Orange Stumble in Season Finale

Saturday, November 29

Syracuse, N.Y.

3 PM

Syracuse University

3-9 , 1-7

Boston College

2-10 , 1-7

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Boston College

Syracuse

11/29/2025 6:29:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights

Despite picking up 189 yards on the ground, Syracuse University football dropped its 2025 season finale 34-12 against Boston College Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Syracuse (3-9, 1-7 ACC) out-gained the Eagles by 52 on the ground, thanks to 73 yards rushing from Will Nixon and another 54 from quarterback Joseph Filardi. Dan Villari added another 44 rushing yards and the lone Syracuse touchdown. Filardi completed 10 passes from 65 yards.

The Orange defense was led by Gary Bryant III with six solo tackles. Chris Peal had two of the four pass breakups for Syracuse, with Demetres Samuel Jr. and David Reese knocking down one pass each. The Orange piled up five tackles for loss, including a sack by Denis Jaquez Jr.

Boston College (2-10, 1-7 ACC) picked up 102 rushing yards from Turbo Richard, with a long of 46 yards and two touchdowns. Grayson James stepped in at quarterback in the first quarter after Dylan Lonergan left the field. James completed 16 of his 24 attempts for 288 yards but the Eagles had no passing touchdowns.

After the two teams traded punts on their first possessions, the Eagles drove deep into Syracuse territory, getting into goal-to-go range. The Orange defense firmed up, keeping Boston College to a field goal at 4 minutes, 4 seconds of the first quarter. Chris Peal broke up a potential touchdown pass, ending the seven play, 28-yard drive.

Syracuse level the score at 3-3 less than a minute into the second quarter. After seven straight running plays, including a 28-yard run from Will Nixon to get into Eagle territory, Syracuse stalled at the BC 30 yard line, setting up a 49-yard field goal from Trip Woody, tying a career long for the Waxhaw, North Carolina native.

The Orange defense held Boston College to a three-and-out on the next possession, limiting the Eagles to just six total yards. Another steady diet of rushing plays, with 11 of the 14 plays in the drive on the ground, got the Orange down to the Eagles' 11 yard line. Syracuse could not punch in a touchdown, but a 29-yard Woody field goal put the 'Cuse up 6-3 with three minutes left in the half.

Boston College tied the game for a second time at 6-6 on a nine-play drive that used two and a half minutes of clock. Despite two chunk plays of 18 and 21 yards, the Eagles' drive was thwarted at the Syracuse 13 yard line. The final two plays were pass attempts, the first of which was broken up by Syracuse's Demetres Samuel Jr. in the corner of the end zone. The half ended deadlocked 6-6 after a fake kneel down by the Orange, which led to a seven yard gain from Malachi Coleman that ran out the clock.

Syracuse went three-and-out on its first possession of the second half. The Eagles needed just three plays to score the game's first touchdown. James connected with Bond for a 54-yard catch and run before a Richard run from 16 yards out, putting BC ahead 13-6.

The Orange had a four-play series that resulted in a second Stonehouse punt, this time a 41-yard boot to the BC 25-yard line for a two-yard return to the 27. The Eagles made it to Syracuse turf but the defense locked in once again after a three-yard sack from Denis Jaquez Jr.. A short Richard rush and another Peal break up brought out the Boston College field goal unit. The attempt by Luca Lombardo was unsuccessful from 40 yards out, his first miss of the season, giving Syracuse the ball back at its 22 yard line.

After a third Stonehouse punt of the half, Boston College covered 69 yards in eight plays before scoring another touchdown. Plays of 23 and 17 yards through the air got the Eagles within striking distance before a Jordan McDonald touchdown pushed the BC lead out to 20-6 in the final minute of the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Boston College needed just two plays, one a 25-yard pass Jeremiah Franklin before another Richard touchdown, this time from 46 yards out, extending the Eagles' lead to 27-6.

Boston College extended the lead to 34-6 a third of the way into the fourth quarter on McDonald's second rushing touchdown of the day from 14 yards out. The drive covered 68 yards in seven plays using three minutes of game clock.

Syracuse found the end zone with 3:20 to play in the season. Shifting into a wildcat formation, Villari took the snap and ran straight up the middle for the 'Cuse touchdown. Filardi had the biggest play of the drive with a 26-yard run up the left side, helping Syracuse cover 75 yards in 12 plays, taking over six minutes off the clock. Villari's touchdown was his fourth career rushing touchdown and first since October 24, 2024 at Pitt.

The Orange defense finished strong, holding Boston College to just four plays on its next drive before a turnover on downs. The final defensive play of the season came on a four-yard tackle for loss by Anwar Sparrow.