Freshman WR Joseph Griffin Jr. grabs pass one-handed in the end zone for tying score in game against N.C. State.

Wow. What a weird game.

First, though, the good stuff. Boston College beat #16 North Carolina State, 21-20, yesterday in Raleigh, N.C. It was the Eagles’ first win over an Associated Press-ranked team since the win over #9 USC in 2014. The win ended a streak of 25 consecutive BC losses to AP-ranked teams. It also ended the Wolfpack’s streak of 16 consecutive wins at home. And on N.C. State’s Homecoming.

Redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead became the first BC quarterback on record (1981-present) to account for seven touchdowns or 600+ yards passing in his first two starts. He passed for three touchdowns and 330 yards yesterday.

With his second pass reception yesterday, senior WR Zay Flowers became BC’s all-time leader in receiving yards. His seven receptions for 130 yards yesterday put him at 2,900 career yards. He is close to other BC pass reception records as well. 

Back to the game, which started as seemingly most BC games have this season. The Eagles received the opening kickoff and punted after four plays. The Wolfpack then drove 88 yards in five plays (four of them for double-digit yards) to go up 7-0. On their second possession, BC lost six yards and punted. N.C. State then went 68 yards in six plays (three of them for double-digit yards) for a 14-0 lead.

Then something different happened. Completing five of seven passes, Morehead led the Eagles on an eight-play, 75-yard drive, finishing with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Flowers. First quarter ended with BC down 14-7.

In the second quarter, BC’s offense went back to sleep, gaining a total of 35 yards in three possessions and scoring no points. The Wolfpack more than tripled BC’s yardage in the quarter, but scored only three points to take a 17-7 lead at halftime.

In the first half, the Eagles, leading the nation in rushing futility, ran 12 times for two yards. They did worse in the second half.

In the second half, however, it was like the teams had switched identities during the break. Well, not right away. N.C. State punted on their first possession and BC’s Jaelin Gill fumbled the punt, giving the ball back to the Pack on the BC 42. N.C. State gained only 14 yards on five plays, however, and kicked a field goal to go up 20-7. Those were the last points the Wolfpack was to score.

Starting their next possession with a run for a one-yard loss, the Eagles eschewed the run for a while. Morehead threw and completed seven consecutive passes, culminating with a 35-yard pass to Flowers, and the Eagles cut the lead to 20-14.

The two teams then spent the rest of the third quarter and most of the final quarter exchanging possessions through a succession of fumbles, interceptions, and punts. With 2:47 left in the game, BC got the ball on their 31. Then a dramatic series of 12 BC plays ensued.

Morehead ran the ball four times, mostly because of pressure. On BC’s penultimate play, on fourth down at the N.C. State 10, Morehead’s pass was incomplete. The Pack, however, was called for pass interference. BC ball on the two, 18 seconds to go. Morehead threw a pass into the endzone to freshman Joseph Griffin Jr., who caught it in his right hand and pulled it in. It was Griffin’s only reception of the game. Morehead was four-of-nine passing in the final drive.

The Eagles ran for positive yardage in only one quarter. In the second half, they ran 11 times for a net of -3 yards. As a team, for the game, they rushed 23 times for -1 yard. The sequence of N.C. State’s final seven possessions was fumble, punt, fumble, punt, interception, punt, fumble.

Morehead overall was 29 of 48 passing for 330 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Mention should be made of the Eagles on defense. The Wolfpack gained only 61 yards in the second half. Grad defensive end Marcus Valdez had six tackles, three for loss, with a career-high two sacks. He also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble on separate plays. Redshirt freshman Cole Batson made his first career start at free safety and led all players with nine tackles.

Highlights

BC improved its record to 3-7, 2-5 in the ACC. Next week is Notre Dame, which had to hold on yesterday to defeat Navy, 35-32, after leading 35-13 at halftime.

Photo by John Quackenbos

I don’t know that one could call BC’s performance against Duke Friday night “competitive,” but to some extent it felt as if it was in the second half. Sadly, even that modest level of play was a highlight of the current season.

Behind 31-14 in the third quarter, the Eagles then out-scored the Blue Devils 17-7 to close the gap to 38-31 at the end. Scoring a field goal with 17 seconds remaining, BC attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Duke.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Emmett Morehead played the entire game, in place of the injured Phil Jurkovec. Morehead became the first BC quarterback on record (since 1981) to throw four touchdowns in his debut as a starter and the first to throw four or more since Dennis Grosel against Virginia in 2020. He’s also only the third BC quarterback to throw for 300+ yards in his first start, joining Mark Hartsell (338 yards against Michigan, 1994) and Jurkovec (300 vs. Duke, 2020).

Morehead was 27 of 45 passing, for 330 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.

I leave it to others to gauge to what extent Duke’s weakness at pass defense (next to last in the ACC) was a factor.

Duke might have watched the BC-UConn game, because they did something very similar on their opening drive. Starting at its 10-yard line, Duke was a little less efficient than the Huskies, but the Blue Devils got the same result. They went 90 yards in six plays for the touchdown, with QB Riley Leonard running 60 yards up the middle for the score.

I was tardy to the gamewatch and listened to the first seven minutes of the game on XM radio. I heard the BC radio broadcast. When Duke scored that early touchdown, I could see in my mind’s eye analyst and former Eagle football player Peter Cronan’s shoulders slump as he said, “They practiced against that play every day.” 

Duke was ahead only 10-7 after the first quarter, but expanded that lead to 24-14 at halftime. Duke had gained 254 yards, exceeding the Eagles’ offense by 109 yards.

While gaining 174 yards in the fourth quarter, compared to 19 yards for Duke, BC scored only 10 points, three more than the Blue Devils.

Overall, the Eagles gained 405 yards in offense, 15 more than Duke. It was the second game in a row that BC gained more yards than its opponent in a loss.

Leading rusher for the Eagles was freshman Alex Broome, with 49 yards on 10 carries. BC wide receiver Zay Flowers had six catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns, while Griffin had five receptions for two touchdowns.

Highlights

BC falls to 2-7, 1-5 in the ACC. Eagles travel Saturday to meet North Carolina State at 12:30 pm PT.