BC’s junior linebacker Daveon Crouch, lower right, makes one of his 14 tackles in Saturday’s 20-15 loss to Nebraska.

Saturday’s 20-15 BC loss to Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl had so many of the ups and downs of the season that preceded it. Inexplicable failures to score, questionable play calls, unanticipated successes, dazzling plays, and a comeback that fell just short.

At halftime, the Eagles had had the ball for more than 17 minutes, outgained Nebraska 197 yards to 189, and were five of nine on third down conversions.  BC also had zero offensive points, scoring only on the return of a blocked point-after attempt, and trailed the Cornhuskers 13-2.

“I thought we were productive, but we couldn’t score,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “That’s a problem.”

The Eagles didn’t punt in the first half, giving up the ball each time in Nebraska territory. Their first drive ended on the 35-yardline with a missed field goal. Their next three drives all ended on failed fourth-down conversions.

After stopping Nebraska on fourth down at the BC seven early in the second half, the Eagles drove to midfield, but lost the ball on a fumble. Nebraska then lengthened the lead to 20-2, but it was the Cornhuskers’ last score.

BC’s first touchdown came with just over six minutes left in the game. RB Turbo Richard plunged a yard into the endzone to cut the score to 20-8. A two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

Forcing a Nebraska punt on the next series deep in Cornhusker territory, BC blocked the attempt and freshman DB Omar Thornton carried the ball to the Nebraska two. RB Jordan McDonald ran the ball in and, after a successful PAT, the Eagles trailed by only five, 20-15, with 4:18 left in the game.

Nebraska was able to get two first downs and move the ball to the BC 31, where it was fourth and one. The Cornhuskers rushed for 11 yards to get the first down with two minutes left. They then ran out the clock, taking kneel downs, and secured the win.

Statistically, the game was quite close. BC ran 67 plays overall, three more than Nebraska, and gained 348 yards, 15 fewer than Nebraska.

BC’s offense was heavily through the air. QB Grayson James attempted 41 passes, completing 26 for 301 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. James was also BC’s leading rusher, with 22 net yards on nine attempts. He was sacked three times. WR Lewis Bond led the Eagles in receptions, with seven for 99 yards, while TE Jeremiah Franklin had six receptions for 56 yards. Seven other Eagles had pass receptions.

Junior linebacker Daveon Crouch led the BC defense with 14 tackles, nine of them solo.

Highlights (3:14)

The Eagles finish the season 7-6 (4-4). BC has had six or seven wins in 10 of its last 12 seasons and still seeks its first eight-win season since 2009.

Opening game next season is at home against Fordham in late August.

BC’s men’s hockey team is 12-3-1 (6-2-1 in Hockey East) and ranked #2 in the country. The women’s lacrosse team defends its national championship beginning February 7. Look for San Diego gamewatches.

Eagles celebrate after one of their five touchdowns yesterday against Pitt. No field goals.

*As in the meaning “to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule” . . . or scoring more points.

The Eagles achieved a winning regular season yesterday with an emphatic win over ACC Pitt, 34-23, in Alumni Stadium. At 7-5, they await learning their upcoming bowl game opponent, which is to be announced next Sunday.

Quarterback Grayson James, running backs Kye Robichaux and Jordan McDonald, and receivers Lewis Bond, Kamari Morales, and Reed Harris continued as major contributors to the offense, but the defense added their own touchdown. Defensive tackle Tyeus Clemons returned an interception 55 yards for a second quarter score.

On BC’s second possession of the game, on their own 33, the Eagles scored after three plays, including a 26-yard pass from James to TE Jeremiah Franklin, followed by a 36-yard run by Jordan McDonald for the touchdown. The PAT was no good.

The teams traded touchdowns to set up Clemons’ dramatic interception return. Hurried by the BC defense, Pitt’s pass was blocked and went right to Clemons. The 6-3, 273-lb. lineman brought it quickly to the endzone for a 20-7 BC lead. Pitt added a field goal to make the halftime score, 20-14.

While the Eagles dominated the third quarter by the numbers, with BC more than doubling the Panthers in total yards, 115-52, the teams traded touchdowns to enter the final quarter with BC up, 27-17.

It was much the same in the 4th quarter, as BC scored to double Pitt 34-17 and the Panthers were able to add another touchdown with less than four minutes to play. Pitt’s two-point conversion attempt failed, their onside kick attempt failed and the game ended 34-23.

Highlights (4:00)

WR Reed Harris touchdown reception.

James finished the game 20-of-28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Robichaux ran 21 times for 71 yards and a touchdown, while McDonald gained 60 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Reed had five catches for 45 yards, Morales four receptions for 51, and Harris caught three balls for 85 yards and the incredible touchdown catch at right. On defense, DE Donovan Ezeiruaku had three-and-a-half sacks and 10 tackles to lead the team,

This is BC’s first seven-win season since 2018.

“I’m very proud today to have a chance to possibly win eight games, which hasn’t been done in a long time,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “I’m just proud to be associated with Boston College football.”

QB Grayson James awaits snap from center Drew Kendall in yesterday’s BC-North Carolina game.

Boston College dominated on both sides of the ball yesterday, defeating North Carolina 41-21. The Eagles nearly doubled the Tarheels in total offense, 420 yards to 212, had seven sacks and three pass interceptions, and held the ball for 15 minutes longer.

The win makes BC eligible for play in a post-season bowl game for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and their five wins at home so far this season are the most since 2018. The Eagles conclude their regular season Saturday, September 30, at home against Pitt.

BC opened the game aggressively, with two successive 13-play drives that ended in a 49-yard field goal by Liam Connor and a three-yard touchdown run by QB Grayson James. After holding UNC on downs at the BC 41, the Eagles took only three plays to score again, with backup freshman QB Johnathon Montague running 24 yards for the touchdown.

On September 23, 1984, Doug Flutie threw the iconic Hail Mary pass to defeat Miami. Forty years later to the day, many players and others connected to that play gathered at Alumni Stadium to commemorate it. Here, Doug Flutie and Jack Bicknell Jr., who was the BC center, flank Reid Oslin ’68, my classmate and friend, and BC Sports Information Director at the time.

UNC, receiving the kickoff down 17-0, took a bit of the bloom off the rose with a 95-yard
return for a touchdown.

Following two exchanges of possession, Grad LB Joe Marinaro, intercepted a Tarheel pass and brought it to the UNC 32. Three plays later, James threw a four-yard touchdown pass to WR Reed Harris and a 24-7 BC lead at halftime.

Connor added a 27-yard field goal in the quiet third period. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, UNC recovered a BC fumble at the 50. Six plays later, with UNC on the BC 32, DB Ryan Turner intercepted the Tarheel pass attempt on the BC 22 and ran it back 78 yards for an Eagle touchdown and 34-7 lead.

After three plays gained zero yards, the Tarheels punted back to the Eagles, who proceeded on a nine-play, 5:48-long drive, their final touchdown of the game on an eight-yard Robichaux run, and a 41-7 lead with fewer than six minutes left in the game.

Facing a BC defense very likely staffed by backup players, UNC then had its only significant drive of the day, moving 75 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown.

On BC’s subsequent possession, the Eagles faced fourth-and-two on their 33. In what some considered a questionable decision, Coach Bill O’Brien chose to go for it rather than punt. James muffed the snap and his run was short by a yard. The Tarheels took over at the BC 34 with 25 seconds left in the game.

And in what some also considered a questionable decision, UNC Coach Mack Brown chose not to call for the QB to take a knee to end the game. In two plays, the Tarheels scored a meaningless touchdown to make the final score, 41-21.

Overall, BC gained 228 net yards rushing, compared to 36 for UNC. Robichaux gained 93 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown. RB Jordan McDonald added 52 yards on ten carries.

James was 18 of 27 for 192 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions. WR Lew Bond had nine receptions for 81 yards, while Harris and TE Jeremiah Franklin each had three receptions.

“It hasn’t been perfect, don’t get me wrong, but these kids have really worked hard for us,” O’Brien said. “I’m very happy for them. It’s very well earned.”

Highlights (8:58)

BC improves to 6-5 (3-4). Their next and final regular season opponent is Pitt, at Alumni Stadium, Saturday, September 30 at noon PT.