New Eagle quarterback Dylan Lonergan had another excellent game at Michigan State yesterday.
It may seem a bit unreasonable to say that the game yesterday between Boston College and Michigan State, which started with fumbles by each team in the opening four minutes, was well-played. Overall, however, two well-matched teams played into double-overtime, with the Spartans pleasing the home crowd with a 42-40 win.
And it may also be a stretch to consider a BC fumble in the first four minutes to have a significant impact, but, as the game wore on, it seemed to grow in importance.
Receiving the opening kickoff, the Eagles quickly went three-and-out and punted to Michigan State. The Spartan returner fumbled during the return and BC took over on the MSU 39. Four plays later, sophomore quarterback Dylan Lonergan completed a pass to RB Turbo Richard, who fumbled into the endzone for a Michigan State touchback.
The Spartans then conducted an 11-play nearly six-minute drive to score the game’s first touchdown on an 11-yard touchdown reception.
Each team had the ball for 14 plays in the first quarter and time of possession differed by only two seconds. BC outgained MSU 120 yards to 74 yards, but failed to score.
The Eagles busted open in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns, allowing MSU one. BC ran 22 offensive plays, more than double that of the Spartans, outgaining MSU 139 yards to 39. The Eagles led, 21-14, at the half.
In the first half, BC gained 259 yards overall, compared to 47 by MSU, and got 15 first downs, more than doubling the Spartans’ seven. Lonergan was 18-of-22 for 217 yards and three touchdowns. He threw to eight different receivers and completed nine passes of 10 yards or more.
“At the end of the day, coming out with the loss is really all that matters,” Lonergan said. “The win is all that we were going for. The numbers come down to the people around me and how well of a job they did to help me out.”
A different second half. The Spartans ran 36 plays for 217 yards, while BC gained 143 yards in 24 plays. MSU had the ball for almost six minutes longer than the Eagles and regulation ended in a 24-24 tie.
BC and Michigan State each scored touchdowns in their first possessions in overtime. The Eagles scored another in their second possession, but their mandatory two-point conversion failed on an incomplete Lonergan pass. The Spartans then scored and were successful on the two-point conversion.
Highlights (3:01)
BC ran 70 plays overall, gaining 457 yards, compared to 64 plays for MSU, gaining 360 yards. The Eagles had 25 first downs, Spartans 21.
Lonergan was 34-of-45 passing for 390 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Lewis Bond again led the Eagles in receptions, with 11 catches for 90 yards. Jeremiah Franklin had eight receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Turbo Richard, Jaedn Skeete, and Reed Harris also had TD receptions.
Luca Lombardo was two-for-two on field goals, from 37 and 38 yards.
The Eagles gained only 67 yards rushing, on 25 carries. Turbo Richard had 55 of those yards and the lone BC rushing touchdown.
BC Coach Bill O’Brien said the running game needed improvement.
“We’re not going to be able to throw the ball 55 to 60 times a game,” O’Brien said. “I don’t think that’s a recipe for winning, so we’ve got to figure it out.”
The Eagles fall to 1-1 for the season. Next game is Saturday, September 13, against Stanford in Palo Alto. Kickoff is 7:30 pm PT.