One of several touchdown celebrations by the Eagles yesterday.
It was a game for the backups to play the second half.
Favored by 30+ points over the FCS Duquesne Dukes, the Eagles beat that spread in the first half and added to it in the second to win easily, 56-0. It was the first meeting between the teams and the victory extended the streak of BC wins over FCS opponents to 35.
The win brought the Eagles into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2018. They’re #24.
Junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos was 9-of-10 passing for 234 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half. He had only one run, for eight yards.
The Eagles gained 350 yards total offense in the first half, while holding the Dukes to 87 yards. BC averaged 6.4 yards per run and 26 yards per pass completion in the half, while holding Duquesne to zero-for-six on third down.
The Eagles led 42-0 at the half.
Redshirt freshman Jacobe Robinson took over as quarterback for BC through the second half and numerous backup players participated. Robinson was two-of-three passing for 23 yards and ran six times for 23 yards.
In the second half, BC ran 31 plays for 213 yards, scoring two touchdowns, while Duquesne gained 59 yards on 24 plays.
Overall, the Eagles gained 563 in offense, a net 306 yards on the ground. Duquesne gained a total of 135 yards.
Four BC backs ran for 50 yards or more in the game, topped by freshman Turbo Richard, who gained 77 yards on 15 carries.
Highlights (10:13)
BC improves to 2-0. They play at #5 Missouri on Saturday, September 14.
Running back Treshaun Ward takes handoff from QB Tommy Castellanos. Ward scored on a touchdown pass from Catellanos against his former team. Joe Sullivan photo
Underdogs by more than two touchdowns to #10 Florida State, Boston College flipped the script in their 2024 opening game Labor Day in Tallahassee and defeated the Seminoles by more than two touchdowns, 28-13.
It was the first game for the Eagles under new coach Bill O’Brien and the first opening game win by BC over a Top 10 team since 1976, when they defeated #7 Texas 14-13 (I was there). Last night’s victory was not close, however, or dependent on a missed field goal by the opponent. The Eagles imposed on Florida State, especially in the early part of the game.
The Seminoles didn’t make a first first down until 6:13 remained in the first half. By that time, the Eagles had scored twice to lead 14-0. In the opening quarter, Florida State had the ball for 51 seconds and ran three plays for four yards. BC had the ball for more than 14 minutes, running 21 plays for 102 yards.
The Eagles opened the second quarter with Castellanos running the ball in for the game’s first score from the four-yard line. Holding the Seminoles to a three-and-out, BC followed with a seven-play 68-yard drive that finished with a 13-yard Castellano pass to running back Treshaun Ward, who had previously played for Florida State, for a touchdown.
Florida State was able to move the ball better late in the first half, but were twice held to field goals, and BC led 14-6 at the half.
The Seminoles took the second half kickoff to their own 47 and went for it on fourth-down-and-five. Pressured by the BC rush, QB DJ Uiagelelei’s pass was intercepted by BC’s Max Tucker and returned 58 yards to the Florida State seven. Two plays later, Castellanos threw to RB Kye Robichaux for a four-yard TD and 21-6 BC lead.
After each team punted, the Seminoles succeeded in a five-play 72-yard drive, finishing with a 29-yard pass, for their only touchdown.
On BC’s subsequent possession, the Eagles took eight plays to gain 60 yards, with only one third-down play, score on a two-yard run by Robichaux, take a 28-13 lead, and put an end to the scoring.
Each team had three possessions in the final quarter and the Eagles had the ball for 11 plays and the final six minutes. After Robichaux ran for 35 yards to the FSU four with two minutes left, Castellanos kneeled three times to run out the clock and secure the win.
Last September, BC lost 41-39 to Florida State. With less then two minutes remaining in that game, it appeared that the Eagles had held FSU short on third down and could regain possession. Instead, BC was called for a facemask penalty that gave the Seminoles an automatic first down and the game. BC’s penalty was its 18th of that game, a team record.
Yesterday, the Eagles were called for one penalty. FSU had seven.
BC had 18 first downs in the game, 12 of them rushing, and gained 263 net yards rushing. FSU ran for only 21 yards. Castellanos was 10 of 16 passing for 106 yards. The Eagles ran 68 plays, compared to 58 for the Seminoles, and possessed the ball for 39 of the game’s 60 minutes.
The victory was BC’s first over Florida State since 2017. New BC coach O’Brien set the context for this win.
“It’s a very important win for BC and where we’re at,” O’Brien said, “but it’s just one game.”
Here are highlights (11:09).
It’s short week for the Eagles. They play Duquesne Saturday, 12:30 pm PT.
Linebacker Vinny DePalma finishes his BC career holding Fenway Bowl trophy aloft.
Well, that was refreshing . . . and unexpected.
In Fenway Park, in the rain, BC defeated SMU 23-14 today to win the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Mustangs, ranked #17 in the Associated Press top 25, came into the game 10 1/2-point favorites. And the victory was not because of some sudden, fluke play. The Eagles outgained SMU, which had averaged 40 points a game winning 11 of 13, and held the Mustangs scoreless in the second half.
Quarterback Thomas Castellanos was the star for BC, as he had been in most Eagle victories this season. He rushed for 156 yards in 21 carries, losing only one yard in the game, and scored two touchdowns. The conditions made passing difficult for both teams. Castellanos was 11-of-18 for 102 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Castellanos finished his debut season at BC with 3,361 yards total offense in 13 games, third in BC history behind Matt Ryan in 2007 (14 games) and Doug Flutie in 1984 (12 games). He gained 2,248 yards passing and 1,113 rushing.
The Eagles scored first, converting an SMU fumble on their opening drive forced by defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and recovered by DE Neto Okpala into a 45-yard field goal by Liam Connor, his longest ever.
The Mustangs went ahead 7-3 in the second quarter, but BC responded with a 10-play, 77-yard drive for a touchdown, scoring on a six-yard run by Kye Robichaux. SMU essentially closed out the first half with their own 10-play drive to take the lead 14-10.
SMU had the clear statistical edge in the first half. They ran 40 plays for 192 yards, while BC managed only 26 plays for 122 yards. The Mustangs were 15-22 passing for 122 yards, while the Eagles attempted only 7 passes, completing 3 for 6 yards.
The third quarter was essentially even and scoreless. SMU gained 85 yards total offense, BC 69 yards.
The Eagles won the game in the final quarter. While scoring two touchdowns and gaining 173 yards total offense, BC held the Mustangs to 32 yards, 10 of them passing. (Connor missed the final point-after.) The Eagles had the ball for 9:46 and SMU for only 5:14. The game ended with BC on the SMU 7, Castellanos taking two kneeldowns to run out the clock.
Castellanos was named the game’s offensive MVP and linebacker Kam Arnold won the defensive MVP award. Arnold led the team with six tackles — four solo and two for a loss. Five other Eagles had five tackles apiece.
Highlights (3:09)
BC finished the season with a 7-6 record and their first bowl game victory since 2016, a 30-16 win over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.
Somewhat ironically, BC and SMU play again next season. SMU, Cal Berkeley, and Stanford join the ACC. Schedules will be announced in late January.
With the early kickoff time (8 am PT), the emphasis of the chapter gamewatch moved more to breakfast. San Diego Eagles gathered at The Bar at The Grill at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Below is the group.
L-R: Lissa Tsu ’00, daughter, Brian Tsu ’00, Bill McDonald ’68 standing in rear, Dave Cubeta ’07 and kids and wife Christa, Joe Mahler ’74 P’07 standing, Caitlin Mahler ’07 CGSOM’17, and Eileen Mahler.
