The Boston College offense is set up to dominate lesser teams, particularly on the ground. Yesterday, in record-setting offensive performances, the Eagles beat the Syracuse Orangemen . . . to a pulp.

AJ Dillon, BC’s all-time leading touchdown scorer. Photo by John Munson

In its 58-27 win in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome, BC gained a school-record 691 yards in total offense, 484 of them in the first half, also a record. The Eagle’s 44 points in the first half were another school record, and put them ahead 44-20. The final 58-point total is the largest BC has ever scored against an ACC opponent.

In one seven-minute span in the sec and quarter, the Eagles scored 27 points,

On the ground, BC gained 496 yards, yet another school record. Running back AJ Dillon gained 242 yards on 35 carries (6.9 yards per carry average) and scored three touchdowns. Running mate David Bailey carried the ball 16 times and gained 173 yards (10.8 ypc), scoring two touchdowns. Freshman Zay Flowers ended up with the highest rushing average, with 30 yards in two carries.

With Syracuse focused on the run (however ineptly), BC quarterback Dennis Grosel was efficient, able to find wide open receivers for long gains. His final stats were 8 of 10 passing for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns, including TD passes of 64 and 50 yards.

In this type of game, as was the case in BC’s 59-7 loss to Clemson only a week earlier, little about the losing team is relevant.

Enjoy a ton of highlights.

BC improved to 5-4 on the season, 3-3 in the conference.

Next up, in the annual “Red Bandanna Game,” the Eagles play Florida State. Another morning game, and back at Striders.

But it was the bang associated with lightning. In what the NCAA says is apparently the first such occurrence, the bowl game today between Boston College and Boise State in Dallas, Texas, was canceled because of a series of delays brought about by lightning.

San Diego’s own Ray Smith (96), from Cathedral Catholic, leads the Eagles off the field as nearby lightning forces the first game delay. Smith and other BC seniors had no way to know it would be their last trot off the field as an Eagle.

Otherwise the game was a whimper. Play ended after nine minutes and 52 seconds had gone by on the game clock. It was declared “no contest” and nothing that occurred during the game will count in personal or team statistics. Like it never happened.

For what it’s worth, and it’s worth nothing except to BC fans, the Eagles were leading 7-0 because of a 19-yard touchdown run by AJ Dillon.

BC ends the season with a 7-5 record, 4-4 in the ACC. The bowl game had been seen as an opportunity for the Eagles to reach 8 wins for the first time since 2009.

This was New England Sports Network’s video report today. If video of the game itself shows up, I’ll replace this.

San Diego Eagles showed up for a gamewatch, though the numbers were “inflated” a bit by the presence of two entire families — Mary ’80 and Ray ’78 Berube, with Peter ’17 and Paige ’13; and Sarah ’88 and John Roughneen, along with Caroline ’18, Katie ’20, Sam  ’22, and Lily. They were excellent company for me and Zeke Oliwa ’14. :)