Monthly Archives: September 2020

Not Kansas anymore

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Good form, Aaron. (BC photo)

Last year (doesn’t that seem forever ago?), Kansas visited BC as 21-point underdogs and beat the Eagles 48-24. Yesterday, Texas State came to Alumni Stadium as 21-point underdogs and led or tied the Eagles until three seconds remained and grad transfer Aaron Boumerhi kicked a 36-yard field goal to put BC ahead for the first time and for the win, 24-21.

I texted classmates shortly thereafter about the implausibility that the Eagles, long struggling in the kicking game, would win a game with a field goal. One had the perfect response: “What did you expect? It’s 2020.”

Against ACC foe Duke in its opener last week, the BC offense started slow but cranked up in the second half for the 26-6 win. Yesterday, the Eagles offense sputtered until the closing minutes. Total offense yesterday was three yards fewer than the 300 yards BC gained passing the previous week.

Down 21-14 with a little over three minutes left in the game, BC got the ball on the Texas State 48, thanks to a targeting penalty on the Bobcats on the punt return. Having completed 14 of 24 passing to that point, BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec got hot and completed six of eight passes, culminating in a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long to tie the game with 2:04 remaining.

Due to two incomplete passes and a BC timeout, Texas State then punted after using only 24 seconds on the clock. Starting on their 32 yard line, the Eagles moved to the Texas State 19 with five straight complete passes by Jurkovec. An incomplete pass preceded the winning field goal.

With piped-in sounds and victory fireworks (and apparitions in the stands), BC tried to replicate “normal.” Bet the neighbors loved the light and sound show at 9:20 pm. (BC photo)

Overall, Jurkovec was 26 of 38 passing for 210 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also led the Eagles in rushing, running eight times and gaining 37 of BC’s total 87 yards on the ground. Jurkovec also scored two touchdowns rushing.

Here are highlights.

BC remains at home next Saturday, hosting North Carolina. The Tarheels are 1-0, having defeated Syracuse 31-6 on September 12. Their September 19 game against Charlotte was canceled because of coronavirus issues and this weekend was a bye. Game time Saturday is 12:30 pm PT.

BC Football at 3 pm PT Saturday

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The Eagles’ first home game is Saturday, September 26, at 3 pm PT. When the game — against Texas State — was initially announced, game time had been set for noon PT.

One might assume the change in time was to accommodate television. The game is to be televised on the ACC Regional Sports Network, made up of cable and local affiliate stations. Among the stations listed as carrying the game are:

  • AT&T Sportsnet Las Vegas
  • Fox Sports Prime Ticket
  • New England Sports Network Plus 

The local/regional sports package on DirecTV, at least, carries Fox Sports Prime Ticket and New England Sports Network Plus. You can also go on the BC Athletics website to find other alternatives.

BC puts up their dukes for Devils

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BC’s masked man, new coach Jeff Hafley, fronts the Eagles before their entrance onto the field.

Heck, maybe it was worth the wait.

Way back in December, BC announced it had hired a new football coach to replace Steve Addazio. Jeff Hafley, who had been co-defensive coordinator for Ohio State in 2019, arrived on the Heights with an extensive background in defensive coaching in both collegiate and professional football.

Excited anticipation ensued. A breath of fresh air in Chestnut Hill. Then, well, you know what happened. Lockdown, cancellation of winter and spring sports, closing the campus. Summer arrives and it appears the ACC will play football, but with an (almost) all-conference slate and delayed starts. Today, it started for BC.

The Eagles took the lead early, added to it, and defeated the Duke Blue Devils, 26-6, in a fanless Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. San Diego Eagles mostly watched from home, as there was no official game watch locally.

New BC quarterback Phil Jurkovic, a transfer from (gulp) Notre Dame, was 17 of 23 passing, throwing for 300 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The Eagles overall had 440 yards offense.

Tight end Hunter Long caught nine balls for 93 yards, but it Zay Flowers led in yards receiving, gaining 161 yards on five receptions, including a 61-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Junior Danny Longman was two-of-two in field goals, but missed one point-after.

Running backs David Bailey and Travis Levy combined for 117 yards rushing, with Levy running for 58 yards in one play and Bailey scoring a touchdown.

Duke (0-2) had been favored in the game, as it had already played a game, in which they performed somewhat decently against Notre Dame, beating the spread. The Blue Devils suffered five turnovers against BC.

Here are highlights of the game.

BC plays next Saturday against the only non-ACC team on the schedule, Texas State. UPDATE: Game time is 3 pm PT.