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SYRACUSE, New York (Ticker) -- John Matich overcame season-long struggles and booted a 34-yard field goal with 2:53 remaining to lift Boston College to a 24-23 upset of 24th-ranked Syracuse in a thrilling Big East Conference contest. Matich had been just 5-of-13 on field goal attempts this season before calmly splitting the uprights as the Eagles (6-2, 3-2 Big East) bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Miami and won inside the Carrier Dome for the first time since 1993. "It's a credit to the football team," said Eagles coach Tom O'Brien. "It's unbelieveable how they stuck in there and came back." "Things happened to go their way today. Trick-or-treat," Syracuse linebacker Keith Bulluck said. Boston College received a big performance by senior linebacker Frank Chamberlain, who recorded 24 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and picked off a pass that led to the Eagles' second offensive touchdown. But it was Chamberlain's tackle of Madei Williams in the waning moments that saved the game. On a 4th-and-13 from the Boston College 47-yard line, Williams could not find a receiver and took off down the right side of the field, only to be tripped up by Chamberlain just shy of a first down. It was a huge victory for Boston College, which blew a 28-point lead a week ago but moved into position to reach a bowl game for the first time since 1994. Nate Trout kicked three field goals but missed a 40-yard attempt with just under 10 minutes to play that would have given the Orangemen a five-point advantage. Trout accounted for Syracuse's only points of the second half, connecting from 31 yards late in the third quarter and from 35 early in the fourth. "I think if you let a team stay around long enough, you run into problems," Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "We didn't cash in any opportunites when we had our chances." After the teams traded punts, Boston College began the eventual game-winning drive on its own 40-yard line and on the first play Tim Hasselbeck hit Derrick Crittenden on a 38-yard strike to the Syracuse 20. Although the Eagles stalled, Matich bailed them out. Pat Woodcock returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Syracuse 40 and Williams found running back Kyle Johnson for a nine-yard gain. A seven-yard scamper by Williams gave Syracuse a first down, but Williams then picked up just one yard on a run, threw an incompletion and was sacked. Syracuse called a timeout, but Williams was unable to find a receiver and the Orangemen's hopes died 1 1/2 yards short. "We are a good football team. The loss hurts. We have to keep gong from here," said Orangemen cornerback Ian McIntosh. Despite two weeks off, the Orangemen appeared sluggish on the game's first play as Boston College defensive back DuJuan Daniels weaved his way for a 100-yard kickoff return. It ties for the longest kickoff return for a score in school history and was the Eagles' first in nine years. Boston College ran just four plays in the first quarter and trailed 10-0 after a 34-yard field goal by Trout and quarterback Troy Nunes' five-yard TD run. Hasselbeck broke free for an 11-yard scoring run 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter to give Boston College a 14-10 lead, but Dee Brown's nine-yard TD run 10 minutes later put Syracuse back on top. Brown, normally a running back, registered his first career score as a quarterback. He rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries, the fourth time the junior has topped the 100-yard plateau in his career. Hasselbeck completed 6-of-13 passes for 161 yards and also led Boston College in rushing with 52 yards on 11 carries. Chamberlain's third-quarter interception of Nunes was the third of his career and led to Cedric Washington's one-yard TD run that provided the Eagles with a 21-17 advantage with 10 minutes left in the period. "I challenged the kids at halftime," added O'Brien. "I was concerned. I saw a few guys who I thought they felt sorry for themselves. Then we got the interception in the second half and scored. These guys are warriors." Washington, who entered the game ranked 15th in the nation in rushing, was held to a meager 21 yards on 10 attempts. Williams and Nunes combined to complete 21-of-29 passes for 200 yards without throwing an interception but each were sacked twice. "We have to put this in the past. We have to look forward to the next three games," Williams said. "There's still something to play for."
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