SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- When you reel off four drives that take 55 plays and use up more than 25 minutes on the scoreboard clock against a 19-point underdog on your home field, you should win the game. Not Syracuse.

That's what the Orangemen (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, unranked AP) did on Saturday against Boston College, yet lost 24-23. John Matich kicked a 34-yard field goal with 2:57 remaining for the victory.

	Cedrick Washington powers for extra yardage against Syracuse's Quentin Harris.

It was the first victory by Boston College (6-2, 3-2 Big East) in five games against Syracuse (5-3, 2-2), which lost its second straight. It also guaranteed the Eagles a winning season for the first time since 1994 and the sixth victory made them eligible for a bowl.

It was sweet redemption for the heartache of a week ago, when the Eagles blew a 28-0 third-quarter lead and lost to Miami.

"This shows a lot," said quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, whose 40-yard completion to Derrick Crittenden set up the winning kick. "It was tough for me to get over that game. It shows a lot about the types of guys we have on this team."

Syracuse, humiliated 62-0 by No. 3 Virginia Tech two weeks ago, got just three fields goals by Nate Trout and one touchdown on the fateful four drives. The loss sent the Orangemen even deeper into the doldrums, but at least Temple and Rutgers remain on the schedule.

"We still have a chance to get a winning season," said safety Ian McIntosh, who was beaten on the critical long pass when Crittenden wrestled the ball away from him and kept running. "We still have a chance to go to a bowl, and we need to regroup to show the country we can still play."

BC got a huge lift when DuJuan Daniels returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown before the game turned into a struggle that had six lead changes.

"That's what killed us," McIntosh said. "If they don't get that, it's a different ballgame. But they did and scored. We'll just have to stick together as a team, finish out strong and see what we can have at the end of the year. We're a good football team. We went out there and tried our best."

Syracuse had one final chance, but quarterback Madei Williams fell a yard short at the BC 35 on a keeper on fourth-and-14.

"I'm disappointed in myself because I didn't make the plays when we needed it most," said Williams, who was 14-of-20 passing for 139 yards. "We had a lot of confusion down in the red zone. Three points are good, but not good enough to win."

Led by Williams and Troy Nunes, Syracuse held the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game. And the Eagles, who managed just 11 first downs, got nearly half of their 269 yards on only three plays -- two 40-yard completions and a 28-yard run by Brian St. Pierre.

Still, they found a way to win, even though their top rusher, Cedric Washington, gained only 21 yards on 10 carries, 89 yards below his average.

"It's amazing what the will to win will do for you," BC coach Tom O'Brien said. "We were drooping and some guys were beginning to feel sorry for ourselves at the end of the first half."

With BC trailing 17-14 to start the second half, Eagles linebacker Frank Chamberlin intercepted a pass by Nunes and returned it 26 yards to the Syracuse 33 to set up Washington's 1-yard touchdown run.

Trout's 31-yard field goal pulled Syracuse within 21-20 entering the fourth quarter and his 36-yarder early in the fourth gave the Orangemen their final lead. But he also missed a 40-yard attempt minutes later.

"Everyone on the line and myself thought the kick was good," Trout said of only his second miss of the season. "It was very questionable. I thought I kicked it inside the post."