WR Reed Harris collects 39-yard pass from Grayson James for BC’s first and only lead in yesterday’s loss to UConn. (Photo of video recording.)

In a report last week on BC football, the Boston Globe used the subhed “UConn or UCan’t?” above a discussion of the importance of yesterday’s game against UConn. Well, the answer was BC couldn’t.

The reception in the photo above resulted in a 20-17 BC lead at the end of the first half. In the second half, the Eagles added just three points on a fourth-quarter field goal by Luca Lombardo and allowed three Huskies touchdowns in a 38-23 loss to UConn.

The Homecoming loss was BC’s second to UConn in their last three meetings. The Huskies won 13-3 in 2022. The 2022 game was BC’s first loss to UConn after wins in their six previous meetings since 2000.

While being the top-ranked college football team in New England is not regarded by most as a heady achievement, it’s been something BC and their fans have assumed is usually the case. Yesterday’s game probably gives the crown to UConn, though fans of undefeated Harvard (5-0) might disagree.

Alabama transfer QB Dylan Lonergan, who had started in BC’s first six games, was replaced by Grayson James against UConn. James had become BC’s starter in the middle of last season and led the Eagles to a 3-2 record.

Yesterday, the Eagles had a somewhat strong opening quarter. They ran 23 offensive plays to only seven for the Huskies and held the ball for 11:18, more than triple the time of possession for UConn. BC had eight first downs, compared to three for UConn. The Huskies had one rush for one yard. The results were much closer, however.

Going three-of-six passing and only two-for-five in third down conversions, the Eagles could produce only six points on two Lombardo field goals. UConn was six-of-six passing for 91 yards, including a 50-yaerd touchdown pass. So the Huskies had a 7-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

The Eagles were stronger in the second quarter, outscoring UConn 14-10. They out-gained the Huskies both on the ground and through the air, totaling 166 yards, compared to 113 for UConn. James was seven-of-eight passing in the quarter.

The third quarter, after a halftime that permits adjustments to improve, has been a particular problem for BC. And it was yesterday as well. UConn outscored BC 14 to 0, with 185 yards of offense. The Eagles had two first downs and a total of 27 yards total offense, zero passing on zero-of-two efforts.

Except for the opening game against FCS Fordham, the Eagles have scored three points TOTAL in all subsequent third quarters. Six quarters of football and three points scored. Conversely, opponents scored a total of 45 points in those quarters.

The fourth quarter yesterday was somewhat equal, as the Huskies enjoyed eight- and 15-point leads.

BC finished with 395 yards total offense and 77 offensive plays. UConn had 58 offensive plays, but for a total of 455 yards, 362 of them through the air. Neither team had a fumble or interception.

James was 16-of-28 passing yesterday for 204 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. He also had 17 carries for a net 26 yards. He was sacked seven times.

The Eagles resurrected their running game, gaining 191 net yards. The ground game was led by RB Jordan McDonald, who carried 24 times for a net 123 yards. There were no rushing touchdowns.

Highlights (9:39) (You’ll hear references to UConn receivers being “wide open!”)

BC falls to 1-6, 0-4 in ACC play. Next game is at #19 Louisville, victors over then-#2 Miami yesterday. Kickoff is Saturday, October 25, 4:30 pm.

Pitt runners usually had much more room to run than in this scrum. Jared Shuster photo.

Today’s Boston Globe headline called yesterday’s 48-7 loss to Pitt a “new low” for BC’s season. That it was. 

The previous three losses by the Eagles featured mistakes, missed tackles, lackadaisical play, and more, but they could have been wins. The total points differential in those games was 16. Against Pitt, BC was behind by almost twice that number at halftime (0-31) and there wasn’t even a hint the rest of the game would be competitive.

BC’s fourth quarter against Stanford, in which the Eagles ran a total of six plays for 10 yards, may have been historically bad. BC’s first half against Pitt was comparable.

The Eagles had one first down in each quarter. Total offense for BC was 69 yards for the half, 78 yards through the air. That’s not a typo. That odd statistic was the product of eight rushing attempts resulting in a total of nine yards in losses. 

In the first half, the Eagles had six possessions, resulting in four three-and-outs, a turnover on downs, and a fumble. Pitt also had six possessions, punting once. 

Obviously, the opponent took advantage. Behind a freshman quarterback making his first collegiate start, the Panthers ran 51 plays in the first half, to 25 for BC, and gained 331 yards, 220 passing. They had the ball for more than 21 minutes, compared to fewer than nine for BC. They were four-of-nine in third-down conversions, three-of-three on fourth down. They scored four touchdowns and a field goal.

Pitt was five-of-five in converting red zone possessions for scores. BC didn’t get to the red zone.

In something of a repetition of his comments following the earlier losses, BC Coach Bill O’Brien said, “I take full responsibility for what happened on that field. I’ve got to do a better job. I’ve got to figure out how to coach these guys better, how to get the staff and the players to understand how we want to play.”

The second half was much of the same, just not as much. Pitt scored two more touchdowns and a field goal.

The Eagles did avoid the shutout. With just under six minutes remaining in the game, true freshman Shaker Reisig came in as quarterback for BC. Going three-for-three passing, including one for 45 yards and another for 22 yards, Reisig led a nine-play, 80-yard drive, finishing with a three-yard pass for a touchdown. 

Reisig, from Tulsa, Okla., completed all three passes to fellow freshman TE Kaelan Chudzinki, from Needham, Mass. They were Chudzinki’s only receptions in the game.

Pitt ended the game with 503 yards total offense, compared to 216 for BC (80 of them on the final drive). The Panthers had 31 first downs, the Eagles 11 (three on the final drive). After seeming to revitalize their running game against Cal, BC gained only 27 net yards on 24 carries yesterday.

BC falls to 1-4 overall, 0-4 in the ACC.

Highlights (10:24) (BC’s highlight starts at 8:37)

Next up is Clemson, struggling at 2-3. Kickoff Saturday, October 11, is at 4:30 pm PT.