Syracuse University
BOSTON COLLEGE
Anderson Leads Orangemen to 39-14 Victory Against Boston College
10/18/2003 3:42:56 PM | Football
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Syracuse Game Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior quarterback R.J. Anderson accounted for 288 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to lead the Orangemen to a 39-14 victory versus Boston College in front of a season-best 45,313 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, October 18. Syracuse improved to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the BIG EAST, while the Eagles are now 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Anderson was effective both through the air and on the ground. He completed 20-of-27 passes for 215 yards and a career-high three touchdowns Anderson ran the ball 12 times for a career-best 73 yards and a touchdown. His 20 completions tied a career high. The Orangemen are the only team in the nation that has not thrown an interception this season. It was the sixth time in his career that Anderson has thrown and run for a touchdown in the same game.
The Syracuse defense recorded five sacks versus the Eagles, two more than its season total entering the game. Sophomore linebacker Kellen Pruittled the Orangemen with seven tackles, including one sack. Redshirt freshman Kelvin Smith had six tackles, including one and one-half for a loss. Sophomore James Wyche and seniors Louis Gachelin and Christian Ferrara each made two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Junior safety Diamond Ferri and sophomore cornerback Steve Gregory each had an interception. The Orangemen defense limited BC running back Derrick Knight, the nation's leading rusher entering the game, to 51 yards on 19 carries.
Junior running back Walter Reyes had 55 yards and a touchdown versus the Eagles. Reyes' one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended his streak of games with at least one rushing touchdown to a school-record 11 games. Jim Nance rushed for a score in 10 straight games in 1964.
Reyes' touchdown run was the 30th of his career, moving him into sole possession of second place on the SU career ledger. Reyes and Floyd Little (35) are the only two SU backs to have 30-or-more career rushing touchdowns. It also tied him with Dee Brown for fourth on the SU all-time total touchdown ledger.
Reyes now has 12 rushing touchdowns in 2003, tied for fifth on the Orangemen's single-season ledger.
Reyes became the 16th Orangeman to rush for more than 2,000 career yards. He is only the sixth SU player to do it in three years. Reyes ranks 15th all-time at SU with 2,050 yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Rashard Williams led the receiving corps with seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, all career highs. Senior Johnnie Morant had two catches, both touchdowns. His first reception was a 52-yard score, extending his streak of games with at least one catch to 23.
The Orangemen outgained the Eagles 407-319, including a 192-70 advantage on the ground. It was the fifth time in six games the Orangemen have reached the 400-yard mark in total offense.
After an initial first down, the Orangemen were forced to punt on their opening possession. On third down for the Eagles, Diamond Ferri snagged a ball tipped by Thomas Whitfield for his first career interception. Ferri returned the ball to the Boston College 19-yard line.
After two carries by Reyes made it third-and-three, Anderson hit Williams for a 12-yard touchdown. Anderson is now tied with Todd Philcox for eighth place on the Syracuse career touchdown pass ledger with 16. Ricky Kratuman's first career PAT try hit the right upright, keeping SU's lead at 6-0.
After forcing the Eagles to punt, the Orangemen drove to the Boston College 19-yard line, but Krautman's 36-yard attempt went just wide right with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
Boston College scored the first points of the second quarter when Quinton Porter hit tight end Dave Kashetta for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The play capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Sandro Scortino's extra point gave the Ealges a 7-6 lead with 13:24 remaining in the half.
Syracuse came right back with an 80-yard drive on the ensuing possession to re-take the lead. threw his second touchdown pass of the game, hitting Morant on a 52-yard touchdown pass with 9:54 left in the second half. The Orangemen went for the two-point conversion but Anderson was stopped short, keeping SU's lead at 12-7. Morant has now caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games.
SU stopped the Eagles on the next series, but SU punt returner Marcus Clayton fumbled the punt return, giving BC a first down on the SU 41-yard line. A false-start penalty made it first-and-15. Following a run by Derrick Knight, James Wyche sacked Porter at the BC 49-yard line to make it third-and-20. Another false start put the Eagles at their own 44-yard line. Porter scrambled to the SU 42-yard line on the next play, forcing BC to punt the ball away. Jeff Gomulinski's punt went out of bounds inside the one-yard line.
The Orangemen weren't able to advance the ball, but freshman Brendan Carney hit a 49-yard punt from the back of the end zone to give the Eagles the ball at midfield. The SU defense held firm, forcing another BC punt. Kelvin Smith recorded the Orangemen's second sack of the game on third down. Gomulinski's next punt was not as effective, hitting off the side of his foot and traveling just 10 yards.
Syracuse took advantage of the good field position, scoring with just nine seconds left in the half. Anderson connected with Morant on a 10-yard corner route. Morant went up with a BC defender, outleaping the cornerback for his second touchdown catch of the game. Carney hit the extra point, the first of his career, to give the Orangemen a 19-7 advantage heading into halftime.
The Eagles drove to the SU 30-yard line on the first possession of the third quarter, but the SU defense held on third down. Sandro Sciortino's 47-yard field goal attempt missed wide right to keep the score at 19-7.
Anderson went to work on the next drive, accounting for 68 yards of offense, including a 20-yard run that gave the Orangemen a first-and-goal at the BC seven yard line. Anderson ran for 33 yards and completed all three of his pass attempts to Williams for 35 yards.
The SU defense did not allow the Eagles a first down on their next possession. On fourth down, Smith broke through the line and blocked the Eagles' punt. Smith recovered the ball in the endzone for his first career touchdown to give SU a 32-7 lead. It was the Orangemen's first blocked punt for a touchdown since the Rutgers game in 2002. It was the first time the same player blocked a punt and scored a touchdown since David Tyree did it in 2000 versus Buffalo.
Boston College came back with a six-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to pull within 32-14 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. Porter hit Larry Lester for a 39-yard touchdown.
Anderson put SU's final points of the game on the board with 6:26 left in the fourth quarter. He scored from eight yards out to give the Orangemen a 39-14 lead. The drive capped an 80-yard drive that took more than eight and one-half minutes off the clock.
