BC QB Phil Jurkovec in Wake’s grasp.

Expectations that a bye week in the schedule might have provided the Boston College football team time for recovery and refocusing as they met #13 Wake Forest were initially bolstered in yesterday’s game. The Deacons broke the game open in the second half, however, finishing as 43-15 winners.

The Eagles scored first, following a 12-play, 68-yard drive. On their second possession, quarterback Phil Jurkovec completed four straight passes and rushed twice for 21 yards to bring the Eagles to the Wake Forest eight-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a penalty, however, pushed BC back to the Wake 12. Connor Lytton put the Eagles on the board with a 29-yard field goal.

The first quarter ended with Wake ahead 7-3, but also with BC having run 19 plays for 80 yards, compared to 15 plays for 76 yards for the Deacons.

After Wake Forest went ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter, there came a series of plays that provided a lot of entertainment and excitement for BC fans, however illusory they were in regard to the final outcome.

The Eagles started at their 10-yard line, due to a penalty on the kickoff. They achieved two first downs, but faltered and faced 4th and 8 at the BC 40. Punter Danny Longman took the snap, watched Deacons players fall back, and simply ran straight ahead for 24 yards before going out of bounds. (His one carry for 24 yards made him the leading rusher for BC for the game.)

That was cool, but it was just the beginning.

On the Wake Forest 38-yard line, Jurkovec completed passes for 0 and 1 yard, bracketing an incomplete pass. On 4th and 11 on the Wake 37-yard line, Jurkovec was sacked and fumbled the ball. It was recovered by a Deacons player who advanced the ball, but who fumbled it when tackled by BC offensive lineman Jack Conley. Fellow offensive lineman Jackson Ness recovered for the Eagles.

Regaining the ball at the 50, the Eagles promptly lost 11 yards. On the next play, Jurkovec threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. Ho-hum. Wake 14-BC 9 (Eagles missed the point-after attempt).

Ahead by only five points, the Deacons responded with a 10-play drive for 75 yards and a touchdown. Wake 21-BC 9.

Once again, the Eagles exceeded or matched Wake in plays and offense in the second quarter. BC ran 23 plays for 122 yards, while Wake had 18 plays for 121 yards. BC had two scores for a total of nine points, however, while the Deacons  had scored three times for 21 points.

In the post-game press conference, BC coach Jeff Hafley said, “I just feel like we’re wearing down because the game gets on and there’s a lack of depth right now. Some inexperienced players are playing [different] positions. . . . I feel like we’re wearing down and get a bit overwhelmed in the second half. . . .”

Yep. In the second half, Wake Forest added 22 points and 231 yards offense, while the Eagles put up six points (on a seven-yard rush by Jurkovec and failed two-point attempt) and 113 yards.

Jurkovec finished 20 of 38 passing for 221 yards, no interceptions and one touchdown pass. He also ran nine times for 21 yards and a touchdown. BC rushed for 56 yards on 23 carries in the game.

Zay Flowers led the receivers with 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman was 25 of 40 for 313 yards. He was intercepted once by defensive back Cole Batson (from San Clemente). Hartman also threw five touchdown passes. 

Highlights

Wake Forest improved to 6-1, 2-1 in the ACC. BC fell to 2-5, 1-4 in the conference. The Eagles have five games remaining, and need to win four of those to become bowl eligible. They play UConn next Saturday in East Hartford, Conn., which may help.