(This was delayed from the normal timeframe, the day following the game, because the author was in the Boston area for the past week. More about that later.)

Okay, it wasn’t a full year, but close enough. BC’s 26-7 victory over UMass last Saturday was the Eagles’ first win since September 26, 2015, over Northern Illinois, 17-14. That’s 350 days (leap year this year) and that is too long for any respectable program.

Saturday’s crowd, announced at 25,000 or so, made Gillette Stadium, which can seat more than 68,000, look even bigger than it is. Of the 25,000, 15,000 may have been BC fans. Not typical to have an away game at a site closer to your campus than that of the “home” team. But it was very easy to park and club level seating offered easy access to good food and drink, as well as cover from rain.

BC’s defense, in this case Isaac Yiadom, left, and Jimmy Martin, stifled the UMass offense.

UMass scored first, on a 58-yard pass late in the first quarter. It was just about the only significant offensive play BC allowed. The Minutemen gained 122 yards overall, of which that touchdown was nearly half the total. BC got on the board at with 4:32 to go in the half with a 46-yard Patrick Towles TD pass to one of last year’s quarterbacks, Jeff Smith. Fans may have thought the worst when kicker Mike Knoll missed the PAT, but Knoll came back.

Less than a-minute-and a-half later, the same TD combo, this time for 36 yards, gave BC a 13-7 halftime lead. Knoll added two field goals, from 40 and 37 yards, in the third quarter, and a 15-yard run by Jon Hilliman late in the fourth quarter, capped the scoring. Knoll kicked in place of Colton Lichtenberg, who had been ineffective against Georgia Tech in the opener.

Overall, BC had 14 first downs and 344 total yards. Towles was 12 of 22, with an interception, for 191 yards. The transfer from Kentucky, who is 6-5, 250, was also the leading rusher with 66 yards on 12 attempts. Hilliman had 22 carries for 54 yards.

San Diego’s Ray Smith, from Cathedral Catholic, was the starting nose tackle for BC and the sophomore 6-1, 292-pounder is #1 nose tackle on the depth chart against VaTech.

Highlights

Next up, Virginia Tech, Saturday 12:30 pm PT.

We eschewed the usual opening gamewatch last week, as BC-Georgia Tech in Dublin had a 4:30 am PT kickoff. This Saturday, kickoff of the BC-UMass game, to be held in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, is 9 am PT, and San Diego Eagles will be at The Beer Co. to cheer. Join us!

Boston College scored the only touchdown in the game against Duke yesterday, which belies the offensive power shown by the Eagles in the 9-7 loss. The low score said much more about BC’s defense, which held the Blue Devils to three field goals, all in the first half; held Duke scoreless on first-and-goal from the one in the second half; limited the Dukies to only 73 yards total offense in the second half; and held Duke to a total of 33 yards rushing for the game.

Troy Flutie

With BC down 6-0 in the second quarter, Eagles freshman quarterback Jeff Smith threw what appeared to many to be a 25-yard touchdown pass to freshman Thadd Smith, but the pass was ruled incomplete by officials on the field. Replay officials sustained the call, which was vociferously and vigorously opposed by Coach Steve Addazio, A BC field goal attempt from the 25 then was muffed and Duke took over on downs.

Holding Duke at the beginning of the third quarter, BC mishandled the ensuing punt, which Duke recovered on the BC 15. Two plays later, Duke was on the 1. Four rushing attempts failed and BC took over on downs.

Troy Flutie, above, threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to the same Thadd Smith late in the third quarter to bring the Eagles within 2, at 9-7. The Eagles reached the Duke 27 late in the fourth quarter, but freshman kicker Colton Lichtenberg missed a 45-yard field goal.

Flutie had a career high 129 yards passing, completing 5 of 8 attempts. Smith was 3-13 for 12 yards, but led the team with 60 yards rushing on 11 carries. BC overall gained 305 yards to Duke’s 228, and had 9 fewer plays than the Blue Devils.

Next up, Wake Forest, which fell by 8 to Florida State on Saturday.