C.J. Lewis, about to snare a touchdown pass. Look! There are people in the stands. BC photo
On Halloween, in #1 Clemson’s “Death Valley” stadium, the Eagles were flying high. In less than two minutes, BC’s had taken the opening kickoff and moved 74 yards in four plays to score a touchdown on a Phil Jurkovec 11-yard pass to Zay Flowers. A classmate texted me: “Did we just do that?!”
Okay, so Clemson came right back and, in just over two minutes, went 64 yards in six plays to equal the score, as QB D.J. Uiagelelei tossed the ball to Travis Etienne who ran it in for the 35-yard score. Seven-seven after just over four minutes gone. Shootout, anyone?
With a series of exciting, innovative, and improbable plays, BC put Clemson in its largest halftime deficit in like forever, 28-13. It was a great half of football for the Eagles. The second half was not. Uiagelelei (a product of St. John Bosco, Bellflower, just south of LA) played like the five-star recruit he was and Clemson blanked BC to give the Tigers a 34-28 comeback win.
The stats in the first half did not reflect the score. Clemson had more first downs (16-13), more plays (42-29) for more yards (239-209). BC was more efficient, averaging 7.2 yards per play, while the Tigers gained an average of 5.7 yards. One stat may help explain the situation. One for 97. Early in the second quarter, Clemson had the ball on BC’s one-yard line. Etienne took the ball, fumbled, and BC’s Brandon Sebastian scooped it up on the three-yard line and ran 97 yards for the touchdown. A 14-point swing.
That, however, was followed by a series of plays that will be recalled and recounted many times by BC fans. On a 14-play drive that stalled at the Clemson 23-yard line, BC sent in the field goal team. Those watching were likely puzzled when one of the blockers for BC suddenly sprinted laterally away from the formation. Then, placeholder John Tessitore jumped up from his kneeling position and ran to the center, appearing ready to take a snap. With a vigorous yell and head bob, Tessitore drew several Clemson players offside, giving BC a first down. On the next play, Jurkovec threw an 18-yard pass to C.J. Lewis in the end zone, who made a miraculous catch of the ball that had bounced off the Clemson defender (it’s the photo at the top of this post). A four-point swing.
Stat-wise, as well as score-wise, the situation was flipped in the second half. Clemson took the kickoff and marched 64 yards in seven plays, topped off by a 30-yard touchdown run by Uiagelelei. Two more touchdowns by the Tigers seemed almost routine. BC gained only 66 yards total offense in the second half, while Clemson gained 226 yards. A missed two-point conversion by Clemson was offset by a two-point safety when Jurkovec was called for grounding in the end zone with 1:18 remaining.
This was a game played through the air. Of BC’s 275 total yards, 208 were by the pass, only 67 on the ground. Jurkovec was 13 of 25 passing for two touchdowns, with no interceptions. Clemson ran for 106 yards, while Uiagelelei was 30 of 43 for 342 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Here are highlights.
BC fell to 4-3, 3-3 in the ACC. Next game Saturday, November 7, at Syracuse, 11 am PT.