Category Archives: Game watches

Hurdling Hurricanes

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Ben Solomon photo

In one of their strongest performances of the season, the Eagles defeated Miami, 27-14, in a nationally televised game last Friday. BC was especially dominant in the first quarter, gaining 209 yards to the Hurricanes’s 74 yards, and jumping out to a 14-7 lead. A 17-14 BC halftime lead seemed much too close considering the action on the field, but the Eagles added 10 more points in the second half and shut out Miami.

(Sorry for the delay in getting this report online. I was in Boston to attend the game and then visited my daughter and son-in-law in Buckeye Country [Columbus, Ohio], returning yesterday. A personal video below in this post shows some of the pregame and game ambience.)

AJ Dillon. Ben Solomon photo

Following a Miami five-play possession at the start, BC scored on its opening drive for the sixth game this season, going 88 yards on 10 plays, displaying an offensive play variety not often seen. Running back AJ Dillon, though, started it off in the traditional way — a 25-yard run. BC also ran something of a “Philly special,” with WR Jeff Smith taking a handoff from QB Anthony Brown and then passing to Brown for 27 yards. The same pair returned to their traditional roles for the nine-yard touchdown.

Following a 62-yard kickoff return, Miami tied the score in a six-play drive. BC, against the then-#2-ranked defense, went right back down the field, scoring after 10 plays and 77 yards, to take a 14-7 lead. Smith once again showed the talents of an ex-quarterback by completing a 32-yard pass to RB Travis Levy.

BC used up over seven minutes in a 20-play, 79-yard drive that ended in a Colton Lichtenberg 21-yard field goal, to go up 17-7. BC’s special teams again faltered, however, as the Hurricanes returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to set up a 10-play drive to close to 17-14 at the half.

Two BC pass interceptions, both leading to Eagle touchdowns, and an overall stout defense spelled the difference in the game in the second half. BC, however, also pulled off the pedal offensively in the second half, seemingly continually running into the center of the Miami defense. The tactic of running the clock ultimately was successful, but fan displeasure was evident . . . until the game’s conclusion, when students rushed the field to celebrate.

Personally, and as an old Eagle, I was a little surprised and a little disappointed in the postgame activity. This was an important win, but not really a major one. Martin Jarmond, BC athletic director, had taken several steps to make the game experience more “exciting.” To get students, and others, into the stands on time, he reduced the cost of refreshments in the stadium by half in the first quarter. New LED lights created something of a light show and “fireworks” soared up from the western rim of the stadium somewhat frequently.

When the game ended, BC students, if not encouraged, were not discouraged from rushing onto the field. The scene, accompanied by an LED light show, was clearly very positive for the national television audience. Even more positive for BC, perhaps, were the postgame comments by the game announcers, essentially promoting the values expressed by BC in this “red bandana” game, honoring the sacrifice of 9/11 hero Welles Crowther ’99.

Here is a very short video of the pregame ambience (including views of the new Plex under construction) and postgame celebration. The band in the video, Unit One, is made up of BC seniors Rachel Moon on guitar and vocals, Nicolas Sucre on bass, and Josh Mentzer on drums.

Dillon ran for 149 yards, making it the 11th game the sophomore has gained 100+ yards. BC is 9-2 overall when he exceeds the century mark. Brown was 15 of 28 for 152 yards, with 1 TD and 1 interception. Smith was 2 of 2 passing and also caught 2 passes, 1 for a touchdown.

The Eagles edged into the top 25 following the victory, but it seems the College Football Playoff committee was more impressed. It put BC at #22 in the first CFP poll of the season, first appearance ever in this poll by the Eagles. BC plays Virginia Tech Saturday in Blacksburg, Va., not usually a friendly place for the Eagles.

Here are video highlights of the game.

Saturday permits lunch at gamewatch — our first midday game. Come join San Diego Eagles!

 

Whipped by Wolfpack

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Michael Walker was productive both as a kick returner and wide receiver.

With star running back AJ Dillon watching from Chestnut Hill, due to injury, the Eagles needed to keep the score close in their game yesterday against #23 North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. They didn’t.

At the end of the first half, BC had deficits in points, 3-21; first downs, 4-19, and total offense, 105-303. The Wolfpack added another touchdown late in the third quarter to make it 28-3.

Then the dormant Eagle offense heard the alarm clock. Spurred by a 33-yard kickoff return by Michael Walker, BC constructed a 5-play, 62-yard drive in 1:18, culminated by runs by QB Anthony Brown (28 yards) and RB Ben Glines (21 yards), to score its first touchdown.

BC’s first drive of the fourth quarter was another quick affair, as the Eagles took only five plays and 1:36 to go 64 yards for the touchdown. Walker again led the way with a 46-yard pass reception to the NC State 18-yard line. A two-point conversion failed.

Down 28-16, the Eagles forced the Wolfpack into a three-and-out series and began a 78-yard drive that ended with a critical BC fumble at the NC State two-yard line. (More about the “fumble” below.) With 3:33 left in the game, Eagles DB Mike Palmer blocked the subsequent Wolfpack punt and RB Travis Levy recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

NC State recovered BC’s onside kick attempt and held possession to the end for a 28-23 victory.

In addition to the blocked punt for their final touchdown, the Eagles blocked a field goal attempt and forced two fumbles by NC State. Those turnovers resulted in nine points for BC. The turnover advantage, however, paled in comparison to the Eagles’s low offensive production. BC added 8 first downs and 213 yards offense in the second half to reach game totals of 12 first downs and 318 yards total offense. The Wolfpack finished with 533 yards total offense. They also ran 87 plays to BC’s 50, and had possession for 41 minutes, 30 seconds, leaving the Eagles with only 18:30 in possession of the ball.

The “fumble.” BC had driven 75 yards to the NC State 5-yard line. It was 2nd-and-2. Glines ran up the middle and was halted by a mash of players, all standing. The mash was static for a couple of seconds and then an NC State player emerged with the ball. The referees had not blown the whistle and ruled it was a fumble recovered by the Wolfpack, a ruling that was not overturned after review. It could be argued the whistle should have been blown as there was no evidence of forward progress. In similar plays, other teams have “pushed the pile” into the end zone and the referees may have given the Eagles a little bit of time to do just that. The Eagles did not move the pile, however, to their disadvantage. The photos show the pileup and the fumble “recovery.”

BC’s Ben Glines, center, is stood up.

 

NC State exits the pileup with the ball.

Here are video highlights.

It’s ACC opponents from now on. Saturday, Louisville.

 

Overcoming Owls

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Running back Ben Glines (19) celebrates touchdown. John Quackenbos photo

Down 21-13 in the second quarter against Temple yesterday, BC scored 25 straight points to lead 38-21 and then hung on to defeat the stubborn Owls 45-35. Two pass interceptions by Eagles on back-to-back Temple possessions in the second quarter spurred the scoring. AJ Dillon ran for two touchdowns in the game and QB Anthony Brown threw for two more.

Dillon rushed for 146 yards in the first half, including a 52-yard touchdown run. He left the game early in the second half with an ankle injury, having gained a total of 161 yards on 28 carries. Backup running back Ben Glines rushed for 120 on 23 carries and a touchdown.

Brown also had a touchdown reception, as the Eagles pulled off a “Philly Special” facsimile (cf Super Bowl LII) in the third quarter. Brown took the snap, pitched the ball to a tailback, who handed off to WR (and former QB) Jeff Smith who threw to a wide open Brown for a 9-yard score.

Temple’s running back Ryquell Armstead ran for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns, including a 75-yarder for a score. With less than 6 minutes in the game, Temple had brought the score to 38-25 and had possession. A sack by BC’s Zach Allen pushed the Owls back and they punted. BC then scored the clinching touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Glines, with a little over 3 minutes remaining.

Temple actually outgained BC, 452 yards to 423, in total offense. BC outran the Owls 275 yards to 191, and Temple threw for 261 yards, compared to 148 for the Eagles. BC had an unusually high 100 offensive plays.

BC goes to 4-1 for the first time since 2009. The Eagles have scored 216 points thus far, the most in team history for the first 5 games.

Here are video highlights:

BC travels to Raleigh, N.C., next week to take on the undefeated (4-0) Wolfpack of NC State.