Story Links
On October 18, 1924, Frank Cavanaugh’s Boston College football squad faced off against a sold-out crowd at Archbold Field in Central New York. Having opened their season with back-to-back victories at home against Providence College and Fordham, the Eagles were now embarking on their first road excursion of the season, a contest against Chick Meehan’s emerging powerhouse, Syracuse. The undefeated Orange, who hadn’t ventured beyond their home turf for victories over Hobart and Mercer, had recently demonstrated their prowess with a decisive 24-7 win against William and Mary, setting the stage for an undefeated showdown prior to their upcoming late-October journey to New Beaver Field at Penn State.
Scoring proved to be challenging, reminiscent of many matchups in an era prior to the popularity of the forward pass. John McBride’s dazzling 60-yard dash briefly ignited excitement in the first quarter, yet the only points accrued came from his own 28-yard field goal. Boston College struggled offensively, failing to breach the 100-yard mark in total offense and not posing a serious threat to Syracuse’s end zone after a promising start in the opening quarter. The inaugural meeting between these two schools concluded with a 10-0 victory for the Orange, reflecting Syracuse’s strength that season, which culminated in an impressive 8-2-1 record while BC finished with a 6-3 mark.
Fast forward a century, the dynamics of a Boston College-Syracuse clash have transformed significantly from their original encounter. This time, Orange quarterback Kyle McCord shattered previous records by throwing for an impressive 392 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing the combined efforts of both teams in 1924. The teams collectively racked up 68 points in the latest matchup, remarkably nearly matching the entire scoring output Syracuse achieved throughout their entire season a century ago.
However, some elements of the contest’s narrative remained strikingly similar across time. It was indeed a century since McBride’s heroic efforts propelled Boston College to defeat, while on Saturday, the Eagles dominated with a robust 313 rushing yards that featured two running backs exceeding the 100-yard mark and culminating in three touchdowns in their thrilling 37-31 triumph over their long-standing adversary.
“Give Syracuse a lot of credit,” said head coach Bill O’Brien after guiding his team to halt a three-game skid. “They have a good football team. [Head coach Fran] Brown’s done a great job with that team, but for the first time in a while – I would say all the way back to the beginning of the season – we played a complete game. There were some things that we need to clean up, obviously, but running the football, stopping the run, fourth down defense – it was a really good win for Boston College.”
Saturday’s game provided an insightful glimpse into how BC skillfully dismantled Syracuse’s defensive schemes during a remarkable second-half surge. Already establishing a comfortable 14-point lead, the Eagles showcased their formidable rushing offense, which included Kye Robichaux’s explosive 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a six-play drive in the second featuring multiple substantial rushes by Jordan McDonald.
Despite a rally orchestrated by McCord’s arm, turning three drives into scoring opportunities, Syracuse struggled to maintain momentum. McCord’s earlier efforts, which had given the Orange a seven-point edge, were interrupted by Robichaux’s additional explosive 41-yard run, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown that leveled the game in the third quarter. However, the BC defense finally capitalized on the pressure with a sack by Donovan Ezeiruaku, forcing a fumble that fortuitously ended up 22 yards downfield, providing BC with their first safety in over a decade.
“That was a bad look for me,” laughed Ezeiruaku. “I pride myself on being an athlete, but the guys gave me a few words of encouragement. They said that nine was better than seven [after receiving the free kick], so I guess I did that one for the team.”
Scoring the post-safety touchdown significantly bolstered BC’s lead to 30-21 when they needed an injection of positivity. This long and methodical drive spanned 12 plays, running down the clock for seven minutes and covering 67 yards. Following that, another drive racked up an additional 78 yards, resulting in a third successive offensive touchdown off 10 plays. Syracuse, which managed only 10 points in the declining moments of the game, could not answer BC’s relentless rushing attempts that consistently carved through their defense for critical first downs.
In an uncommon 3rd-and-long scenario, quarterback Grayson James successfully delivered an intermediate pass that had previously eluded the offense in the first half. Stepping into the role after Thomas Castellanos’s injury, James quickly found his rhythm, aided by an exceptional rushing attack that netted a season-best 313 yards against an FBS opponent.
“The [rushing game] definitely helped me ease into the game,” admitted James. “It’s particularly comforting when you can rely on our offensive line. They dominated the opposing front, just as we had planned. Allowing them to run effectively – Kye, Jordan, all our backs – gave us the chance to make big plays.”
Robichaux concluded the game with a staggering average of 7.1 yards per carry, achieving a career-high 198 yards with two touchdowns, positioning him as one of the top running backs in the two teams’ intertwined history. His performance outclassed the 193 yards logged by AJ Dillon during the notable 42-14 victory in 2017 while marking the first time two backs surpassed the century mark since Castellanos and Robichaux did so last season against Georgia Tech.
Despite the transformative efforts of both running backs, Robichaux and McDonald confidently showcased their prowess with 133 yards overall, averaging 8.9 yards per carry, directly contrasting the Orange offense, which compiled a total 431 yards yet struggled to secure a meager 1.6 yards per carry against a reinvigorated BC defense.
“Jordan played a lot because he practiced well,” said O’Brien, recognizing McDonald’s contributions. “He earned it on the practice field. That’s really what the program is all about – rewarding hard work. He stood out during our scout sessions, and we recognized that he was performing strongly during scrimmages. He needed this opportunity, and we provided it. Kye was exceptional, and together, they had a tremendous game.”
Though neither quarterback had to carry the weight of the game on their shoulders, James nonetheless ended with 51 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating efficiency with only one incompletion in his limited play. Combined with Castellanos, they amassed 65 yards and two touchdowns, maintaining the balance that had become rare this season.
With this victory, Boston College severed its three-game losing streak, instilling newfound hope within the program after triumphing over its most storied ACC rival in front of an enthusiastic sell-out crowd. With a record of 5-4, the Eagles look ahead to their final month, needing just one more victory to secure bowl eligibility in a league recognized for its increasing parity and competitiveness.
“I just want to do what’s best for Boston College football,” said James. “Winning is ultimately what we all strive for, and that remains our collective focus.”
**Interview with Coach Bill O’Brien of Boston College Football**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Coach O’Brien. Congratulations on your recent victory against Syracuse! It seems like this game was a significant turnaround for your team. What were your main takeaways from the performance?
*Bill O’Brien:* Thank you! It was a great win for us, and I’m proud of how the team played. We executed well on both sides of the ball, which we’ve been working hard on. It’s particularly satisfying to see us play a complete game for the first time this season. We ran effectively, stopped the run, and even managed a safety—something we hadn’t done in over a decade. That’s big for us.
*Interviewer:* The rushing game was phenomenal, with 313 rushing yards. How crucial is that dimension of your offense to your overall game plan?
*Bill O’Brien:* The rushing attack is critical for our success. When you can dominate on the ground like we did, it opens up everything else. Grayson [James] stepped in well at quarterback, and having that strong running game really eased the pressure on him. It allows us to control the clock and dictate the tempo of the game.
*Interviewer:* Kye Robichaux had an outstanding performance with two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards. What contributes to his success on the field?
*Bill O’Brien:* Kye has been a fantastic asset. His vision, speed, and determination are impressive. But it’s not just about him; it’s our offensive line doing a great job of creating lanes. The whole rushing team worked in sync, which is why we saw such great numbers.
*Interviewer:* Despite leading by 14 points, the game was still competitive. Syracuse rallied back multiple times, particularly with their quarterback Kyle McCord throwing well. How do you address that kind of resilience in your opponents?
*Bill O’Brien:* We give credit where it’s due—Syracuse has a good football team, and McCord is a talented quarterback. We knew they would fight back. We need to focus on maintaining our momentum and not allowing the pressure to shift back to us. It’s all about maintaining composure in those tense moments.
*Interviewer:* Looking forward, what will be the primary focus for your team this week in practice as you prepare for your next game?
*Bill O’Brien:* Our focus will be on fine-tuning the little things—offensive schemes, defensive alignments, and special teams. We will review game tape to address areas that need improvement. Consistency is key, and I want to see us sustain this momentum moving forward.
*Interviewer:* Thank you for your insights, Coach. Best of luck in your upcoming games!
*Bill O’Brien:* Thank you! I appreciate it. Go Eagles!
