QB Dennis Grosel was sacked three times by the Cardinals. USA TODAY photo
Have to acknowledge that my headline is a variation of the headline used on today’s Boston Globe article about BC’s 28-14 desultory loss to Louisville yesterday. Either I couldn’t do better or didn’t have the enthusiasm to try.
After pasting three cupcake opponents and then beating SEC Missouri in an exciting overtime game to start the season 4-0, the Eagles were seemingly on the verge of getting into the top 25. They then went into Death Valley against a weakened Clemson team and lost. Ditto against N.C. State. Yesterday’s loss brings BC to 0-3 in conference play.
The Eagles’ defense forced four turnovers by the Cardinals — two fumbles and two interceptions. BC had three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble — of their own, however.
It was the BC offense, though, that was offensive. The Eagles gained fewer than 150 yards either running or passing for a total of 266 yards offense. QB Dennis Grosel was 17 of 32 passing for 141 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. BC averaged 3.5 yards per rushing attempt, gaining a total of 125 yards. Leading rusher Patrick Garwo gained 86 yards on 15 carries.
Louisville had 331 yards rushing on 47 carries, with QB Malik Cunningham running 16 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns. RB Trevion Cooley ran 13 times for 116 yards. The Cardinals passed for only 107 yards total.
The Eagles opened the scoring with an eight-play, 63-yard drive on their second possession. RB Alec Sinkfield finished it with an 11-yard touchdown run. They also closed to within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of a Louisville fumble at their 30-yard line. Grosel passed to WR Jaelen Gill for a six-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals answered right back with an eight-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. BC’s last possession ended with a Grosel fumble at the BC 40 that allowed Louisville to run out the clock.
“Highlights.”
(I failed to put up a post about the N.C. State game on October 16, which the Eagles lost 33-7. I was in Alumni Stadium for the game with a group of classmates and friends. We left late in the third quarter when the score reached 31-7 and it began to rain steadily. On Sunday, I didn’t bother to read coverage of the game in the Boston Globe or anywhere else and began a multi-day tour of the Cape visiting friends. Sorry for the omission, but it was beyond me.)
The Eagles (4-3) (0-3) go to upstate New York to meet Syracuse Saturday, October 30, at 12:30 pm PT. The Orange (4-4) (1-3) beat Virginia Tech yesterday for their first ACC win.