Monthly Archives: September 2016

After a year, a win!

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(This was delayed from the normal timeframe, the day following the game, because the author was in the Boston area for the past week. More about that later.)

Okay, it wasn’t a full year, but close enough. BC’s 26-7 victory over UMass last Saturday was the Eagles’ first win since September 26, 2015, over Northern Illinois, 17-14. That’s 350 days (leap year this year) and that is too long for any respectable program.

Saturday’s crowd, announced at 25,000 or so, made Gillette Stadium, which can seat more than 68,000, look even bigger than it is. Of the 25,000, 15,000 may have been BC fans. Not typical to have an away game at a site closer to your campus than that of the “home” team. But it was very easy to park and club level seating offered easy access to good food and drink, as well as cover from rain.

BC's defense, in this case Isaac Yiadom, left, and Jimmy Martin, stifled the UMass offense.

BC’s defense, in this case Isaac Yiadom, left, and Jimmy Martin, stifled the UMass offense.

UMass scored first, on a 58-yard pass late in the first quarter. It was just about the only significant offensive play BC allowed. The Minutemen gained 122 yards overall, of which that touchdown was nearly half the total. BC got on the board at with 4:32 to go in the half with a 46-yard Patrick Towles TD pass to one of last year’s quarterbacks, Jeff Smith. Fans may have thought the worst when kicker Mike Knoll missed the PAT, but Knoll came back.

Less than a-minute-and a-half later, the same TD combo, this time for 36 yards, gave BC a 13-7 halftime lead. Knoll added two field goals, from 40 and 37 yards, in the third quarter, and a 15-yard run by Jon Hilliman late in the fourth quarter, capped the scoring. Knoll kicked in place of Colton Lichtenberg, who had been ineffective against Georgia Tech in the opener.

Overall, BC had 14 first downs and 344 total yards. Towles was 12 of 22, with an interception, for 191 yards. The transfer from Kentucky, who is 6-5, 250, was also the leading rusher with 66 yards on 12 attempts. Hilliman had 22 carries for 54 yards.

San Diego’s Ray Smith, from Cathedral Catholic, was the starting nose tackle for BC and the sophomore 6-1, 292-pounder is #1 nose tackle on the depth chart against VaTech.

Highlights

Next up, Virginia Tech, Saturday 12:30 pm PT.

VaTechGW2016

 

Gamewatch opener!

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We eschewed the usual opening gamewatch last week, as BC-Georgia Tech in Dublin had a 4:30 am PT kickoff. This Saturday, kickoff of the BC-UMass game, to be held in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, is 9 am PT, and San Diego Eagles will be at The Beer Co. to cheer. Join us!

UMassGW2016

 

BC loses opener, 17-14

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QB Patrick Towles on the run. Steve Flynn - USA TODAY Sports

QB Patrick Towles on the run. Steve Flynn – USA TODAY Sports

How do you say deja vu in Gaelic?

Perhaps an unfair characterization, as BC’s offense today against Georgia Tech was more effective than during most of last season. But some factors — missed field goals, debatable coaching decisions among them — seemed familiar as the Eagles gave up a 4-point lead in the last 4 minutes to lose to Georgia Tech, 17-14.

The first half was a muddled affair, as well as somewhat muddied. Conditions — rainy, temperature below 60 — were typical for Dublin but unusual for either team in September. New quarterback Patrick Towles, grad student who had played at Kentucky, lost the ball twice (interception and fumble) and Colton Lichtenberg continued his difficulties with two missed field goals (one was low and blocked, the other wide left from the start). Georgia Tech had a 7-0 halftime lead.

Jonathan Hillerman started BC’s second half off right with a 73-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first play. Just up the middle and then outrunning the Yellow Jacket defenders.

A 6-yard rush by Towles in the fourth quarter for the touchdown gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead. BC’s defense held Georgia Tech to a field goal with just under six minutes to play. BC then ran the ball twice into the middle for no gains, botched the next snap, and kicked a 32-yard punt to give Georgia Tech the ball on its 41 with 3:33 left.

Georgia Tech then avoided a massive loss when its quarterback was able to spin out of a tackle far behind the line and throw the ball out of bounds. Worse still, the Yellow Jackets converted a 4th-and-19 with a 22-yard pass as BC rushed only four. The final tally came on a 4-yard run with 35 seconds remaining.

BC outgained Georgia Tech, 313-238, holding the Yellow Jackets to 119 yards rushing and the same total passing. The Eagles rushed for 176 yards and Towles was 11-17 for 137 passing. BC had three turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception) to Georgia Tech’s single fumble and 7 penalties to Georgia Tech’s 3.

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech coach, said of the Eagles’ defense, “”I tell you, they’re as good defensively as anybody we’ve played, including Clemson or anybody. They’re good and we had a hard time getting anything going consistently.” Georgia Tech’s touchdowns came on their first and last drives. That was consistent enough.

Highlights