Category Archives: Football

Maine-ly meh

Posted on by

Zay Flowers gathers in one of his team-leading eight receptions against Maine.

A win is a win, of course. For the Eagles to get their first victory of the season yesterday, however, following two losses, was disappointing to the many who had anticipated something of a break-through successful season for BC this year.

That the first win was achieved in a game in which the Eagles displayed many of the same deficiencies that contributed to the opening losses to Rutgers and Virginia Tech was also frustrating to many fans. And that the first win came against Maine, an FCS team that had previously lost to Colgate and had been crushed by New Mexico, 41-0, did not inspire hopes for the season’s renewal.

That said, the Eagles won by three touchdowns, 38-17, and quarterback Phil Jurkovec had impressive stats. Jurkovec was 25 of 37 for 320 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His long completion was 53 yards. He was also sacked three times and faced consistent pressure, as had happened extensively in the first two games.

Leading BC receiver senior Zay Flowers had eight catches again Maine for 89 yards and one touchdown, opening scoring by the Eagles on a 51-yard reception and run. His three-game total is 22 receptions for 295 yards.

Entering the game ranked last among FBS teams in rushing, BC managed to get triple digits against the Black Bears, rushing for 111. Redshirt junior Pat Garwo III, who ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, led the team yesterday with 78 yards on 17 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Garwo, leading rusher for the Eagles this season, had gained only 40 yards rushing total in the two earlier games.

Maine actually had two more offensive plays than BC, 72-70, and gained 378 yards total overall, 289 yards through the air.

Highlights of BC-Maine.

(During the first two weeks of the season, I was on a trip to Michigan and Boston/Cape Cod and didn’t have the capability to post reports on the first two games. Maybe not the heart, either. I attended the Rutgers game, as did Lissa and Brian Tsu, both ’00, as well as Lori and Joe ’74 Mahler. I don’t see much point to provide summaries and highlights of the Rutgers and Virginia Tech games. Better, I think, to relegate them to the bad memories bin.)

Next week, the Eagles go to Tallahassee to play Florida State (3-0). The Seminoles had a close win over Louisville in their opener, an easy win over Duquesne, and edged LSU yesterday, 24-23. Game time is 5 pm our time.

Bowl game canceled

Posted on by

The 2021 Military Bowl football game between Boston College and East Carolina University, scheduled for Monday, December 27, has been canceled.

“Unfortunately,” said BC Athletic Director Pat Kraft, “due to cases of COVID-19 rising within our program since our arrival, along with season-ending injuries, opt-outs, and transfers, we just do not have enough players to field a team.”

BC reported that more than 40 players were unavailable to play.

Season ends at a Wake

Posted on by
BC’s lone touchdown, reception by Trae Barry.

There were lamentations, cries and moans of despair, and, finally, a sense of resignation too early that hopes for a winning football season had died.

At least that’s what happened at the local gamewatch.

I suspect it happened something like that for many in Alumni Stadium yesterday, watching #18 Wake Forest throttle the Eagles, 41-10. BC finished the regular season 6-6, 2-6 in ACC play.

Coach Jeff Hafley had spoken after the previous week’s loss to Florida State and during the week prior to yesterday’s game that the Eagles had to start games with more energy. They didn’t do so yesterday. And, with BC failing to make a first down in the second half, it could be argued the Eagles never got started.

It should be noted that there were reports in the media last week that 15 BC players were showing symptoms of the flu. None of them tested positive for COVID-19. The Boston Globe reported post-game that 32 players, including QB Phil Jurkovec, had shown flu symptoms and that 10 did not play yesterday. It also reported that Hafley believed some players’ execution of plays had been influenced by their conditions.

The Demon Deacons took a 14-0 lead with touchdowns drives in two of their first four possessions. Their second touchdown drive took only three plays, ending with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Wake QB Sam Hartman.

BC, or perhaps better said Jurkovec, responded on its next possession. Jurkovec rushed for 28 yards and later 10 yards before throwing a 15-yard touchdown to TE Trae Barry to make the score 14-7.

The teams traded field goals to make the score 17-10 before Wake added a touchdown with 10 seconds left in the half. Teams went to the locker rooms with the Deacons ahead 24-10.

For the first half, BC gained 157 yards rushing, exceeding Wake’s 67 yards on the ground. Passing (passing?), Jurkovec was three of seven for 19 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Wake’s Hartman was 16 of 25 for 186 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

After receiving the second half kickoff. the Eagles started off with an incomplete pass. Natch. Then came the most exciting play of the day for BC fans . . . and it didn’t count.

Jurkovec block against #11

Speedster WR Zay Flowers took the ball on a double reverse and then weaved his way through Wake Forest defenders for 73 yards and a touchdown. Flag. A very questionable call against Jurkovec for an alleged illegal blindside block right as Flowers ran to the right. No touchdown. Fifteen-yard penalty.

The rest of the second half took five hours . . . it seemed. Remember, no first downs for BC. Wake Forest scored another 17 points. Whatever.

The Eagles had a total offense of 182 yards, less than half of Wake’s 413. Wake also more than doubled the number of plays, 86, to BC’s 41.

One thing I remember flu doing, to me anyway, was draining your energy. That second half, particularly, showed what seemed to be a de-energized BC team.

Highlights:

UPDATE: Shout-out to sophomore RB Patrick Garwo. His 65 yards rushing on 11 carries yesterday brought his season total to 1,045 yards. He is the 19th BC player ever to rush for 1,000 yards or more in a season.

The Eagles, and their fans, now await learning to what bowl game BC will be assigned.

We’ll be looking at Hockey Beanpot and possible NCAA tournament appearances for other potential gamewatches. Note, BC will begin to defend its NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship in late winter.