Boston College 17, Syracuse 10: #ThePath continues and the Eagles are going bowling
Boston College grabbed their sixth win of the season to clinch a bowl game Friday night at Syracuse to continue The Path. It wasn't the prettiest game for the Eagles but they pulled out the win to grab their fifth straight victory and their third ACC win.
BC had four interceptions, two of which came from Elijah Jones. CJ Clinkscales got the Eagles' first one of the day on Cuse's opening drive which BC later capitalized on with a field goal.
The Orange took their first lead in over a month, however, after the two sides traded punts -- Carlos Del Rio-Wilson took a 27-yard run into the end zone that gave Syracuse the 7-3 lead late in the first quarter.
After a BC fumble and another trade of three-and-out drives to begin the second quarter, with Jones grabbing his first interception of the night. They then followed that up with a 19-play, near eight-minute drive that drained the first half clock all the way down into the final minute before Thomas Castellanos made a two-yard touchdown pass to Owen McGowan that put BC up 10-7.
It looked as if Syracuse could tie it going into the half, but Brady Denaburg missed a tough 57-yard kick that kept the Eagles out in front going into the half. After an uneventful third quarter, Denaburg would redeem himself however with a 36-yard field goal that tied it at 10-10 early in the fourth.
Syracuse continued the momentum, as Kye Robichaux caught a pass from Castellanos over the middle and fumbled the ball after a big hit -- but, Jones literally ripped the ball out of the receivers hands three plays into the drive for his second pick of the night. Sam Candotti on the following drive pulled off a fake punt in his own territory, but the drive was to no avail as he later ended up punting.
With six minutes left, BC got the ball back -- and it was then that TC and Co. pieced together an 11-play, 71-yard (3:36) game-winning drive that was capped off by a seven-yard rushing score by Castellanos that put the Eagles out in front 17-10. Syracuse had a chance to tie with plenty of time still on the clock, but Del Rio-Wilson threw his fourth pick of the night to Cole Batson that sealed the victory for the Eagles.
BC takes on Virginia Tech at home next week, but Virginia Tech beating Louisville tomorrow is crucial for #ThePath to the ACC championship.