Penalties stifle Eagles - San Diego EaglesSan Diego Eagles

BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos

It was disappointing, and yet fitting, that the Eagles lost their chance to win the game against #3 Florida State yesterday because of a penalty. Down 31-29 with less than two minutes to go, BC appeared to stop the Seminoles short of a first down on third down, likely bringing about a change of possession.

Instead, BC was called for a facemask penalty, giving Florida State an automatic first down and the opportunity to run out the clock and secure the win.

After committing 10 penalties against Northern Illinois in the Eagles’ opening loss and 11 penalties in a close win over Holy Cross, BC head coach Jeff Hafley said those performances kept opponents in the game and “It’s not going to work like that.”

BC committed 11 penalties again yesterday, in the first half. The penalty that erased BC’s final chance was their 18th, a team record. They lost 131 yards because of penalties. In comparison, the Seminoles were called for five penalties and were moved back 45 yards.

Echoing his coach, BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos told the Boston Globe, “That’s something we have to clean up. If we don’t have those [penalties], I feel like we win this game.”

The Eagles began the game as three-touchdown-plus underdogs to the undefeated Seminoles. They also began the game with a strong first quarter, scoring first on a 75-yard drive ending with a 32-yard pass from Castellanos to Lewis Bond for a touchdown. Florida State responded with a field goal to make the first quarter score 7-3 BC.

During the quarter, the Eagles possessed the ball for just over 10 minutes, more than doubling FSU’s time of possession. BC’s offense gained 165 yards in the opening quarter, 103 yards more than the Seminoles.

BC ended the opening quarter on an 11-play drive that took them to the Florida State 6. Converting a fourth-down to the 4, the Eagles stalled on two incomplete passes and a one-yard run. Less than two minutes into the quarter, Liam Connor kicked a 21-yard field goal to put BC up 10-3.

Two long drives by the Seminoles for touchdowns bracketed an unsuccessful BC possession in the second quarter and the teams went into halftime with the Seminoles ahead 17-10.

Florida State’s comeback in the second quarter was aided by eight BC penalties extending Seminole drives and thwarting Eagle possessions. In the first half overall, the Eagles had five false starts, two delay of games, two holding calls, one personal foul, and one pass interference. While BC gained 245 yards in the half, compared to 161 for Florida State, the Eagles trailed by a touchdown.

For the third consecutive game, BC’s opponent opened the second half with an efficient drive for a touchdown. This time, the Seminoles took only six plays to score, highlighted by a 44-yard pass from Jordan Travis to Johnny Wilson to the BC 29. Florida State never faced third down on the drive.

On BC’s next possession, Castellanos’s pass was intercepted at the BC 40. Next play, 39-yard pass from Travis to the 1, then a touchdown run to extend the FSU lead to 31-10. The TV commentator said the game had become “a rout.” There was little reason to argue. Those points, however, were the last ones scored by the Seminoles in the game.

After the teams exchanged punts following short possessions, that mystical thing called “momentum” wafted from the Seminoles and was cheerfully grabbed by the Eagles. Starting on their 20, BC faced a fourth-and-one on their 29. Two-yard run for a first down. Eight plays later, including a 52-yard pass to Dino Tomlin, Eagles scored on a one-yard run by Kye Robichaux to cut the score to 31-16. Connor missed the point-after.

Florida State fumbled the kickoff, recovered by BC on the Seminoles’s 26. The Eagles made it to the 5 before Robichaux was stuffed on a fourth-down run attempt. Florida State moved to their 18, where they fumbled back toward their goal line. BC’s Khari Johnson scooped up the ball and scored. Point after was good and the score was 31-22.

After five plays, the Seminoles punted from the BC 44, putting the ball out of bounds on the BC 5. The Eagles then went on an impressive 95-yard drive that took only two minutes, 11 seconds. Castellanos passed for 42 yards to Bond and 25 yards to Ryan O’Keefe, then finished the drive with a seven-yard run to the end zone. Score 31-29.

Both teams punted after short possessions and Florida State ran out the clock as described at the beginning of this post.

BC had scored 13 points and held the Seminoles scoreless in the final quarter. Overall, the Eagles gained 457 yards on 75 plays, the most this season, compared to 340 yards on 58 plays by Florida State. Castellanos was 20 of 33 passing for 305 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed for 95 yards net on 16 carries, leading the team. O’Keefe had six receptions for 64 yards, while Bond had three receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Here are highlights (11:59).