Geared up for the nor’easter. (Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe)

The weather was tough on both teams yesterday at Alumni Stadium. Virginia Tech and BC faced rain and gusting wind from an uncommon September nor’easter. Passes were harder to throw and catch, the ball was harder to hold, but what the Eagles let slip away was the game.

BC opened the 4th quarter in the midst of a 9-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by QB Mason McKenzie to extend the Eagles’ lead to 14-6. With 11:09 remaining in the game, BC then allowed the Hokies to drive 80 yards in 10 plays and tie the score at 14.

Following a punt by BC on their next possession, Virginia Tech needed just one play to take the lead. RB Jeffrey Overton, Jr., burst through the BC line and outran BC defenders 76 yards to score the touchdown and give VaTech a 21-14 lead.

The Eagles still had just under five minutes to score again, but, except for a 13-yard run by McKenzie for a first down, BC was unable to advance the ball and punted with 3:25 left. The Hokies were then able to move from their 21-yard line to the BC 37 and run out the clock with three kneel-downs.

The game’s first half displayed the impacts of steady rain and strong wind gusts. The combined total offense of both teams was 117 yards and each team punted 5 times. The first score came with 20 seconds left in the half when VaTech kicked a 45-yard field goal.

The Eagles’ punt after their first possession in the second half was returned 50 yards by the Hokies to the BC 10. BC was able to hold VaTech to a 22-yard field goal and a 6-0 lead. The subsequent BC possession featured a 45-yard run by McKenzie who also scored the touchdown from the VaTech five for BC’s first score and a 7-6 lead folllowing the successful PAT.

That’s where it stood before the dynamic events of the final quarter.

BC’s offense essentially was Mason McKenzie. The Eagles ran 61 offensive plays. McKenzie either ran or passed on 49 of them, just over 80 percent. He was 11 of 23 passing for 111 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran 26 times for a net 138 yards and two touchdowns. BC’s running backs ran 11 times for a total of 13 yards and there was one team rushing attempt.

Four Eagle receivers each had two pass receptions and three others each had one reception.

BC’s total offense was 261 yards, 150 on the ground and 111 through the air. VaTech gained 370 yards on 77 plays, 223 rushing. VaTech’s Overton ran for 209 yards on 25 attempts, including the 76-yard TD run to win the game. The VaTech quarterback made only 3 rushing attempts for -3 yards.

The Eagles were only successful on 2 of 13 third-down conversions. The Hokies weren’t much better at 4 of 15.

Somewhat surprisingly considering the weather, BC fumbled only twice and recovered both. The Hokies lost one fumble.

Highlights (8:14)

This was the conference opener for both teams. BC is 2-2, 0-1 in the ACC. The Eagles next play Saturday, October 3, in Dallas against SMU. Kickoff is 10 am PT.

“What can you say?” (AP photo/Mary Schwalm)

In six possessions during yesterday’s game with BC, the Black Bears of Maine gained 253 yards, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal for a total of 16 points. During the same time period, the Eagles had the ball for eight possessions, gaining 229 yards and scoring six points on two field goals.

Good thing BC already had 16 points when all that started. The previous paragraph described the final three quarters of the Eagles’ middling 22-16 win over Maine.

Evan Dickens on his touchdown run. (Photo by Meg Kelly)

The game started with the Eagles favored by 35+ points over the 1-2 Black Bears, who had previously lost to Merrimack and by 52 points to Appalachian State. BC opened the scoring on its second possession with a 39-yard touchdown run by RB Evan Dickens. They added a safety on Maine’s following possession and then a 31-yard touchdown by WR Johnathan Montague Jr. on a pass from QB Mason McKenzie to end the quarter up 16-0.

On two possessions in the first quarter, each with the ball in the red zone, the Eagles faced 4th-and-1. Eschewing field goals, they attempted runs and failed to make first down in both cases.

With 10:19 left in the game, Maine was down 10-22 and had the ball at their 20. Ten plays later, they were 3rd-and-6 at the BC 7-yard line. On the next play, Maine scored on a touchdown pass. With the point-after attempt unsuccessful, it was still only a one-score difference.

Starting at their 16 with 4:31 remaining in the game, a combination of runs by QB McKenzie and RB Dickens and two complete passes by McKenzie brought BC to the Maine 40 with 1:20 left. As he did in the previous game against Rutgers, McKenzie did three kneel-downs to run out the clock.

Overall, both teams made 18 first downs. The Eagles ran 60 plays for 359 yards total offense, compared to Maine’s 66 plays for 270 yards. BC gained 186 yards on the ground, Maine 69. Maine threw for 201 yards, BC for 173.

For the first time this season, QB McKenzie was not BC’s leading rusher. RB Dickens led the team with 102 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. McKenzie was second, with 53 yards on 15 carries. McKenzie was 14-for-21 passing for 173 yards, one touchdown and with two interceptions. WR Montague was the leading receiver, catching 5 for 72 yards and a TD.

Highlights (9:31)

(Just noting some oddities about common opponents. After losing to UMass 21-37 and then BC, Rutgers hosted #12 Southern California yesterday in their Big 10 matchup. The Trojans snuck out of Piscataway with a 42-35 win, allowing the Scarlet Knights 460 yards in total offense. Headline in LA Times article today about game was “Not Exactly Coasting.” UMass, by the way, after losing 16 straight games since moving to the FBS, is 3-0 this season. Is BC the best football team in Massachusetts? Don’t ask the Minutemen.)

Eagles meet the Virginia Tech Hokies in Alumni Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is 9 am PT. VaTech is 3-0, with victories over VMI, Old Dominion, and Maryland.

It’s a win. Light up the sky! Wake up the neighbors! (BC Athletics photo)

(Injury update: LB Bodie Kahoun was discharged from the hospital Saturday after evaluation overnight and is back with the team.)

So you’re looking for your first win of the season and you’re to play the team ranked 136th out of 138 FBS college football teams. The game is also infused with the excitement of being the home opener as well as the meaning of the Red Bandana Game on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The concept of “For Welles” is pervasive. This could be exciting.

Eagles celebrate the win. (BC Athletics photo)

And the win is secured. After jumping out to a 17-0 lead, BC held on for a 28-21 victory over Rutgers, aided by defensive plays late in the game. Linebacker Anthony Palano, a 6-1 230lb transfer from Washington State, intercepted two Rutgers passes in the last 10 minutes to stop Scarlet Knights’ drives. In addition, Palano made nine tackles, four solo, and a quarterback sack.

On the offensive side of the ball, BC quarterback Mason McKensie accounted for 346 of BC’s total 402 yards. He was 18-of-29 passing for 252 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown pass to WR Dawson Pough in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 14 points. He also ran for 94 yards on 13 carries, again leading the team in rushing.

Alison Crowther, center right, holds up a red bandana as a symbol of her son, Welles ’99, during halftime ceremonies in his honor. (BC Athletics photo)

Adding to the emotion of the game was an injury suffered in the second quarter by BC linebacker Bodie Kahoun, a Notre Dame transfer. Kahoun appeared to injure his neck tackling a Rutgers runner. In an extended game interruption, medical personnel stabilized Kahoun, placing him on a stretcher, and removing him from the field in an ambulance. His teammates surrounded the activity and Rutgers players knelt on the field nearby.

As shown in the photo below, Kahoun gave a raised thumb salute with his left hand as he was placed in the ambulance. BC announced shortly thereafter that Kahoun had movement in all his extremities. As new information comes out, it will be updated here.

Stats-wise, the teams were quite close overall. BC ran 61 offensive plays for 402 yards, while Rutgers ran 68 plays for 384 yards. Rutgers had 19 first downs, BC 18. On the ground, the Scarlet Knights gained 154 yards and the Eagles 150. Through the air, BC gained 252 yards, while Rutgers gained 230.

A nemesis for BC throughout the game was Rutgers receiver KJ Duff, who had eight catches for 137 yards and two second-half touchdowns, including a 60-yard TD reception with 6:18 to go in the game.

A significant difference in terms of timing and effect were BC interceptions of four Rutgers passes. One was especially meaningful. Palano’s interception at the BC 35 with 1:46 remaining helped seal the win. McKenzie hit RB Evan Dickens for a first down with 1:27 left to put the game out of reach. McKenzie took a knee three times to run out the clock.

Here are game highlights (9:55).

Attendees at Friday’s gamewatch were often exuberant and attendance was dynamic and diverse, changing as the evening progressed.

The Eagles next play the Maine Black Bears in Alumni Stadium Saturday, September 19. Game time is 11 am PT.