Redshirt freshman tight end Hunter Long scores BC’s first touchdown. John Quackenbos photo

Despite a lapse of about 10 minutes, in which the Eagles gave Louisville easy access to 13 points, BC was otherwise pretty dominant over the Cardinals, defeating them 38-20 yesterday in chilly, rainy Chestnut Hill. At game time, temperature was 46.

Cold and rainy at the start.

The Eagles opened the game showing dominance as they twice forced Louisville into consecutive three-and-outs and answered each with touchdown drives to go up 14-0 in the first six minutes. Another Louisville punt, however, was fumbled by Ben Glines on the BC six-yard line and the Cardinals scored the touchdown. In what seems to be increasingly common for the Eagles, though, BC blocked the point-after attempt.

The ensuing kickoff by Louisville was then fumbled by BC’s Michael Walker and, 40 yards and five plays later, the Cardinals closed the score to 14-13.

On the second play of the second quarter, BC intercepted a Louisville pass on the Cardinals’ 33. But the Eagles gained only five yards before being stopped on a fourth-down play at the 27. Louisville then had its only sustained offensive possession, going 73 yards in nine plays to go ahead, 20-14. Those would be the Cardinals’ last points.

Junior DB Nolan Borgersen gives Louisville punter NO chance to kick.

After an exchange of possessions, Louisville’s punt from its 20-yard line was blocked by BC and, for the second game in a row, recovered by sophomore running back Travis Levy in the end zone for a touchdown and 21-20 lead. With four seconds remaining in the half, Colton Lichtenberg kicked a 38-yard field goal to put the Eagles ahead, 24-21.

The sun came out for the second half and so did the BC ground attack. Running backs junior Ben Glines and freshman David Bailey, running in place of injured AJ Dillon, had run 16 times for a total of 58 yards in the first half. They added another 161 yards in the second half, each ending up with over 100 yards rushing. Bailey, listed as 6-1, 245, carried most of the load, ending the game with 112 yards on 28 carries.

Freshman running back David Bailey. John Quackenbos photo

A dude in duds.

A BC drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter featured Bailey carrying the ball on eight of the 13 plays, including the final one-yard plunge for a touchdown to move the Eagles to 31-20. BC’s final score came on eight consecutive running plays for 67 yards, with Jeff Smith running the final five yards.

The Eagles’ defense held the Cardinals to 71 yards total offense in the second half and zero points. BC gained 237 yards in the second half to bring its total offense for the game to 430 yards.

On a day when running was the name of the game, BC QB Anthony Brown was 10 of 15 for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Video highlights

It’s a week off for the Eagles and their fans. Next game is on Friday, October 26, at home against Miami.