Syracuse Brings a Storm to Boston College

Story by Kelsey Snider

Photos by Bridget Chavez

CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. – On a gloomy, rainy day at Alumni Stadium, Syracuse University and Boston College lined up against on Saturday each other looking for a ray of sunshine.

The game was sloppy in every way but Syracuse Orange (4-4, 2-2 ACC) found that ray, gaining its second Atlantic Coast Conference win against the Eagles (3-4, 0-4 ACC).

“We had mistakes," Syracuse’s head coach Dino Babers said. "We weren’t perfect, but we’re human and we’re excited to be at .500 again,”

"I thought we competed hard," BC head coach Steve Addazio said, "and I think we can see where there's opportunity for us as we -- it's like we percolate and hit it and then we have a penalty and we do this and do this and then we drop. It's our job to smooth that out, develop that, keep that going positively in the right direction and continue to grow."

First quarter: rough start, defining moment

Both the Orange and the Eagles came out aggressive without much discipline. The Eagles started off with a personal foul on the first play from scrimmage giving the Orange a first down at the SU 30-yard line. Following that, Syracuse had two false start penalties. 

The moment which defined this game was an interception by the Eagles' William Harris for a 64-yard return to the Orange’s 29-yard line. Syracuse’s quarterback Eric Dungey made the tackle and threw Williams to the ground well out of bounds, then shoved another Boston College defender who was standing over him. That started a brawl. Both teams received penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and Dungey was penalized individually.

"Well, it wasn't frustration," Dungey said after the game. "I was trying to finish the tackle. I get tackled all the time, so when I get a chance to tackle, I was trying to tackle him. Some guy is standing over me talking smack, and I just tried to get him off me, and then one thing led to another."
 
 "I told him that his job is to get the guy down, not to hit him like a middle linebacker because he needs to preserve himself," Babers said. "He did a great job in stopping the touchdown. That's what he's supposed to do, and then after that he needs to protect himself." 

Asked if he thought Dungey should have been ejected, Addazio said "I can't speak to any of that. I wasn't out there. I think there's some stuff on the video that will need to be addressed on that play. Some stuff went down over there that I could see myself, and that's going to be addressed over there."

The Orange defense held and Mike Knoll connected on a field goal from the 30-yard line, giving Boston College a 3-0 lead with 11:37 left in the first quarter.

Orange drives

Dungey had three complete passes to Steve Ishmael and then a rush of eight yards to get to Boston College’s 12-yard line on the next possession. A holding penalty by the Eagles put the Orange at the BC six-yard line. SU’s wide receiver Ervin Phillips received a backwards pass from Dungey to get the first touchdown of the game. The Orange led 7-3.

Syracuse stopped BC three-and-out and Dungey completed passes to wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo putting SU at Boston College’s 10-yard line. But Dungey fumbled on the next play, and the Eagles stopped what looked like a certain Syracuse score. 

Boston College did not score again in the first and Syracuse held the lead, 7-3.

Second Quarter: Orange strikes, Eagles respond

The second quarter was much like the first - back-and-forth. 

Syracuse started its first drive at its own 20, about two minutes in. The Orange drove to the Eagles 10-yard line and Dungey completed a pass to Phillips for the touchdown making the score 14-3. 

The Orange celebration didn't last long. 

The Eagles running back Myles Willis ran the kickoff back 89 yards bringing Boston College right back within four points, trailing SU 14-10. It was Willis’ third career TD on a kickoff return.

That turned out to be the halftime score.

Third quarter: a touchdown each

It was a slow start for both teams starting the second half of the game but the Eagles looked to be on track to take the lead as they drove to the Syracuse 20-yard line with  4:29 left in the quarter.

But Syracuse linebacker Parris Bennett intercepted  a pass intended for BC wide receiver Michael Walker. The pass from quarterback Patrick Towles got to Walker, but he bobbled the ball and Bennett grabbed it and ran for seven yards to the Syracuse 14.

Syracuse drove 53 yards for a TD. Dungey's pass to Etta-Tawo gained 33, putting the Orange in scoring range. Dungey then connected with  Steve Ishmael for an 11-yard touchdown pass. The Orange led the Eagles 21–10.

Just as in the second quarter, Boston College did not give Syracuse much time to celebrate. After an incomplete pass, Towles ran 75-yards around left end with a terrific bit of deception.The last play of the third put the Eagles again within four points of the Orange at 21–17.

Fourth quarter: Orange seals it at last

Syracuse started the fourth quarter with a complete pass to Etta-Tawo for 11-yards. This pass would put Etta-Tawo in the company of three other Syracuse players who have over 1,000 receiving yards for a single season. But Syracuse did not score.

Boston College did on its first drive with a 39-yard field goal bringing the Eagles within one point of Syracuse, 21-20.

But Dungey and Etta-Tawo connected again for what turned out to be a game-sealing 68-yard touchdown pass. It was Etta-Tawo’s tenth reception for 144 yards in the game.

“He’s brought so much spark and energy to this team,” Dungey said. “He made a great catch. Guy holding his arm like all season. He did a great job and he knows how to use that speed.”

Boston College had one last shot, driving to the Syracuse 14 with Darius Wade at QB. But Josh Black sacked him at the 25 and on fourth down he threw high over Charlie Callinan in the back of the end zone.

Syracuse ran out the clock.

Looking ahead:

Syracuse has a bye week before heading to Death Valley to face Clemson on Nov, 5. Boston College will next face NC State on Oct. 29.