.

Syracuse continued its offensive momentum on the ensuing drive and the Orange charged 59 yards downfield in just over four minutes. The ’Cuse took its first and only lead of the game when Allen capped the drive with his second rushing score to make it 21-14 Syracuse.

But that lead hardly lasted. BC needed just three plays — all handoffs to Robichaux — to complete a three-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by the senior’s second score. And the Eagles didn’t stop there. Donovan Ezeiruaku, BC’s star defensive end, strip-sacked McCord on SU’s next possession and the ball was kicked through the end zone for a safety. Then Boston College — with backup quarterback Grayson James in the game — marched 67 yards in 12 plays and extended its lead on running back Jordan McDonald’s 13-yard touchdown. In a matter of less than eight minutes of game time, Syracuse went from up seven points to down nine.

“They were doing something different,” SU linebacker Marlowe Wax said of BC’s ground attack. “They have bigger [offensive] lineman and they were doing a really good job moving.”

In the fourth quarter, BC continued to dominate SU on the ground. The Orange cut the deficit to two points after wideout Darrell Gill Jr. hauled in his second touchdown of the season. Aided by a facemask penalty against Barron, the Eagles entered the SU red zone on the next drive with five runs and two passes.

With just under seven minutes left, BC faced a fourth-and-1 at the SU 18-yard line. Syracuse, expecting a run, loaded the line of scrimmage. But when James took the snap, he faked the handoff to Robichaux and instead pulled the ball back before lofting a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremiah Franklin.

“[BC head coach Bill] O’Brien outcoached me there,” Brown said. “In that situation, he had a fourth, fifth and sixth plan, and I obviously wasn’t ready for that.”

After a turnover on downs, SU forced a BC punt, but settled for a 29-yard field goal on the next drive. With just over a minute left and only one timeout remaining, the Orange had no choice but to try an onsides kick.

Kicker Brady Denaburg sent the ball skipping along the turf, then it took one high bounce into Gill’s hands. But, as the Orange celebrated their newfound chance to drive for the lead a flag flew. Officials rule that Syracuse’s Fadil Diggs engaged a block against Robichaux before the kick made it 10 yards, and the Orange were forced to re-kick. They did, and the Eagles recovered to emerge with a six-point win.

“They made a call, so we went with the call,” Brown said. “They said we blocked early so I guess we blocked early.”

The loss marks the second in three weeks for Syracuse, which drops to 5-6 against Boston College since 2014. BC’s 313 rush yards also marked the most allowed in a game by SU this season, shattering the previous mark of 262 by Ohio in Week 1.

Brown’s analysis was succinct. “We were not physical enough,” Syracuse’s first-year head coach said.