(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.
