SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Turbo Richard ran for two second-half touchdowns, Jordan McDonald added two more, and Boston College scored 31 unanswered points to beat Syracuse 34-12 on Saturday to snap a 10-game losing streak.
Boston College (2-10, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) hadn’t won since its season-opening 66-10 victory over FCS-member Fordham. Syracuse (3-9, 1-7) ended its season with eight consecutive losses. The Orange went 10-3 a year ago in coach Fran Brown’s first season.
The teams were tied 6-all when Richard scored from 16 yards out with 11:54 to go in the third quarter. He followed that with a 46-yard scamper early in the fourth, giving the Eagles a 27-6 lead. Sandwiched between those scores was a 2-yard run in the third by Jordan McDonald, who also added a 14-yard scoring run midway through the fourth.
The teams matched field goals in a first half that ended at 6-6.
BC starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan suffered a game-ending thumb injury on the team’s first series. He gave way to fifth-year senior Grayson James, who went 16 of 24 for 288 yards passing. Richard had 102 yards rushing. Lewis Bond had eight receptions for 171 yards.
“He did a great job. I mean I’m very proud of Grayson,” BC coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever been around in 33 years. He deserves to go out a winner like this. He’s shown to be a hell of a relief pitcher. He comes in, he’s ready to go.”
Syracuse, meanwhile, shuffled at quarterback between walk-on Joe Filardi and run-first tight end Dan Villari. Filardi was 10-of-18 passing for just 65 yards. Will Nixon ran for 73 yards and Filardi added 58. Villari chipped in with 44 yards rushing. Syracuse’s longest pass plays went for 12 yards.
Each of Syracuse’s eight straight losses were by double digits after starting quarterback Steve Angeli went down with a season-ending Achilles injury against Clemson. Brown vowed to not get caught short at quarterback next season.
“They were extremely young and new to the system,” Brown said speaking of his signal-caller group. “There are things that we’re going to implement throughout spring ball so that we won’t be caught in this situation. We got a bunch of guys that will come in and help.”
Brown also chalked up a losing season to a mountain of injuries.
“Those injuries definitely affected the team, you see that from a quarterback perspective and wide receiver and from the running backs, and then shuffling at guard and center, different things of that nature, Brown said. So, I mean, that affected it, but I can’t complain about those things, right?”
No contest
Syracuse was outscored 309-89 during its losing skid, including a 70-7 blowout at Notre Dame.
Bond, Lewis Bond
Entering the game, Lewis Bond ranked second in the ACC and fifth in the nation in receptions per game (7.27). He bolstered his stats with his eight catches and further cemented his BC legacy as the program’s leader in receptions.
The takeaway
Boston College: With a close loss against Georgia Tech and a road win over Syracuse, BC has something to build on. “We just have to figure out how to win these close ball games,” O’Brien said.
Syracuse: The loss ended a dismal season with the Orange failing to produce a functioning quarterback after Angeli went down.
Up next
Both teams ended their seasons.
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By MARK FRANK
Associated Press
