Monthly Archives: October 2019

Orange Crush

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Travis Etienne ran for 109 yards in the Clemson rout.

For five minutes, 44 seconds, in yesterday’s BC-Clemson football game, the Eagles marched 75 yards in 15 plays to score a touchdown to reduce the Tigers’ lead to 17-7. Fittingly, the touchdown was scored by AJ Dillon on a nine-yard run. Later in the game, Dillon became BC’s all-time leading rusher.

The rest of the game was all Clemson. Coming into the game favored by five touchdowns or more, the Tigers were college football’s most dominant favorite on yesterday’s slate of games. And they beat the spread.

Despite taking its foot off the gas in the second half, Clemson routed BC, 59-7.

On defense, after giving up a then-school-record 664 yards to Louisville three weeks ago, BC gave Clemson 10 more, allowing the Tigers to gain 674 total yards. On offense, the Eagles failed to reach triple digits either rushing or passing, gaining only 177 yards in total offense, a season low.

BC quarterback Dennis Grosel, in place of Anthony Brown, lost for the season to injury, completed 3 of 14 passes for 53 yards, including a 30-yard pass to tight end Hunter Long in the sole touchdown drive.

This was BC’s 14th loss to a ranked team in its last 15 such games and 12th consecutive loss to Clemson.

Video

The Eagles are 4-4 for the season, 2-3 in the ACC. They have four remaining games and need to win at least two of those to qualify for participating in a post-season bowl game. Next up, 3-5 Syracuse.

 

Whipping Wolfpack

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David Bailey

North Carolina State entered yesterday’s football game against BC leading the ACC and ranked fifth in the nation in defense against the run. They left the game shredded by the Eagles’ rushing attack that set team and national marks for yardage and led BC to a 45-24 win.

Running backs AJ Dillon and David Bailey each ran for 180+ yards, the first time that’s ever happened for the Eagles and the first time in national college football in 20 years. Dillon rushed 34 times for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Bailey ran for 182 yards, scoring 2 touchdowns (54- and 48-yard runs), on 16 attempts.

As a team, BC ran for 429 yards, more than N.C. State had allowed in its first 6 games combined. The Eagles also passed for 103 yards for a total offense of 532 yards, the third straight game BC has exceeded 500 yards in offense.

The Eagles actually scored first on a defensive play, an 8-yard pick 6 by Jason Maitre. The BC defense, which had been so porous in other games, held N.C. State to 56 yards rushing (4 yards in the 1st half), and 366 yards total offense for the game.

Enjoy some video highlights.

This Saturday, the opponent is top 5 Clemson in late afternoon.

 

Cardinals carry on . . . and on . . .

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Redshirt sophomore Dennis Grosel possible BC quarterback for remainder of season.

What an offense! BC gained a season-high 563 yards yesterday at Louisville, and in a balanced way — 304 yards through the air and 259 on the ground. The Eagles had gained 354 total yards at halftime!

What a defense? BC gave up a school record 664 yards to the Cardinals. Louisville was less balanced. Like it mattered. The Cardinals threw for 428 yards and gained 236 yards rushing.

After taking back the lead in the fourth quarter, 39-38, with 3:57 remaining, BC put its defense back on the field to protect the slim lead. This was the defense that in the game gave up six drives of at least 50 yards, 16 big-yardage plays, and eight third-down conversions. Louisville then covered 52 yards in eight plays and two-and-a-half minutes. The Cardinals kicked the 41-yard game-winning field goal, 41-39.

In the Boston Globe today, BC coach Steve Addazio was quoted as saying: “Two teams really battle back and forth with each other. It came down to who had the ball last.”

As the Globe said: “But it actually didn’t.”

With 1:02 remaining, BC returned the kickoff to its 24. After completing a pass for nine yards and an illegal substitution penalty on Louisville, resulting in a first down, the Eagles threw two incomplete passes, ran for eight yards, and finished with another incomplete pass to lose possession on downs with two seconds left.

Louisville snapped a nine-game losing streak against ACC opponents. BC has lost five of its last six games against ACC teams.

BC starting quarterback Anthony Brown started off very strong, completing six of seven passes for 193 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long. Brown, however, injured his knee making a cut early in the second quarter and spent the second half on the sideline using crutches. Replacement Dennis Grosel was only 9-of-24 for 111 yards and an interception, but passed for three touchdowns.

Running back AJ Dillon had his fourth-straight game of over 100 yards rushing, running for 118 yards on 22 carries.

Video highlights

The Eagles evened their record at 3-3, but are 1-2 in conference play. They have a bye this weekend before facing N.C. State, Clemson, Florida State, and Syracuse — all teams they lost to last season — as well as Notre Dame and Pitt.