BC defense celebrates one of many stops against Notre Dame Saturday.

Underdogs to Notre Dame by 28 1/2 points, BC was the biggest longshot on the slate of college football games last Saturday. The #12 Fighting Irish (6-2) were expected to dominate the 1-7 Eagles.

Most bettors and fans must have become very nervous, and some of them very excited, as the game preceded. Both teams were scoreless in the opening quarter. At halftime, Notre Dame held only a five-point lead, 12-7. Three-and-a-half minutes into the second half, BC cut the lead to 12-10. I imagined fans across the country looking at reports of other scores on their scoreboards and saying, “Wow! Look at the Notre Dame score.”

Going into the final period, following a Fighting Irish touchdown and missed extra point (one of two for ND), the Eagles were only one score down, 18-10. But the game-clincher was about to occur.

Just under four minutes into the final quarter, on the 13th play of a drive that had begun in the third quarter and with BC 3rd and seven on the Notre Dame 23-yard line, Eagles QB Grayson James’s pass was intercepted on the four-yard line and returned to the six. 

On the next play, ND’s Jeremiyah Love, arguably the best running back in college football, swept to the left side and outraced all pursuers 94 yards for a touchdown. This time, the Irish kicker made the extra point, and Notre Dame took a 25-10 lead.

BC made one more threat during the game, moving from their 41 to the Notre Dame 21 with 4:48 left in the game. A succession of penalties on BC and a sack followed, however, pushing them back to the ND 46. On fourth-and-32(!), James’s pass was intercepted.

Stopping the Irish’s next drive, BC got the ball back, but on their one-yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the game. James’s pass was intercepted at the 22-yard line. Notre Dame ran two plays, losing four yards, and then took a knee to run out the clock. 

(Here’s video of BC team entering the stadium. Near end of video, you can hear “boo’s” from the crowd. I was sitting on the “visitor side” surrounded by many Notre Dame fans.)

In one respect, BC dominated the game, running 78 plays to Notre Dame’s 55. Once again, however, the opponent was more effective. The Irish gained 458 yards, including 299 passing, while the Eagles gained 281.

BC continued to be ineffective running the ball, gaining only a dozen net yards. Yes, 12 yards total, on 33 attempts. BC’s longest run of the day was six yards. Notre Dame wasn’t great on the ground either. Their total of 159 yards rushing included Love’s 94-yarder. They gained only 65 yards on their other 28 attempts.

BC had 21 first downs, Notre Dame 22.

Dylan Lonergan, who had started the first few games this season, started this one as well, but played only the first three series. He was five-of-eight for 29 yards and was intercepted to end his final drive. James ended the game having gone 25-of-37 for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked six times, accumulating -21 yards rushing in 13 “attempts.”

WR Lewis Bond led the receivers with 92 yards on eight receptions. WR Jaedn Skeet also had eight catches for 73 yards and Jeremiah Franklin had seven catches for 46 yards. The sole touchdown reception was by WR Reed Harris on a 25-yard pass from James.

Highlights (13:25)

BC falls to 1-8. Next game is Saturday, November 8, against SMU. Kickoff is 9 am PT.