Senior DE Donovan Ezeiruaku forces a fumble that led to winning touchdown for Eagles over Western Kentucky yesterday, 21-20.
In Boston College’s two most recent football games — against Michigan State on September 21 and Western Kentucky yesterday — the Eagles had fewer first downs and fewer yards on total offense than their opponents. They also had to come from behind late in the fourth quarter if they were to win. And they did.
BC took its first lead with 3:33 remaining against Western Kentucky yesterday and held on to win 21-20. Behind 20-7 in the fourth quarter, it was the the Eagles’ biggest final quarter comeback in program history.
In the Red Bandana Game the week before, BC and Michigan State exchanged leads four times before the Spartans took the lead 19-16 with 4:12 remaining in the game. In a six-play drive from the BC 25, Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos mixed runs by Grad RB Treyshaun Ward and passes to R-Jr. WR Lewis Bond to take the lead with a 44-yard pass to Bond. A subsequent interception by sophomore DB Max Tucker in the endzone allowed BC to take knees for the 23-19 win.
In both games, the Eagles played mediocre first halfs. “We’ve got to play better in the first half of these games,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “I know we can, so I’ve got to figure it out.”
(I’m reporting on the two games because I joined classmates in Boston for the Michigan State game and to visit family and friends. I did not have access to a computer to prepare a report while there. I also had intended to attend the Michigan State game and had a ticket for it, but joined friends to watch on television. We had been at West Point last year and had been soaked through there. With rain forecast throughout the game on September 21, we chose not to have that experience again.)
Western Kentucky
This was the first meeting between the teams. The Hilltoppers came in with a 3-1 record, their only loss coming in the opener to Alabama, 73-0.
Western Kentucky took the opening kickoff all the way down to the BC 18, where they turned it over on downs, falling short on fourth-and-one. On their next possession, they took eight plays to score the first touchdown of the game.
After intercepting BC quarterback Grayson James, who played due to an injury to Castellanos, on the first play of the second period, the Hilltoppers took a 14-0 lead.
In the middle of the second period, BC had a 13-play drive for 74 yards, in which James was six-of-six passing, and finished with a three-yard rush by Kye Robichaux for a touchdown against his former team.
Western Kentucky added a field goal to take a 17-7 lead into halftime. The Hilltoppers had gained 247 yards in the first half, compared to 133 yards for BC. The Hilltopper quarterback was 17-of-21 passing for 165 yards, with one interception. Eagles QB James was 12-of-16 for 92 yards and an interception.
BC opened the second half looking as if O’Brien’s halftime talk had energized . . . or scared . . . them, but gave the ball up on a fumble by Bond at midfield. Twelve plays later, Western Kentucky added a field goal to push the lead to 20-7.
With 23 seconds left in the third quarter, Grad LB Kam Arnold intercepted a pass at the BC 43. Nine plays later, James ran one yard for a touchdown and the lead was cut to 20-14. On Western Kentucky’s second possession following that score, senior defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku sacked the quarterback, forcing a fumble recovered by R-Jr. DL George Rooks at the WK 20. Six plays later, James threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to R-Jr. WR Jerand Bradley and, following the PAT, BC led 21-20.
After successfully converting one fourth down, the Hilltoppers turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes to go. BC was able to take the knee and victory.
Overall, the Eagles gained 279 yards, 168 passing, 111 rushing. James was 19-of-32 passing for one touchdown and with one interception. Western Kentucky gained 355 yards total offense, 232 passing.
Ezeiruaku was the star of the game. He had a career-best 14 tackles (10 solo), three sacks, and four tackles for loss. He received a helmet sticker on ESPN’s College Football Final for his performance.
Highlights (10:03)
BC improved to 4-1 for the season. They play Saturday morning at Virginia.
Michigan State
Cocah Bill O’Brien signals a score against Michigan State.
The September 21 Red Bandana Game, honoring alumnus Welles Crowther for his heroism in the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City, featured a sold-out Alumni Stadium and a steady rain. It also featured a slow start by the Eagles and exciting finish for a win that was replicated the following week.
Down 19-16 with 4:12 remaining in the game, BC went on a six-play drive that ended with a 42-yard pass touchdown from Castellanos to Bond. O’Brien later said the rain stoppage only shortly before allowed the play to succeed.
Up 23-19, the Eagles were able to stymie Michigan State and intercept a heave into the end zone with 36 seconds to go. Two knees and victory in hand. Students and others rushed the field to share in the win.
Highlights (14:23)