BC QB Murphy goes for ACC rush record vs Syracuse
BOSTON (AP) The records are falling for Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy.
He broke Doug Flutie's school record for rushing yards by a quarterback - set by the Heisman Trophy winner in four years - in just nine games. Murphy surpassed the 1,000-yard milestone in Week 10.
And now he needs just 3 yards on the ground for Boston College (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) against Syracuse on Saturday to break the ACC's season record for yards rushing by a QB. Murphy has run for 10 touchdowns while also throwing for 1,366 yards and 10 scores.
''You don't see someone leading the team in rushing and passing very much in college football right now,'' Syracuse coach Scott Shafer said. ''Hopefully we can slow him down. Our kids have gone to work this week and are looking forward to the challenge.''
Flutie ran for 939 yards while BC's quarterback from 1981-84, winning the Heisman Trophy his senior year. Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler ran for 1,061 in 2001; Murphy needs just one scramble or sweep against Syracuse (3-8, 1-6) to break that one, too.
''He's a playmaker,'' Syracuse quarterback A.J. Long said. ''He's having one of the best years you could have as a quarterback.''
Here are some other things to look for in Saturday's game between Boston College and Syracuse:
RIVALRY RENEWED: Boston College and Syracuse first met in 1924, and they have played 47 times since. (Syracuse is 29-18.) But they have not met at Chestnut Hill since 2004, in BC's final Big East game before leaving for the ACC. The Orange followed last year and beat BC 34-31. ''It's an opportunity to continue a great rivalry, one that dates way back since the beginning of football up here in the Northeast, basically,'' Shafer said. ''I think it's a great thing for the conference, a great thing for college football, to see Boston College and Syracuse playing against one other year-in and year-out.''
BOUNCEBACK: Boston College is coming off a 20-17 loss to No. 1 Florida State in which the Eagles had a chance to take the lead with less than 5 minutes to play. ''I think when you play those kind of games, they take a toll on you emotionally,'' BC coach Steve Addazio said. ''There's no doubt.''
BOWLING: BC has qualified for a bowl game but would like to improve its standing with a seventh win. Two years ago, the Eagles were 2-10. ''Faithfulness and loyalty will always be rewarded. They have been rewarded; they've played in two bowl games,'' Addazio said. ''They are able to walk out of here being able to say that they helped turn around the program.''
INJURED ORANGE: Syracuse won a bowl game last season, Shafer's rookie season. But the Orange have been stung by injuries this year, including a broken calf bone that knocked quarterback Terrel Hunt out in their fifth game. All four quarterbacks on the roster have thrown a pass this season. ''For me, I don't look at it as we're staggering into the last game,'' Shafer said. ''I look at it as we're fighting with a lot of youth and inexperience into the last game. What a great way to introduce a lot of young guys that are playing a little bit earlier than we thought they were going to in.''
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AP Sports Writer John Kekis in Syracuse, N.Y., contributed to this report.
