Michael Walker was productive both as a kick returner and wide receiver.

With star running back AJ Dillon watching from Chestnut Hill, due to injury, the Eagles needed to keep the score close in their game yesterday against #23 North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. They didn’t.

At the end of the first half, BC had deficits in points, 3-21; first downs, 4-19, and total offense, 105-303. The Wolfpack added another touchdown late in the third quarter to make it 28-3.

Then the dormant Eagle offense heard the alarm clock. Spurred by a 33-yard kickoff return by Michael Walker, BC constructed a 5-play, 62-yard drive in 1:18, culminated by runs by QB Anthony Brown (28 yards) and RB Ben Glines (21 yards), to score its first touchdown.

BC’s first drive of the fourth quarter was another quick affair, as the Eagles took only five plays and 1:36 to go 64 yards for the touchdown. Walker again led the way with a 46-yard pass reception to the NC State 18-yard line. A two-point conversion failed.

Down 28-16, the Eagles forced the Wolfpack into a three-and-out series and began a 78-yard drive that ended with a critical BC fumble at the NC State two-yard line. (More about the “fumble” below.) With 3:33 left in the game, Eagles DB Mike Palmer blocked the subsequent Wolfpack punt and RB Travis Levy recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

NC State recovered BC’s onside kick attempt and held possession to the end for a 28-23 victory.

In addition to the blocked punt for their final touchdown, the Eagles blocked a field goal attempt and forced two fumbles by NC State. Those turnovers resulted in nine points for BC. The turnover advantage, however, paled in comparison to the Eagles’s low offensive production. BC added 8 first downs and 213 yards offense in the second half to reach game totals of 12 first downs and 318 yards total offense. The Wolfpack finished with 533 yards total offense. They also ran 87 plays to BC’s 50, and had possession for 41 minutes, 30 seconds, leaving the Eagles with only 18:30 in possession of the ball.

The “fumble.” BC had driven 75 yards to the NC State 5-yard line. It was 2nd-and-2. Glines ran up the middle and was halted by a mash of players, all standing. The mash was static for a couple of seconds and then an NC State player emerged with the ball. The referees had not blown the whistle and ruled it was a fumble recovered by the Wolfpack, a ruling that was not overturned after review. It could be argued the whistle should have been blown as there was no evidence of forward progress. In similar plays, other teams have “pushed the pile” into the end zone and the referees may have given the Eagles a little bit of time to do just that. The Eagles did not move the pile, however, to their disadvantage. The photos show the pileup and the fumble “recovery.”

BC’s Ben Glines, center, is stood up.

NC State exits the pileup with the ball.

Here are video highlights.

It’s ACC opponents from now on. Saturday, Louisville.