Syracuse Stumbles at Boston College, Penalties Costly
The Syracuse Orange suffered a disappointing 21-6 loss to the Boston College Eagles on Saturday, their third loss in four games. Penalties played a significant role in the outcome, hindering the Orange's offensive momentum and giving the Eagles crucial field position.
Penalties Cripple Syracuse Offense
Syracuse's offensive struggles were compounded by a series of costly penalties. The Orange committed 10 penalties for 85 yards, including three holding calls and two false starts. These infractions stalled drives and forced the team to punt or attempt field goals from unfavorable yardage.
"We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds," said Syracuse head coach Dino Babers. "We can't turn the ball over, and we can't have penalties like that."
Boston College Takes Advantage
The Eagles capitalized on Syracuse's miscues, scoring on two of their first three possessions. Quarterback Emmett Morehead threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, including a 53-yard scoring strike to Jaelen Gill.
While Syracuse's defense played well for most of the game, Boston College's offense took advantage of short fields created by the Orange's penalties.
Looking Ahead
The loss to Boston College leaves Syracuse with a 4-3 record, and their hopes of a bowl berth are now in jeopardy. The Orange need to clean up their act, especially in the penalty department, if they want to turn things around.
"We have to be better," said Babers. "We have to be more disciplined and execute better. We have a lot of work to do."
The Orange have a bye week to regroup before facing their next opponent, North Carolina, on the road on October 28th.
Key takeaways from the game:
- Penalties were a major factor in Syracuse's loss.
- The Orange's offense struggled to generate points.
- Boston College's offense took advantage of Syracuse's mistakes.
- Syracuse has a bye week to address their issues before their next game.
For Syracuse to turn their season around, they need to:
- Reduce penalties: Eliminating costly mistakes will be crucial for their success.
- Improve offensive efficiency: They need to find a way to put points on the board.
- Capitalize on opportunities: They can't afford to miss scoring chances.
The next few weeks will be crucial for Syracuse as they look to salvage their season.