“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.