QB Patrick Towles (l) and WR Charlie Callinan enjoy a post-touchdown exchange.

Yes, it was another cupcake opponent, but the Eagles did what they needed to do — dominate and win. BC beat Buffalo 35-3 and achieved a winning record, 3-2, for the first time this season.

In rainy conditions, which squelched even the chance of a good Parents Weekend crowd, the Eagles gained 400 yards and allowed the Bulls (1-3) only 5 first downs and 67 yards total offense. (Announced attendance was 24,203, which must have been tickets sold, not bodies in seats.)

QB Patrick Towles was 14 of 25 for 234 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. WR Jeff Smith had 5 receptions for 65 yards, but the touchdowns went to WR Charlie Callinan and WR Michael Smith. Running backs Jon Hilliman, Davon Jones, and Richard Wilson accounted for the Eagles’ other 3 touchdowns.

Highlights

Next opponent is not a cupcake. Clemson, which defeated #3 Louisville last night, comes to Chestnut Hill for the Friday night game on ESPN. Game start is 4:30 pm PT.

Hockey update

The BC women’s team is not starting out as it did last year, when the Eagles swept Minnesota Duluth at home. Traveling out west to open this season, BC limped home 0-1-1. They tied Duluth 3-3 Friday and lost 5-2 yesterday. They have a two-game series against Maine at home this weekend.

BC’s men’s team has an exhibition today against Canadian team Carleton.

Running back Jon Hilliman

Was it an impressive win? Not even Coach Steve Addazio claimed that. BC’s 42-10 victory over Wagner, an FCS team, was what one BC sports commentator called a “purchased win.” Following the Eagles’ 49-0 loss the previous week to Virginia Tech, extending BC’s winless streak in the ACC to 10, a win was a step, in this case a small one, forward.

Announced as 22,728, the attendance at BC’s home opener was the second-lowest on record for the opening game, beating only the approximate 16,000 who came out in “monsoon” conditions in 2006 for the BC-Buffalo game. Somewhat ironically, BC’s next home game is Saturday against said Bulls of Buffalo.

Back to the Wagner game. The Seahawks actually scored first on a 55-yard run by the Wagner quarterback. That run constituted more than 50 percent of Wagner’s total offense — 107 yards — for the day. BC, when it got rolling, amassed 490 yards offense, 300 of them on the ground. Redshirt freshman Devon Jones led the Eagles with 90 yards rushing, with sophomore Jon Hillman adding 83 yards. QB Patrick Towles accounted for 4 BC touchdowns, two rushing and two through the air.

More statistics

QB Patrick Towles on the run. Steve Flynn – USA TODAY Sports

How do you say deja vu in Gaelic?

Perhaps an unfair characterization, as BC’s offense today against Georgia Tech was more effective than during most of last season. But some factors — missed field goals, debatable coaching decisions among them — seemed familiar as the Eagles gave up a 4-point lead in the last 4 minutes to lose to Georgia Tech, 17-14.

The first half was a muddled affair, as well as somewhat muddied. Conditions — rainy, temperature below 60 — were typical for Dublin but unusual for either team in September. New quarterback Patrick Towles, grad student who had played at Kentucky, lost the ball twice (interception and fumble) and Colton Lichtenberg continued his difficulties with two missed field goals (one was low and blocked, the other wide left from the start). Georgia Tech had a 7-0 halftime lead.

Jonathan Hillerman started BC’s second half off right with a 73-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first play. Just up the middle and then outrunning the Yellow Jacket defenders.

A 6-yard rush by Towles in the fourth quarter for the touchdown gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead. BC’s defense held Georgia Tech to a field goal with just under six minutes to play. BC then ran the ball twice into the middle for no gains, botched the next snap, and kicked a 32-yard punt to give Georgia Tech the ball on its 41 with 3:33 left.

Georgia Tech then avoided a massive loss when its quarterback was able to spin out of a tackle far behind the line and throw the ball out of bounds. Worse still, the Yellow Jackets converted a 4th-and-19 with a 22-yard pass as BC rushed only four. The final tally came on a 4-yard run with 35 seconds remaining.

BC outgained Georgia Tech, 313-238, holding the Yellow Jackets to 119 yards rushing and the same total passing. The Eagles rushed for 176 yards and Towles was 11-17 for 137 passing. BC had three turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception) to Georgia Tech’s single fumble and 7 penalties to Georgia Tech’s 3.

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech coach, said of the Eagles’ defense, “”I tell you, they’re as good defensively as anybody we’ve played, including Clemson or anybody. They’re good and we had a hard time getting anything going consistently.” Georgia Tech’s touchdowns came on their first and last drives. That was consistent enough.

Highlights