Eagles celebrate interception of Syracuse pass attempt by redshirt freshman CJ Clinkscales #26 (another Georgia kid). The first quarter turnover led to BC’s first score, a 24-yard field goal.

For the second game in a row, Boston College dominated its opponent statistically, but failed to be effective offensively. The Eagles’ 17-10 win over Syracuse last night was pretty ugly, but it was BC’s fifth straight win and their sixth win of the season makes them eligible for a post-season bowl game.

After allowing a Syracuse field goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which tied the game at 10-10, BC seemed to wear down the Syracuse defense in the closing stanza. With just under six minutes left in the game, the Eagles had the ball on their 29. Eleven plays and three-and-a-half minutes later, QB Thomas Castellanos ran seven yards for the touchdown that put BC ahead. On Syracuse’s next play, DB Cole Batson, a redshirt sophomore from San Clemente, Calif., intercepted the pass attempt. The Eagles gained a first down and once again, BC was able to close out the game with a couple of kneel-downs.

As has been frustratingly consistent this season, the Eagles opened lackadaisically. Ahead 3-0 with 4:55 to go in the first quarter, BC’s last possession of the quarter was a three-and-out. Starting on the BC 33, Syracuse ran for 32 yards into BC territory and, two plays later, scored a touchdown on a 27-yard run.

BC had the ball for 21 plays in the opening quarter, a healthy pace, but gained only 67 yards. Syracuse had only 14 plays, but gained 96 yards, with the two long runs accounting for most of that total.

With less than nine minutes to go in the first half, the Eagles had their longest drive of the game, and perhaps the season. Getting the ball on their 20, BC moved 80 yards in 18 plays, using just under eight minutes, to score on a two-yard pass by Castellanos to FB Owen McGowan. It was McGowan’s first career reception. The drive included two fourth-down conversions. The Eagles lead the ACC in converting 73 percent of fourth-down conversions this season.

With a productive second quarter, BC expanded its statistical dominance. The Eagles had 48 plays in the first half for 170 yards, while holding the Orange to 25 plays and 119 yards. In first downs, BC led 10 to 4, holding Syracuse to no first downs in the second quarter. The Eagles held the ball for 21 minutes, 48 seconds in the first half, allowing the Orange to have the ball for only two minutes, 17 seconds in the second quarter.

The third quarter featured mainly punts by both teams, except for a 56-yard run by Syracuse to the BC 20 at the end of the quarter. That led to the score-tying Orange field goal at the beginning of the final quarter.

BC finished the game with 98 offensive plays, a very prolific total, for 350 yards, only 3.7 yards per play, an anemic result. Syracuse ran only 47 plays, fewer than half of BC’s total, gaining 246 yards, a 5.2 yards per play average. The Orange outgained the Eagles on the ground, 209 to 185. Syracuse gained only 37 yards passing. The Eagles lost two fumbles, but intercepted four Orange passes.

Castellanos once again led the team in both passing and rushing yards. He was 20 of 37 passing for 165 yards, for one touchdown and with no interceptions. (It should be noted, however, that, if Syracuse’s defensive backs could catch the ball better, Castellanos might thrown a few interceptions at least. Orange defenders dropped several BC passes.) Castellanos also ran for a net 87 yards on 22 carries. Kye Robichaux added 70 yards rushing.

Eagle RB Andre Hines Jr., a redshirt junior, carried the ball twice to set up Castellanos’s winning touchdown and three straight times on BC’s closing possession, gaining a first down and allowing the closing kneel-downs. Hines rushed five times for 32 yards, leading the team in average yards per carry. Noteworthy because those five carries were his first in three-plus years on the team.

“I gave him the game ball in there. He had tears in his eyes. Guys picked him up. That’s a moment he’ll never forget,” Coach Jeff Hafley said. “That’s college football. That’s why you stick it out. That’s why you don’t leave, so you have moments like this.”

Highlights (8:14)

Also a rendition of For Boston in the lockerroom.

The Eagles improve to 6-3, 3-2 in conference play. They play Virginia Tech next Saturday, 9 am PT.

Here’s a shot from last night’s gamewatch at The Corner Drafthouse. Good crowd!

BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos tries to evade Husky tackle.

It seemed as if BC prevented UConn from winning its second straight game over the Eagles yesterday, rather than took decisive revenge for the embarrassing loss last year. While they dominated yesterday’s game statistically, BC’s errors and ineffectiveness kept the Huskies close and the Eagles walked off with a 21-14 win.

It was BC’s fourth straight win, however, bringing their season record to 5-3, 2-2 in ACC play.

The Huskies and Eagles each gained 5.2 yards a play in the game. BC ran 40 more plays, however, running a season-high 83 offensive plays. They had the ball for more than 40 minutes, more than doubling UConn’s total. The Eagles gained 433 yards total offense, 246 on the ground. The Huskies had 233 yards total offense. Other stats were comparable. BC punted only once.

But the score was tied at the end of the first quarter and BC was ahead only 14-7 at halftime. The Eagles added another touchdown in the third period, but allowed a touchdown by the Huskies early in the final period. UConn actually outgained BC in the fourth quarter, 105 yards to 67. A eight-play UConn drive in the middle of the quarter ended with a missed 54-yard field goal attempt and the Eagles were able to hold the ball for the final 6:44 on the clock, running 13 plays, and taking a knee on the UConn five to end the game.

“We kept UConn in the game. It’s as easy as that,” said coach Jeff Hafley post-game. “We made the game way closer than it should have been.”

QB Thomas Castellanos was 16 of 24 passing for 151 yards, for one touchdown and with one interception. He was replaced briefly at the beginning of the second half because of injury by Emmett Morehead, who was four of five for 36 yards. Castellanos also gained 45 net yards rushing on 14 carries.

Running back Kye Robichaux was the offense’s workhorse, gaining 112 yards on 23 carries and scoring two touchdowns. RB Alex Broome added 80 yards on 15 carries. Freshman wide receiver Jaedn Skeete made an auspicious debut, catching four passes for a team-leading 61 yards. WR Joe Griffin also had four catches.

Highlights (7:56)

Next game is Friday, 4:30 pm PT. Eagles will meet Syracuse with the chance to win a sixth game and become bowl-eligible.

Kye Robichaux scores one of his two touchdowns in BC’s 38-23 win yesterday over Georgia Tech.

Boston College exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns and allowing none, to muscle a 38-23 victory yesterday over Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga.

The Eagles put on an offensive show, gaining 563 yards total offense, 308 on the ground. QB Thomas Castellanos was again the principal offensive threat, but he was joined by Kye Robichaux. Both natives of Georgia, Castellanos and Robichaux combined for 296 yards rushing, 165 by Robichaux, and each scored two of BC’s four offensive touchdowns.

The other touchdown for the Eagles was scored by yet another Georgia native, Amari Jackson, who ran back an amazing pass interception 30 yards for the score. (The Peach State natives must have enjoyed playing in front of family and friends.) Jackson had his back to the ball when it arrived, but it struck the inside of his left arm and he was somehow able to secure the ball for the interception and score. The play was cited as college football’s “top play” yesterday on ESPN’s College Football Final. Check it out in the highlights.

Jackson’s pick-six with less than two minutes in the first quarter gave the lead back to the Eagles. BC had scored first with a field goal and Georgia Tech responded with a touchdown. The Eagles started somewhat slow again offensively, possessing the ball for less than five minutes and running only 12 plays, compared to 23 plays for the Yellow Jackets. But the Eagles led, 10-7.

The situation flipped somewhat in the second quarter, with BC running 21 plays for 124 yards and holding the ball for more than nine minutes. Castellanos scored BC’s touchdown on a 12-yard run. The Eagles went into halftime leading 17-10.

The third quarter featured some fireworks, but all for Georgia Tech. After the Yellow Jackets intercepted Castellano’s pass into the end zone on BC’s initial possession, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King sprinted 71 yards to tie the score at 17. A second long drive later brought the score to 23-17, advantage Yellow Jackets.

King would finish the day with 150 yards on 10 carries, becoming only the second opposing quarterback to outrush Castellanos this season. Holy Cross’s Matthew Sluka also outgained Castellanos on the ground.

The fourth quarter was a highlight reel for the Eagles. BC scored on a two-yard run by Robichaux only 36 seconds into the quarter. On their second possession, Castellanos scored on a 43-yard run. On Georgia Tech’s next possession, the Eagles’s Elijah Jones intercepted their pass attempt, returning the ball to the Eagles on their 40.

First play, Robichaux for 57 yards. Next play, Robichaux runs into the endzone from the three. Jones intercepted his second pass on the next Georgia Tech possession and the Eagles were able to run out the last 5:42 of the game.

In the final quarter, BC scored 21 unanswered points, ran 21 plays for 199 yards, and held the Yellow Jackets to 79 yards on 14 plays.

Castellanos finished the game 17 of 29 passing for 255 yards, no touchdowns, one interception. Leading receiver for BC was Lewis Bond, with five catches for 72 yards. Robichaux added another 54 yards offense on three pass receptions. Eight different Eagles caught a pass in the game.

Here are highlights (10:19).

BC improved to 4-3, 2-2 in the ACC. They have the same overall record as Clemson, which is 2-3 in conference play.

The Eagles will seek revenge on their opponent this Saturday, when they meet UConn, victor last season in a humiliating defeat for BC. Kickoff is 9 am.

Following UConn, the last four games of the regular season are on an unusual schedule. Two Friday games, a Thursday game, and one “normal” Saturday game. Times are all Pacific Time.
Friday, November 3 — Syracuse, 4:30 pm
Saturday, November 11 — Virginia Tech, time TBA
Thursday, November 16 — Pitt, 4 pm
Friday, November 24 — Miami, 9 am