AJ Dillon runs with his first collegiate pass reception for BC’s first touchdown.

More than halfway through the first quarter, BC and UMass were tied 7-7 in the Eagles’ season opener at Alumni Stadium yesterday.

A little over 20 minutes later in gametime, the Eagles ran off the field at halftime leading 48-7. The game ended with BC on top 55-21.

The Eagles scored 34 points, gaining 267 yards, in the second quarter. At halftime, they had outgained UMass in total offense, 455 yards to 146 yards. The foot was lifted from the pedal in the second half, one might say, but BC finished with 622 yards total offense, nearly double the Minutemen’s 315 yards for the game.

Running back AJ Dillon played little more than the first half, gaining 98 yards on 20 carries. He also caught his first collegiate pass, for the Eagles’ first touchdown. Quarterback Anthony Brown, whose play was also limited, was 15 for 21 for 279 yards and four touchdowns, no interceptions, all in the first half. Both backup quarterbacks, EJ Perry (3-4-0) and Matt McDonald (2-2-0) played in the second half.

Here are video highlights.

BC played 66 members of the team during the game, essentially three entire squads on both offense and defense.

San Diego Eagles started the season off with good attendance at the gamewatch at Striders, San Diego.

Next up, after a long time, the Crusaders of College of the Holy Cross travel from Worcester to Chestnut Hill to play the Eagles this Saturday. It will be the 83rd game between the two, more than with any other team BC has played, but the first since 1986. For many years, the BC-HC game on Thanksgiving weekend was the finale to the season. BC leads the series 48-31-3. The teams will play again in 2020 in Alumni Stadium. Yesterday, Holy Cross, a member of the Patriot League and the FCS Division, lost its season opener to Colgate, 24-17.