Transfer quarterback Dylan Lonergan makes debut for Eagles. Photo by Meg Kelly.

The Eagles entered yesterday’s season-opening game against Fordham favored by almost 40 points and exceeded most expectations with a 66-10 victory. Overall, BC scored its most points since 2015 and gained 555 yards total offense.

“I wouldn’t say it proves much,” said wide receiver Lewis Bond, who led the team with 11 receptions for 138 yards, “but it was a good win.”

It was the BC debut of several players, particularly quarterback Dylan Lonergan, a transfer from Alabama. Lonergan was 26 of 34 passing for 268 yards and four touchdowns, no interceptions. He was very much a pocket quarterback, attempting only four rushes for a negative three yards.

With backup QB Grayson James, starter in several games last season, adding 190 yards through the air on five-for-five passing in the fourth quarter, BC was dominantly a passing team yesterday. Overall, the team rushed 39 times for 97 yards, an average of 2.5 yards per attempt.

“We definitely don’t want to be three yards and a cloud of dust,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “We don’t want to get into 15-play drives. That’s really not who we are. We’ll do that if we have to, but we really believe in chunk plays.”

Fordham similarly sought offense through the air, attempting the same number of passes as the Eagles (39), but gaining only 152 yards and no touchdowns. They ran 27 times, gaining only a net total of 16 yards.

Punting was often inconsistent last season. Yale transfer Shamus Florio punted four times yesterday for an average of 47 yards and had a long punt of 63 yards.

Wide receiver Jaedn Skeete was the only Eagle to score two touchdowns. Others scoring on touchdown passes were Dawson Pough, Reed Harris, and Jordan McDonald. Turbo Richard, Bo MacCormack III, and Alex Broome each scored a rushing touchdown. Senior linebacker Daveon Crouch scored on a 28-yard pass interception. Luca Lombardo kicked a 48-yard field goal.

Here are highlights (11:06).

The Eagles travel to East Lansing, Mich., next Saturday to meet Big 10 Michigan State. Game time is 4:30 pm PT. The Spartans were 23-6 winners yesterday over Western Michigan. Last year, BC rallied for a 23-19 win over Michigan State in Alumni Stadium. 

BC’s junior linebacker Daveon Crouch, lower right, makes one of his 14 tackles in Saturday’s 20-15 loss to Nebraska.

Saturday’s 20-15 BC loss to Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl had so many of the ups and downs of the season that preceded it. Inexplicable failures to score, questionable play calls, unanticipated successes, dazzling plays, and a comeback that fell just short.

At halftime, the Eagles had had the ball for more than 17 minutes, outgained Nebraska 197 yards to 189, and were five of nine on third down conversions.  BC also had zero offensive points, scoring only on the return of a blocked point-after attempt, and trailed the Cornhuskers 13-2.

“I thought we were productive, but we couldn’t score,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “That’s a problem.”

The Eagles didn’t punt in the first half, giving up the ball each time in Nebraska territory. Their first drive ended on the 35-yardline with a missed field goal. Their next three drives all ended on failed fourth-down conversions.

After stopping Nebraska on fourth down at the BC seven early in the second half, the Eagles drove to midfield, but lost the ball on a fumble. Nebraska then lengthened the lead to 20-2, but it was the Cornhuskers’ last score.

BC’s first touchdown came with just over six minutes left in the game. RB Turbo Richard plunged a yard into the endzone to cut the score to 20-8. A two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

Forcing a Nebraska punt on the next series deep in Cornhusker territory, BC blocked the attempt and freshman DB Omar Thornton carried the ball to the Nebraska two. RB Jordan McDonald ran the ball in and, after a successful PAT, the Eagles trailed by only five, 20-15, with 4:18 left in the game.

Nebraska was able to get two first downs and move the ball to the BC 31, where it was fourth and one. The Cornhuskers rushed for 11 yards to get the first down with two minutes left. They then ran out the clock, taking kneel downs, and secured the win.

Statistically, the game was quite close. BC ran 67 plays overall, three more than Nebraska, and gained 348 yards, 15 fewer than Nebraska.

BC’s offense was heavily through the air. QB Grayson James attempted 41 passes, completing 26 for 301 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. James was also BC’s leading rusher, with 22 net yards on nine attempts. He was sacked three times. WR Lewis Bond led the Eagles in receptions, with seven for 99 yards, while TE Jeremiah Franklin had six receptions for 56 yards. Seven other Eagles had pass receptions.

Junior linebacker Daveon Crouch led the BC defense with 14 tackles, nine of them solo.

Highlights (3:14)

The Eagles finish the season 7-6 (4-4). BC has had six or seven wins in 10 of its last 12 seasons and still seeks its first eight-win season since 2009.

Opening game next season is at home against Fordham in late August.

BC’s men’s hockey team is 12-3-1 (6-2-1 in Hockey East) and ranked #2 in the country. The women’s lacrosse team defends its national championship beginning February 7. Look for San Diego gamewatches.

Eagles celebrate after one of their five touchdowns yesterday against Pitt. No field goals.

*As in the meaning “to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule” . . . or scoring more points.

The Eagles achieved a winning regular season yesterday with an emphatic win over ACC Pitt, 34-23, in Alumni Stadium. At 7-5, they await learning their upcoming bowl game opponent, which is to be announced next Sunday.

Quarterback Grayson James, running backs Kye Robichaux and Jordan McDonald, and receivers Lewis Bond, Kamari Morales, and Reed Harris continued as major contributors to the offense, but the defense added their own touchdown. Defensive tackle Tyeus Clemons returned an interception 55 yards for a second quarter score.

On BC’s second possession of the game, on their own 33, the Eagles scored after three plays, including a 26-yard pass from James to TE Jeremiah Franklin, followed by a 36-yard run by Jordan McDonald for the touchdown. The PAT was no good.

The teams traded touchdowns to set up Clemons’ dramatic interception return. Hurried by the BC defense, Pitt’s pass was blocked and went right to Clemons. The 6-3, 273-lb. lineman brought it quickly to the endzone for a 20-7 BC lead. Pitt added a field goal to make the halftime score, 20-14.

While the Eagles dominated the third quarter by the numbers, with BC more than doubling the Panthers in total yards, 115-52, the teams traded touchdowns to enter the final quarter with BC up, 27-17.

It was much the same in the 4th quarter, as BC scored to double Pitt 34-17 and the Panthers were able to add another touchdown with less than four minutes to play. Pitt’s two-point conversion attempt failed, their onside kick attempt failed and the game ended 34-23.

Highlights (4:00)

WR Reed Harris touchdown reception.

James finished the game 20-of-28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Robichaux ran 21 times for 71 yards and a touchdown, while McDonald gained 60 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Reed had five catches for 45 yards, Morales four receptions for 51, and Harris caught three balls for 85 yards and the incredible touchdown catch at right. On defense, DE Donovan Ezeiruaku had three-and-a-half sacks and 10 tackles to lead the team,

This is BC’s first seven-win season since 2018.

“I’m very proud today to have a chance to possibly win eight games, which hasn’t been done in a long time,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “I’m just proud to be associated with Boston College football.”