C.J. Lewis, about to snare a touchdown pass. Look! There are people in the stands. BC photo

On Halloween, in #1 Clemson’s “Death Valley” stadium, the Eagles were flying high. In less than two minutes, BC’s had taken the opening kickoff and moved 74 yards in four plays to score a touchdown on a Phil Jurkovec 11-yard pass to Zay Flowers. A classmate texted me: “Did we just do that?!”

Okay, so Clemson came right back and, in just over two minutes, went 64 yards in six plays to equal the score, as QB D.J. Uiagelelei tossed the ball to Travis Etienne who ran it in for the 35-yard score. Seven-seven after just over four minutes gone. Shootout, anyone?

With a series of exciting, innovative, and improbable plays, BC put Clemson in its largest halftime deficit in like forever, 28-13. It was a great half of football for the Eagles. The second half was not. Uiagelelei (a product of St. John Bosco, Bellflower, just south of LA) played like the five-star recruit he was and Clemson blanked BC to give the Tigers a 34-28 comeback win.

The stats in the first half did not reflect the score. Clemson had more first downs (16-13), more plays (42-29) for more yards (239-209). BC was more efficient, averaging 7.2 yards per play, while the Tigers gained an average of 5.7 yards. One stat may help explain the situation. One for 97. Early in the second quarter, Clemson had the ball on BC’s one-yard line. Etienne took the ball, fumbled, and BC’s Brandon Sebastian scooped it up on the three-yard line and ran 97 yards for the touchdown. A 14-point swing.

That, however, was followed by a series of plays that will be recalled and recounted many times by BC fans. On a 14-play drive that stalled at the Clemson 23-yard line, BC sent in the field goal team. Those watching were likely puzzled when one of the blockers for BC suddenly sprinted laterally away from the formation. Then, placeholder John Tessitore jumped up from his kneeling position and ran to the center, appearing ready to take a snap. With a vigorous yell and head bob, Tessitore drew several Clemson players offside, giving BC a first down. On the next play, Jurkovec threw an 18-yard pass to C.J. Lewis in the end zone, who made a miraculous catch of the ball that had bounced off the Clemson defender (it’s the photo at the top of this post). A four-point swing.

Stat-wise, as well as score-wise, the situation was flipped in the second half. Clemson took the kickoff and marched 64 yards in seven plays, topped off by a 30-yard touchdown run by Uiagelelei. Two more touchdowns by the Tigers seemed almost routine. BC gained only 66 yards total offense in the second half, while Clemson gained 226 yards. A missed two-point conversion by Clemson was offset by a two-point safety when Jurkovec was called for grounding in the end zone with 1:18 remaining.

This was a game played through the air. Of BC’s 275 total yards, 208 were by the pass, only 67 on the ground. Jurkovec was 13 of 25 passing for two touchdowns, with no interceptions. Clemson ran for 106 yards, while Uiagelelei was 30 of 43 for 342 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Here are highlights.

BC fell to 4-3, 3-3 in the ACC. Next game Saturday, November 7, at Syracuse, 11 am PT.

David Bailey scores one of his two touchdowns against Georgia Tech. BC photo

In yesterday’s game, won handily by BC over Georgia Tech 48-27, the Eagles gave a little back compared to what they had gotten in the previous game.

Virginia Tech ran for 350 yards in its 40-14 lambasting of BC on October 17. Yesterday, the Eagles didn’t run as far as the Hokies had, but their 264 yards rushing were their highest total of the season. Oddly, each quarterback led his team in rushing, with Phil Jurkovec gaining 94 yards on seven carries, including one for 28 yards.

BC started strong early. Their first six drives resulted in four touchdowns, two field goals, and a 34-14 lead at the break. It was their highest first-half point total this season. Two of the Eagles’ touchdowns came after recovery of Georgia Tech fumbles, including one returned for 33 yards and a touchdown by Michael Palmer. BC had 15 first downs and 257 yards total offense, including 147 on the ground, in the first half.

The Eagles opened the second half with a five-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 34-yard run for a touchdown by RB David Bailey. Bailey, whom many consider the successor to all-American A.J. Dillon, had played a secondary role to the robust passing attack so far this season. Yesterday, he had 13 carries for 83 yards.

Later in the second half, it seemed as if the foot had been taken off the BC offense pedal. The only other touchdown scored in the second half came late in the third quarter after DB Jahmin Muse intercepted a Georgia Tech pass on the GT 12. Bailey scored his second touchdown with a four-yard run. The other second-half possessions by BC ended with punts and the clock running out.

Jurkovec ended the day 13 of 21 passing for 145 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. C.J. Lewis led the receiving corps with four receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles ran 65 plays for a total of 409 yards, quite efficiently producing 48 points.

The win yesterday was BC’s first against Georgia Tech since 2007.

Here are game highlights.

The Eagles improved to 4-2. Next up is a game on Halloween in #1 Clemson’s Death Valley. Scary? Kickoff is 9 am PT. It will be televised on ABC.

Game face on, COVID-style. BC photo

When you look at some statistics from the 40-14 blowout BC loss yesterday at #23 Virginia Tech, the game seems almost close.

Total yards: 435 and 461. First downs: 24 and 23. Time of possession: 29:12 and 30:48. The Eagles actually ran 20 more plays than the Hokies,

Two stats, however, told much of the story. Fumbles: BC 3, VaTech 0. Passes intercepted: BC 2, VaTech 0.

BC’s first two drives consisted of 11 plays gaining 98 yards. The Eagles got to the VaTech 26 and 15 yard lines, but fumbled each time. The second fumble led to the Hokies’ first score, a field goal. Interceptions of two BC passes led to other touchdowns and the additional fumble resulted in another field goal.

A 12-yard touchdown pass from Phil Jurkovec to Jaelen Gill gave BC the lead in the second quarter, 7-3. That was their only lead of the game. At halftime, VaTech led 17-7, somewhat respectable and, considering BC’s second half performances and comebacks in previous games, seemingly in the Eagles’ wheelhouse.

Jurkovec’s 20-yard TD pass to Hunter Long was the opening score of the second half, brining BC to within three. VaTech, however, almost literally sprinted ahead after that, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal for the final 26-point spread (they missed a two-point conversion attempt).

BC’s run defense was gashed by the Hokies for 350 yards, an average of 8.5 yards per carry. VaTech quarterback Hendon Hooker led the charge, gaining 166 yards on 18 carries, an average of 9.1 yards per carry, and scoring three touchdowns. RB Khalil Herbert was a close second, gaining 146 yards on 18 carries, including a run of 57 yards. Hooker also gained 111 yards passing, completing his first eight throws and finishing 11 of 15, no picks.

The Eagles ran for 90 yards, continuing an anemic rushing attack for the season, and gained 345 yards passing. Jurkovec was 28 of 51 passing, for two touchdowns and with two interceptions. WR Zay Flowers, last week’s star, caught seven balls for 57 yards.

Highlights:

BC takes on Georgia Tech next week in Alumni Stadium. That is, if the Rambling Wrecks will have overcome the wreckage from yesterday’s 73-7 loss to Clemson. Game time Saturday, October 24, 1 pm PT.