Photo by John Quackenbos

I don’t know that one could call BC’s performance against Duke Friday night “competitive,” but to some extent it felt as if it was in the second half. Sadly, even that modest level of play was a highlight of the current season.

Behind 31-14 in the third quarter, the Eagles then out-scored the Blue Devils 17-7 to close the gap to 38-31 at the end. Scoring a field goal with 17 seconds remaining, BC attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Duke.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Emmett Morehead played the entire game, in place of the injured Phil Jurkovec. Morehead became the first BC quarterback on record (since 1981) to throw four touchdowns in his debut as a starter and the first to throw four or more since Dennis Grosel against Virginia in 2020. He’s also only the third BC quarterback to throw for 300+ yards in his first start, joining Mark Hartsell (338 yards against Michigan, 1994) and Jurkovec (300 vs. Duke, 2020).

Morehead was 27 of 45 passing, for 330 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.

I leave it to others to gauge to what extent Duke’s weakness at pass defense (next to last in the ACC) was a factor.

Duke might have watched the BC-UConn game, because they did something very similar on their opening drive. Starting at its 10-yard line, Duke was a little less efficient than the Huskies, but the Blue Devils got the same result. They went 90 yards in six plays for the touchdown, with QB Riley Leonard running 60 yards up the middle for the score.

I was tardy to the gamewatch and listened to the first seven minutes of the game on XM radio. I heard the BC radio broadcast. When Duke scored that early touchdown, I could see in my mind’s eye analyst and former Eagle football player Peter Cronan’s shoulders slump as he said, “They practiced against that play every day.” 

Duke was ahead only 10-7 after the first quarter, but expanded that lead to 24-14 at halftime. Duke had gained 254 yards, exceeding the Eagles’ offense by 109 yards.

While gaining 174 yards in the fourth quarter, compared to 19 yards for Duke, BC scored only 10 points, three more than the Blue Devils.

Overall, the Eagles gained 405 yards in offense, 15 more than Duke. It was the second game in a row that BC gained more yards than its opponent in a loss.

Leading rusher for the Eagles was freshman Alex Broome, with 49 yards on 10 carries. BC wide receiver Zay Flowers had six catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns, while Griffin had five receptions for two touchdowns.

Highlights

BC falls to 2-7, 1-5 in the ACC. Eagles travel Saturday to meet North Carolina State at 12:30 pm PT.

Credit this image of a dumpster fire to BC Interruption, used with their game report yesterday.

Playing a team that had never beaten BC in 14 previous attempts, the Eagles honored Halloween weekend by treating UConn yesterday to five turnovers of possession and a ghoulishly ineffective offense. The Huskies took the win, 13-3.

The Boston Globe, which had been generally positive in its coverage this season, said the BC loss brought an “extremely disappointing season” to “a new low.”

Playing in East Hartford, Conn., before 25,000 fans, UConn took the opening kickoff from BC and, following a 10-yard penalty, scored the game’s only touchdown two plays later on a 62-yard pass. BC’s opening drive, in response, failed on fourth-and-one. The Eagles have failed to score on each opening drive this season.

The Huskies kicked a field goal to go up 10-0 and that was the scoring for the first quarter. In the opening quarter, UConn gained 136 yards total offense, the Eagles 16 yards.

BC opened the second quarter with an 11-play, 79-yard drive that was its first offensive threat of the game. Even then, with fourth-and-goal on the two, the Eagles opted for a field goal and their only points. Later in the quarter, BC had a drive featuring a 45-yard pass from Jurkovec to Garwo, but Jurkovec threw an interception in the endzone from the 12.

Halfway through the third quarter, Jurkovec took a hard hit and left the game. He was replaced by Emmett Morehead for the remainder of the game. Jurkovec later sat on the sideline wearing a brace on his right knee. In the middle of the final quarter, UConn recovered a BC fumble on BC’s 32 and later scored the final points of the game.

UConn’s win was its first over any Power 5 opponent since 2016. Earlier this season, they gave up an average of 49 points to their three previous Power 5 opponents. The Eagles are now 4-12 in their last 16 games and 14-17 under coach Jeff Hafley.

Overall, the Eagles ran more plays (68 to 58), gained more yards (335 to 280), had fewer penalties (2 to 10) than the Huskies, but inefficiency was their hobgoblin. Three interceptions and two lost fumbles stymied sometimes good efforts. Connor Lytton also missed a 43-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining.

Jurkovec was again BC’s leading rusher, with 29 yards. The Eagles rushed for a total of 76 yards. Jurkovec was 12 of 19 passing for 155 yards, no TDs and two interceptions. Morehead completed 9 of 18 passes for 104 yards and an interception.

Normally BC’s star performer, Zay Flowers was haunted during the game. Targeted seven times for passes, he had two receptions for 35 yards. He dropped what could well have been a long touchdown pass. His single rushing attempt was for a loss of 10 yards and he even muffed a punt reception.

Highlights

BC falls to 2-6, 1-4 in the ACC. Their next four opponents — Duke, N.C. State, Notre Dame, and Syracuse — all have winning records. Absent an upset, BC is looking at its first season with nine or more losses since 2015. Game against Duke is Friday, November 4.

BC QB Phil Jurkovec in Wake’s grasp.

Expectations that a bye week in the schedule might have provided the Boston College football team time for recovery and refocusing as they met #13 Wake Forest were initially bolstered in yesterday’s game. The Deacons broke the game open in the second half, however, finishing as 43-15 winners.

The Eagles scored first, following a 12-play, 68-yard drive. On their second possession, quarterback Phil Jurkovec completed four straight passes and rushed twice for 21 yards to bring the Eagles to the Wake Forest eight-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a penalty, however, pushed BC back to the Wake 12. Connor Lytton put the Eagles on the board with a 29-yard field goal.

The first quarter ended with Wake ahead 7-3, but also with BC having run 19 plays for 80 yards, compared to 15 plays for 76 yards for the Deacons.

After Wake Forest went ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter, there came a series of plays that provided a lot of entertainment and excitement for BC fans, however illusory they were in regard to the final outcome.

The Eagles started at their 10-yard line, due to a penalty on the kickoff. They achieved two first downs, but faltered and faced 4th and 8 at the BC 40. Punter Danny Longman took the snap, watched Deacons players fall back, and simply ran straight ahead for 24 yards before going out of bounds. (His one carry for 24 yards made him the leading rusher for BC for the game.)

That was cool, but it was just the beginning.

On the Wake Forest 38-yard line, Jurkovec completed passes for 0 and 1 yard, bracketing an incomplete pass. On 4th and 11 on the Wake 37-yard line, Jurkovec was sacked and fumbled the ball. It was recovered by a Deacons player who advanced the ball, but who fumbled it when tackled by BC offensive lineman Jack Conley. Fellow offensive lineman Jackson Ness recovered for the Eagles.

Regaining the ball at the 50, the Eagles promptly lost 11 yards. On the next play, Jurkovec threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. Ho-hum. Wake 14-BC 9 (Eagles missed the point-after attempt).

Ahead by only five points, the Deacons responded with a 10-play drive for 75 yards and a touchdown. Wake 21-BC 9.

Once again, the Eagles exceeded or matched Wake in plays and offense in the second quarter. BC ran 23 plays for 122 yards, while Wake had 18 plays for 121 yards. BC had two scores for a total of nine points, however, while the Deacons  had scored three times for 21 points.

In the post-game press conference, BC coach Jeff Hafley said, “I just feel like we’re wearing down because the game gets on and there’s a lack of depth right now. Some inexperienced players are playing [different] positions. . . . I feel like we’re wearing down and get a bit overwhelmed in the second half. . . .”

Yep. In the second half, Wake Forest added 22 points and 231 yards offense, while the Eagles put up six points (on a seven-yard rush by Jurkovec and failed two-point attempt) and 113 yards.

Jurkovec finished 20 of 38 passing for 221 yards, no interceptions and one touchdown pass. He also ran nine times for 21 yards and a touchdown. BC rushed for 56 yards on 23 carries in the game.

Zay Flowers led the receivers with 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman was 25 of 40 for 313 yards. He was intercepted once by defensive back Cole Batson (from San Clemente). Hartman also threw five touchdown passes. 

Highlights

Wake Forest improved to 6-1, 2-1 in the ACC. BC fell to 2-5, 1-4 in the conference. The Eagles have five games remaining, and need to win four of those to become bowl eligible. They play UConn next Saturday in East Hartford, Conn., which may help.