Tag: BC Eagles

Dec 28, 2024; Bronx, NY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Rahmir Johnson (14) carries the ball as Boston College Eagles linebacker Joe Marinaro (45) pursues during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Nebraska builds big lead, holds off Boston College in Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A trio of running backs recorded touchdowns to help Nebraska hold off Boston College’s late rally for a 20-15 win in the Pinstripe Bowl on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Bronx, N.Y.

New York native Rahmir Johnson scored the Cornhuskers’ opening touchdown to highlight his 60-yard performance on 10 carries. His 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 before the two-minute timeout iced the game, lifting Nebraska (7-6) to its first winning season since 2016.

Kwinten Ives also ran for a score and Emmett Johnson (team-high 68 rushing yards on 14 carries) caught one from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was 23 of 31 for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception on the day.

Nebraska had a 20-2 lead before allowing its first touchdown with 6:11 left in regulation.

Boston College (7-6) forced two first-half turnovers and finished five of its first seven drives inside the opposing 35-yard line, but the Eagles went 0-for-4 on fourth downs until Turbo Richard’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska’s first two punts turned into touchdowns for the Eagles, with the second being blocked and returned to the 2-yard line ahead of a Jordan McDonald score with 4:18 remaining.

Grayson James quarterbacked the Eagles, going 25 of 40 for a season-high 296 yards. He also rushed for 22. Lewis Bond made six catches for 94 yards.

Jahmal Banks was Raiola’s leading target, making four catches for 79 yards.

After big plays went by the boards for both teams on their opening series, Raiola sent Nebraska on a 15-play, 75-yard drive to the opening touchdown four seconds into the second quarter. Following a third-down conversion in the red zone, Rahmir Johnson scored on a 4-yard run before John Hohl’s PAT made it 7-0.

After Boston College was unable to convert on Josiah Griffin’s recovery of an Emmett Johnson fumble, an ensuing fourth-down penalty gave Nebraska new life and the Cornhuskers turned it into Ives’ 2-yard score with 3:39 before halftime.

Ashton McShane’s 88-yard blocked PAT return got the Eagles on the board at 13-2, though.

Nebraska’s first drive out of halftime included two fakes from punter/holder Brian Buschini, including a successful fake field goal. On the following series, Raiola’s 13-yard pass to Emmett Johnson out of the backfield resulted in a 20-2 lead with 3:02 left in the third.

Richard punched in the first Boston College touchdown. James’ two-point conversion pass attempt failed.

Buschini’s second punt was blocked by Victor Nelson Jr. and returned to the 2-yard line by Omar Thornton, setting up McDonald’s run and a Liam Connor PAT.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2021; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley along the sidelines during the first half against the Colgate Raiders at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

QB Phil Jurkovec hurt, but Boston College defeats UMass

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Phil Jurkovec and wide receiver Zay Flowers – Boston College’s two biggest stars – were both banged up, but the Eagles still had enough to defeat host Massachusetts, 45-28, on Saturday afternoon.

Flowers, who injured his left leg, returned. But Jurkovec, who left the game with just 4:09 expired in the first quarter due to a right-wrist injury, did not come back. His status is uncertain.

BC scored two special-teams touchdowns, including on Travis Levy’s kickoff return as he atoned for a costly fumble. In addition, BC’s Patrick Garwo rushed 15 times for 160 yards and tight end Trae Barry had five catches for 98 yards and one TD.

Dennis Grosel, who replaced Jurkovec, completed 11 of 14 pass attempts for 199 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for a score.

BC (2-0) has now won 11 consecutive games in its series against the Minutemen (0-2). The last time UMass beat BC was in 1978.

The Minutemen haven’t won a game since beating Akron 37-29 on Sept. 28, 2019. Since then, they have lost 13 straight games. Last year, Massachusetts went 0-4 and scored a total of just 12 points.

On Saturday, Massachusetts’ Brady Olson, a true freshman, got his first career start, replacing graduate transfer Tyler Lytle, who is injured. Olson completed 14 of 29 pass attempts for 214 yards and three TDs. He was intercepted twice.

Olson was intercepted on his first pass of the day as cornerback Josh DeBerry got the pick. BC converted that into a 14-play, 65-yard drive, capped by Alex Sinkfield’s 6-yard TD run.

On BC’s next drive, Grosel’s two-yard TD run capped a 68-yard drive.

Massachusetts threatened later in the second quarter, getting a first-and-goal at the BC 2-yard line in what became a 14-play, 68-yard drive. However, BC stuffed UMass on four straight running plays that went for 1 yard, minus-1 yard, 1 yard and minus-6 yards.

Each team scored three touchdowns in a wild third quarter.

Olson’s 56-yard bomb to Rico Arnold got UMass on the board.

BC answered on Levy’s 20-yard TD run.

The Eagles struck again on Grosel’s 44-yard TD toss to Barry.

UMass responded with Rutgers transfer Kay’Ron Adams’ 1-yard TD run. The Minutemen converted after Levy fumbled a punt at his own 1-yard line, recovered by Javon Batten.

BC scored on special teams as Vinny DePalma’s punt-coverage hit jarred the ball loose from Eric Collins, and Florida State transfer Jaiden Lars-Woodbey pounced on it and brought it back for a 41-yard TD.

Collins made amends for his fumble by scoring on a 15-yard pass from Olson, cutting UMass’ deficit to 35-21 with 1:56 left in the third.

The fourth quarter started with a similar scoring spree. After a BC field goal, UMass’ Ellis Merriweather caught a 14-yard TD pass from Olson, cutting the Minutemen deficit to 38-28 with 9:04 left in the fourth.

But Levy’s 96-yard kickoff return gave BC a 45-28 advantage.

–Field Level Media