This was BC’s offensive unit at Stanford. They were on the field once and for less than four minutes in the final quarter.

“That was bad.”

It’s in quotes because it was the lede to a LA Times article about UCLA football’s disappointing performance this past weekend. After Saturday’s BC-Stanford game, it seemed an appropriate introduction to this report as well.

The unofficial Tree mascot and the official logo.

Favored by two touchdowns, the Eagles gave up two field goals to the Cardinal in the first quarter, then scored 17 straight points by the middle of the second quarter, including a 51-yard field goal by Luca Lombardo, to lead 17-6. They then allowed two Stanford touchdowns in 18 seconds within the last couple of minutes of the quarter before kicking a field goal as time expired to tie the game 20-20 at the half.

Exciting stuff. The second half was anything but exciting for BC fans. The Eagles did not score again. Stanford scored in each quarter to take a 30-20 victory. BC’s performance was ineffective in the second half, and likely historically so in the final quarter.

The Eagles ran 21 plays in the third quarter for only 59 yards, allowing Stanford to gain 86 yards. In the final quarter, BC had only one possession, for a mere three minutes, 47 seconds. Total BC offense in the fourth quarter was six plays for 10 yards. (I’d be surprised if that was not a team record for futility.) The Eagles’ defense couldn’t get the Cardinal off the field. Stanford had the ball for 11 minutes, 10 seconds, running 19 plays for 81 yards.

“I just told the team, ‘We’re all in it together. There’s no finger pointing,’” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “The coaches—we were terrible tonight. We’ve got to coach better. Starts with us, starts with me.”

Stanford scored 21 points following three BC turnovers. BC fumbled twice, including one by Turbo Richard as he tried to score a touchdown, the second time he has done so this season. BC quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who had played very well in the first two games, was at least good this game, but threw his first pass interception of the season and it was returned for a Stanford touchdown. Overall, Lonergan was 30 of 44 passing for 333 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice.

Overall, the Eagles gained 389 yards total offense, accruing 19 first downs. (Twelve of those first downs and 274 of those yards came in the second quarter.) BC gained only 56 yards on the ground in the game. Stanford had 399 yards total offense, with 15 first downs, but were much more balanced, with 186 yards passing and 213 yards rushing. BC scored two touchdowns in four chances in the red zone, while the Cardinal were a perfect four-for-four.

Reed Harris led all BC receivers with 141 yards on seven receptions. Lewis Bond also had seven receptions, for 47 yards, and Jeremiah Franklin gained 41 yards on six receptions. RB Turbo Richard gained 55 of BC’s 56 net yards rushing and added 83 yards in pass receptions for 138 all-purpose yards. 

Highlights (8:57)

The Eagles have a bye week this week. Enjoy the time off, Eagles fans!

Next game is September 26. Cal Berkeley, undefeated and playing at San Diego State Saturday, travels to Chestnut Hill to play BC. Kickoff is 12:30 pm PT. 

(Sorry for the delay in posting. Two 500-mile drives in four days aren’t as easy as they used to be.)