Following BC’s surprising performance against #1 Clemson two weeks earlier, anticipation for the Eagles’ matchup with #2 Notre Dame yesterday was high. For the eighth time in succession, however, the Irish triumphed over BC . . . emphatically.

Notre Dame had 12 possessions in their 45-31 victory, the last two a missed field goal and game-ending kneel-down on the BC four yard line. In their first 10 possessions, the only thing that stopped the Irish were their own three fumbles. The other seven possessions ended in six touchdowns and a field goal. Notre Dame never punted.

In comparison, the Eagles scored on six of their 11 possessions in the game, but three of the scores were field goals and three were touchdowns. They lost the ball twice, with a fumble and interception.

(This game was designated BC’s annual Red Bandanna game, in recognition of the sacrifice made by BC grad Welles Crowther in saving others in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Crowther, a lacrosse player at BC, wore his traditional red bandanna while assisting people to escape. Uniform numbers were adapted to carry the red bandanna pattern.)

The opening quarter was evenly played. Notre Dame scored first on a field goal, while BC had an encouraging 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Phil Jurkovec to Zay Flowers. The Irish scored a TD to end the quarter 10-10.

Notre Dame leapt ahead in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns and allowing the Eagles only a field goal to go ahead 31-16 at halftime. In the first half, the Irish had 17 first downs to BC’s nine, and more than doubled the Eagles in total offense, 327 yards to 160.

The two teams had matching touchdowns in each quarter of the second half, with only a two-point conversion by the Eagles on their final touchdown cutting the margin by a point.

The Irish gained a season-high 561 yards, with a balanced 278 yards rushing and 283 yards passing. The Eagles nearly matched ND passing, with 272 yards passing, but gained only 85 yards on the ground, for a 357-yard total.

Irish quarterback Ian Book, whose decision to return this season encouraged then-teammate Jurkovec to transfer to BC, was 20 of 27 passing for three touchdowns and no interceptions. Book also ran the ball 10 times for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Jurkovec completed 18 of 40 pass attempts for two touchdowns and an interception. BC coach Jeff Hafley said after the game that Jurkovec had separated his throwing shoulder in the game against Clemson and that was an issue in ability to practice and in his passing accuracy.

Here are video highlights.

The Eagles will be enjoying a bye week. Originally scheduled to have a week off earlier, BC has played nine games in a row, more than any other team in the ACC. Now 5-4, 4-4 in conference, the Eagles next meet Louisville on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, in Chestnut Hill. Game time is 9 am PT.