After going winless in the ACC last season, there was hope the Eagles could turn that around this year. A close loss to Georgia Tech in the opener and then a win over UMass the next week, ending a nearly year-long victory drought, gave fans some measure of hope. Yesterday’s 49-0 loss to Virginia Tech dashed those hopes.

There are many measures to how bad the loss was for BC. Worst while in the ACC. Worst while in any conference, Big East or ACC. Worst since a 54-0 loss to Mississippi in 1950. The worst thing about how bad it was is a response of “What does it matter?”

The game continued a 10-game losing streak in the ACC. BC’s offense reverted to its ineffectiveness and the defense, which had performed so well last year and so far this season, spent much too much time and the field and wilted. The Eagles had 6 first downs, VaTech 25. BC gained 124 yards, VaTech 476. The Eagles punted a team record 13 times.

Defensive back John Johnson made a post-game statement some might consider damning: ““I think it got a little redundant. They were running the same plays and gashing us on the same plays.”

Here is a video report of the game. There are no highlights for BC fans.

Saturday is BC’s home opener, against Wagner. Wagner is a college on Staten Island in New York City. The Seahawks are a FCS team that was 1-10 last season. They have started out this year, however, 2-0 with wins over St. Anselm and Concordia. Game time is 10 am PT. Join San Diego Eagles at The Beer Co. for a gamewatch. Odds are good BC will score.

(This was delayed from the normal timeframe, the day following the game, because the author was in the Boston area for the past week. More about that later.)

Okay, it wasn’t a full year, but close enough. BC’s 26-7 victory over UMass last Saturday was the Eagles’ first win since September 26, 2015, over Northern Illinois, 17-14. That’s 350 days (leap year this year) and that is too long for any respectable program.

Saturday’s crowd, announced at 25,000 or so, made Gillette Stadium, which can seat more than 68,000, look even bigger than it is. Of the 25,000, 15,000 may have been BC fans. Not typical to have an away game at a site closer to your campus than that of the “home” team. But it was very easy to park and club level seating offered easy access to good food and drink, as well as cover from rain.

UMass scored first, on a 58-yard pass late in the first quarter. It was just about the only significant offensive play BC allowed. The Minutemen gained 122 yards overall, of which that touchdown was nearly half the total. BC got on the board at with 4:32 to go in the half with a 46-yard Patrick Towles TD pass to one of last year’s quarterbacks, Jeff Smith. Fans may have thought the worst when kicker Mike Knoll missed the PAT, but Knoll came back.

Less than a-minute-and a-half later, the same TD combo, this time for 36 yards, gave BC a 13-7 halftime lead. Knoll added two field goals, from 40 and 37 yards, in the third quarter, and a 15-yard run by Jon Hilliman late in the fourth quarter, capped the scoring. Knoll kicked in place of Colton Lichtenberg, who had been ineffective against Georgia Tech in the opener.

Overall, BC had 14 first downs and 344 total yards. Towles was 12 of 22, with an interception, for 191 yards. The transfer from Kentucky, who is 6-5, 250, was also the leading rusher with 66 yards on 12 attempts. Hilliman had 22 carries for 54 yards.

San Diego’s Ray Smith, from Cathedral Catholic, was the starting nose tackle for BC and the sophomore 6-1, 292-pounder is #1 nose tackle on the depth chart against VaTech.

Highlights

Next up, Virginia Tech, Saturday 12:30 pm PT.

 

We eschewed the usual opening gamewatch last week, as BC-Georgia Tech in Dublin had a 4:30 am PT kickoff. This Saturday, kickoff of the BC-UMass game, to be held in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, is 9 am PT, and San Diego Eagles will be at The Beer Co. to cheer. Join us!