A quick take on Syracuse’s extremely long day in being manhandled by Boston College 58-27 Saturday afternoon at the Dome:
WHAT HAPPENED: Syracuse (3-6, 0-5) saw its postseason hopes all but officially extinguished, now having to sweep its final three games to achieve bowl eligibility. The ‘Cuse simply had no answer for stopping Boston College’s offense in the first 30 minutes (484 yards), as BC (5-4, 3-3) set a Dome record with the most points ever scored by an opponent in the first half of a game with its 44 point barrage (Wake Forest had 40 second half points in 2017). Despite two turnovers contributing 10 points, the season-long conundrums of not enough pass protection for Tommy DeVito to get a consistent passing game in rhythm, and sloppy penalties shooting momentum in their own orange feet, doomed SU from even having the opportunities to score enough points to stay competitive. DeVito hit Trishton Jackson with an 85-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, career-highs for both players.
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ANALYSIS: The game’s momentum changed for good quickly after four leads changes in the first quarter plus. The Orange went three and out after being backed up to their 12-yard line midway through the second quarter following an unnecessary, unnecessary roughing penalty on a touchback kickoff by reserve tight end Ben Honis. BC then scored on four its next five possessions, 34 points in all, including dazzling long touchdown runs by spectacular tailbacks AJ Dillon and David Bailey of 51 and 74 yards, respectively. Not to be outdone, BC also scored on two 50-yard pass plays from quarterback Dennis Grosel in the first half after catching the SU defense creeping towards the line to stop the run game.
HERO: That football stampede thumping on the Dome carpet was BC’s stellar “Buffalo Boys” duo of the hulking Dillon and Bailey. Most impressive was Bailey’s 172 yards on 16 carries, including the 74-yard gallop in the second quarter, Dillon simply did what he does best, wear a defense down the more he carries the ball in setting the school’s all-time career rushing mark. The junior, likely NFL bound, finished with 242 yards logging 35 carries and three touchdowns.
ZERO: It is really tough to pile on the Orange and coaching staff after this performance, including giving up the most rushing yards to an opponent in a game – BC’s 496 yards on the ground. It was inevitable that after the Eagles scored their third quarter touchdown there would be a mass exodus of the majority of the building patrons, leaving a scant crowd inside for the fourth quarter.
WHAT’S NEXT: An off week, the second of two open weeks this season with no game scheduled on Nov. 9. Syracuse next returns to action on Nov. 16 at Duke. This will be the second all-time appearance for the Orange at 90-year old Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., the other game occurring in 1939, the stadium’s 11th season. Game Time and TV coverage are to be announced by the ACC on Mon., Nov. 4.
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