Written by Brett Korpi
Chestnut Hill, MA – On a wet fall afternoon, during homecoming weekend, the Boston College Eagles let a conference victory slip through their fingers against their rival, the Syracuse Orange. The loss puts the Eagles record at 3-4 and 0-4 in the ACC. It was their 12th ACC loss in row.
The Eagles missed opportunities began early in the first quarter. Defensive back Will Harris intercepted Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey and ran it back 60 yards into Orange territory. At the end of the play, there was some extracurricular action and flags were thrown. A personal foul against Syracuse gave the ball to the Eagles in the red zone. They were unable to capitalize and settled for a Mike Knoll field goal.
Syracuse (4-4, 2-2) answered with two touchdowns as Dungey, who had 434 yards passing and three touchdowns, connected with receiver Ervin Phillips twice. Once a backward pass for a three yard rushing touchdown and again for a 10 yard strike that Phillips made a spectacular play to keep his foot in the end zone.
Myles Willis would respond with an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown, to reduce the Eagles’ deficit to 14-10 to end the first half.
Halfway through the third quarter the Eagles were in the red zone when they missed their next opportunity when Mike Wallace was unable to hang on to quarterback Patrick Towles’s pass and it popped into the waiting hands of Orange linebacker Paris Bennett, spoiling the drive. Syracuse would capitalize when Dungey would connect with wide receiver Steven Ishmael for a 11-yard touchdown.
Boston College would come back to make it 21-17 on the second play from scrimmage when Towles play faked and took off for a 75-yard touchdown. The play ended up hurting the Eagles though as Towles would pull his hamstring and after attempting to play, he would eventually sit out the rest of the game.
After three and out, the Eagles were in prime position to take over the game in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Darius Wade and running back Davon Jones, who made his first career start and had 66 yards on 14 carries, led the Eagles down the field. But unable to accurately get a passing game going, the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal to make it a one-point game at 21-20.
However, Dungey would strike again hitting wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo, who had 10 catches for 144 yards, for 68 yards to give the Orangemen a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, even though they gave Boston College another chance to get back into the game.
With 7 minutes left in the game, Dungey would fumble when hit by defensive end Wyatt Ray. The Eagles would continue to have trouble moving the ball through the air and their chances would officially end when Wade would overthrow wide receiver Charlie Calinan in the end zone.
The Eagles will try to get the ACC monkey off their back when they travel to face off against N.C. State next week.
The Eagles missed opportunities began early in the first quarter. Defensive back Will Harris intercepted Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey and ran it back 60 yards into Orange territory. At the end of the play, there was some extracurricular action and flags were thrown. A personal foul against Syracuse gave the ball to the Eagles in the red zone. They were unable to capitalize and settled for a Mike Knoll field goal.
Syracuse (4-4, 2-2) answered with two touchdowns as Dungey, who had 434 yards passing and three touchdowns, connected with receiver Ervin Phillips twice. Once a backward pass for a three yard rushing touchdown and again for a 10 yard strike that Phillips made a spectacular play to keep his foot in the end zone.
Myles Willis would respond with an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown, to reduce the Eagles’ deficit to 14-10 to end the first half.
Halfway through the third quarter the Eagles were in the red zone when they missed their next opportunity when Mike Wallace was unable to hang on to quarterback Patrick Towles’s pass and it popped into the waiting hands of Orange linebacker Paris Bennett, spoiling the drive. Syracuse would capitalize when Dungey would connect with wide receiver Steven Ishmael for a 11-yard touchdown.
Boston College would come back to make it 21-17 on the second play from scrimmage when Towles play faked and took off for a 75-yard touchdown. The play ended up hurting the Eagles though as Towles would pull his hamstring and after attempting to play, he would eventually sit out the rest of the game.
After three and out, the Eagles were in prime position to take over the game in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Darius Wade and running back Davon Jones, who made his first career start and had 66 yards on 14 carries, led the Eagles down the field. But unable to accurately get a passing game going, the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal to make it a one-point game at 21-20.
However, Dungey would strike again hitting wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo, who had 10 catches for 144 yards, for 68 yards to give the Orangemen a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, even though they gave Boston College another chance to get back into the game.
With 7 minutes left in the game, Dungey would fumble when hit by defensive end Wyatt Ray. The Eagles would continue to have trouble moving the ball through the air and their chances would officially end when Wade would overthrow wide receiver Charlie Calinan in the end zone.
The Eagles will try to get the ACC monkey off their back when they travel to face off against N.C. State next week.