Postgame Notes: Syracuse 28, BC 20

Boston College (3-4, 0-4 ACC) vs. Syracuse (4-4, 2-2 ACC)
Alumni Stadium | Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Oct. 22, 2016

Team

Syracuse defeated Boston College 28-20 on Homecoming Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
Syracuse leads the series, 31-19. The Eagles are 13-11 all-time at home against SU and have won three of the last five meetings at Alumni Stadium.
For the fourth time in the last five meetings, the game was decided by 10 points or less.

Offense

For the second time this season, the Eagles recorded over 200 yards rushing (223). BC gained a season-high 258 yards on the ground against Buffalo on Oct. 1.
Graduate QB Patrick Towles rushed for a career-high 104 yards, including his fourth rushing touchdown of the season to end the third quarter on a career-long, 75-yard run.
Redshirt sophomore QB Darius Wade entered the game in the fourth quarter for an injured Patrick Towles (hamstring),, going 3-for-6 for 19 passing yards.
Sophomore WR Michael Walker set a career-high in rush attempts with three, gaining 28 yards on the day. He also led all Eagles receivers in receptions (three) and receiving yards (40).
Redshirt freshman RB Davon Jones made his first career start against Syracuse. Jones finished the game with 14 rushing attempts for 66 yards, including a career-long 28-yard rush.
Jon Hilliman was not able to play due to an ankle injury suffered in the Clemson game.

Defense

For the 19th time in 32 games, the BC defense did not allow 100 rushing yards on the day.
The Eagles forced three turnovers for the second time this season (two fumbles, one interception). They also caused three in the win at Massachusetts on Sept. 10.
Sophomore DB William Harris tallied his second career interception in the first quarter. His 64-yard interception return was the longest by a BC defender since DeLeon Gause against Weber State on September 4, 2010 (66 yards).
Sophomore LB Sharrieff Grice marked his first career start and tallied a career high six tackles and recorded his first career sack.
Senior LB Matt Milano tallied his fourth career fumble recovery in the first quarter, his first since Nov. 21, 2015 (Notre Dame). He recorded one sack to bring his season total to four.
Junior DE Harold Landry's third quarter sack pushed his season total to 7.5.
Sophomore DE Wyatt Ray registered his first career forced fumble in the fourth quarter. The fumble was recovered by senior DE Kevin Kavalec, who also registered his first career fumble recovery.
BC's defense finished the afternoon with five sacks. It was the third time this season BC totaled five or more sacks in a game. The Eagles totaled eight sacks in the win over UMass and five in the victory against Wagner.
Middle linebacker Connor Strachan was unable to play due to injury.

Special Teams

Junior kicker Mike Knoll opened the scoring for the game 3:23 into the first quarter connecting on a 30-yard field goal and later added a 39-yard kick to remain perfect on the season (5-for-5).
Senior RB Myles Willis returned his third career kickoff return touchdown and first of the season with an 89-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. He finished the day with two returns for 111 yards to bring his career totals to 78 returns for 1,918 yards, still fourth in BC record books.

Of Note

At halftime, Boston College retired the jersey of former LB Luke Kuechly, who played on the Heights from 2009-2011. He became the 11th former player to have his jersey retired at Boston College.
Junior DE Harold Landry earned the Orrie T. Scarminach Award presented by Chuck Scarminach Jr. The Scarminach Award is presented to Boston College's most valuable player in the BC-Syracuse game when played in Chestnut Hill. It was given out every year between 1982 and 2004 to the game's MVP when the teams played each other every year. Scarminach was a Syracuse native who played offensive line for Boston College. He was killed in a car crash in 1982.

Attendance: 34,647
Weather: 64 Degrees Fahrenheit, Rain, Wind: 11 mph NNW
Coin Toss: Boston College won toss, deferred to the second half

Boston College Athletics