Third Quarter Burst Leads 'Cuse to Second-Straight Win

Saturday, October 30

Syracuse, N.Y.

3:30 PM

Syracuse University

5-4 , 2-3

Boston College

4-4 , 0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Boston College

Syracuse

Third Quarter Burst Leads 'Cuse to Second-Straight Win

10/30/2021 7:05:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Dino Babers Press Conference Tucker, Shrader & Jonathan Press Conference

Orange score 21 unanswered against the Eagles

Syracuse scored three touchdowns in under five minutes for a come-from-behind 21-6 win against Boston College on Saturday. The 21-point third quarter marked the second-straight game Syracuse put three touchdowns on the scoreboard in a single quarter after using a three-score fourth to beat Virginia Tech last week.

Sean Tucker moved to third on Syracuse's single-season rushing list at Syracuse with 207 yards and his 13th touchdown, 11th rushing, of the season. 'Cuse moved to 5-4 on the season and 2-3 in league play with the victory.

The game was off to a slow start in the first half with Boston College putting the only points on the scoreboard with a 31-yard field goal by Connor Lytton to lead 3-0 at the break.

After the Eagles settled for a field goal in the third quarter where the 'Cuse defense shut down BC's offense on third and goal, the Orange rally began. The 'Cuse defense didn't surrender a touchdown for the second time this season, an effort that was led by a career-high three sacks from Kingsley Jonathan and 1.5 from Stefon Thompson.

The third quarter burst started when Garrett Shrader created back-to-back first downs with rushes up the middle to set up Tucker's 51-yard rushing touchdown to make it 6-6 at 7:53 in the third. Then, Andre Szmyt converted his first extra point of the day to make it 14-6.

The Orange stifled Boston College's offense forcing a three-and-out on the Eagle's next possession. On Syracuse's next drive, Shrader converted on third and one from the BC 48-yard line and took it to the house to up the lead to 14-6.

After yet another Eagles punt, Courtney Jackson's 64-yard punt return gave the Orange their third-unanswered touchdown in the third quarter. It was Jackson's first game as the primary return man, filling in for the injured Trebor Pena.

The Orange defense again delivered with a stop on fourth-and-goal at the two yard line with 4:13 to go in the fourth quarter to seal the game, marking a second-straight ACC win.

Saturday's win marks the second time this season the Orange kept their opponent out of the end zone, (W, 29-9 at Ohio, Sept. 4) and first time holding a conference team without a touchdown since beating Duke on the road 49-6 on Nov. 16, 2019.

Jonathan's three sacks ties for eighth on the program's single-game list. The defense totaled five sacks and held Boston College to 5-of-18 on third-down conversion attempts.

Tucker had his seventh-consecutive 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 11th of his career tying him with Jim Brown, Delone Carter and Ernie Davis for sixth on the list at SU. His seven 100-yard games also tie the single season school record. His 26 carries for a career-high 207 yards moved him past Delone Carter (1,233) into third on the single-season rushing yards list at Syracuse. Joe Morris holds the record at 1,372.

Next, Syracuse has a bye before beginning a two-game road swing on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Louisville.