Sep 3, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keon Coleman (4) runs the ball for a touchdown during the first half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Florida State looks to avoid complacency at BC

After a pair of dominant performances to start the season, Florida State finds itself among the top three teams in the nation for the first time in six years.

But the third-ranked Seminoles believe they haven’t reached their ceiling just yet, and they will look to continue climbing the ranks on Saturday when they face Boston College in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Florida State (2-0) rose to No. 3 in the AP poll thanks to a 66-13 shellacking of Southern Miss last Saturday. It marks the Seminoles’ highest ranking since 2017, when they started the season as the third-best team in the country.

Through two games, FSU has outscored opponents 111-37. The Seminoles kicked off the 2023 campaign with a 45-24 victory over LSU on Sept. 3.

Although he is pleased with the progress his team has made just two years removed a stretch of four straight losing seasons, Florida State coach Mike Norvell is focused on avoiding complacency.

“Somebody says that we’re highly rated or highly ranked, whatever you call it, or not. None of that matters,” Norvell said. “It’s about what we’re willing to do when we show up and when we go to work.”

Norvell is eager to begin ACC play with a victory, but he knows that it won’t be easy.

“We understand what we want to achieve and what we want to do. This is a first step when it comes to coming into conference play,” Norvell said. “This is a big game up at BC.”

The Eagles (1-1) will have plenty to play for against FSU.

Saturday marks Boston College’s annual Red Bandanna Game, which honors alumnus Welles Crowther.

Crowther died during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He was in the South Tower, where, with his red bandanna covering his nose and mouth amidst the smoke, he helped others evacuate the building before it collapsed.

“We talk to our players about 9/11, about Welles, about the Red Bandanna Game,” BC coach Jeff Hafley said. “We teach them about … why we wear those jerseys. It’s not just to put on a new look. It’s way bigger than that.”

Boston College is bracing for its toughest opponent yet, as the Eagles opened their season with a 27-24 overtime loss to Northern Illinois before bouncing back to pull off a gritty 31-28 win over FCS Holy Cross last Saturday.

“They’re as deep as they’ve been,” Hafley said of the Seminoles. “They’re deep at wide receiver. … Every time you turn on the film, there’s a new guy who looks just as big and just as fast. They’ve got depth at running back.

“And then the quarterback. He’s just gotten better and better. If you turn on the tape from when we played him two years ago, he was young, then he got better and now he’s probably one of the best players in all of college football.”

That quarterback Hafley speaks so highly of is Jordan Travis, who has already thrown for 517 yards with six touchdowns against one interception.

Florida State has won 15 of its 20 all-time meetings with BC.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) reacts during the second half against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas Castellanos helps Boston College edge Holy Cross

Thomas Castellanos threw for two touchdowns in his first start as Boston College’s starting quarterback, helping the Eagles hold off FCS No. 5 Holy Cross 31-28 on Saturday at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Castellanos was 17-of-23 passing for 204 yards and had 16 carries for 69 yards. George Takacs and Jeremiah Franklin were on the receiving end of the scores.

Kye Robichaux (19 carries, 94 yards) and Ryan O’Keefe also rushed for touchdowns for BC (1-1), which scored on all four first-half drives and led 24-14 at intermission.

The UCF transfer quarterback earned the starting job after both he and returnee Emmett Morehead saw action in BC’s season-opening overtime loss to Northern Illinois last week.

Jordan Fuller and Matthew Sluka each rushed for two touchdowns for Holy Cross (1-1), which had won 18 consecutive regular-season games.

Sluka rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries and was 10 of 15 for 130 passing yards.

With Holy Cross set for a potential game-winning drive, a lightning delay halted play for over two hours with 1:58 remaining. Sluka opened the series with a 35-yard sideline run, but his fumble — recovered by Vinny DePalma — three plays later allowed BC to hold on for the win.

Sluka’s 8-yard run got Holy Cross in the end zone on five plays to begin the second half.

The Crusaders went on to force BC’s first two punts, but the hosts’ lead increased to 31-21 on Franklin’s 5-yard reception from Castellanos in the opening seconds of the fourth.

Fuller’s tough 15-yard run brought Holy Cross back within one score with 7:26 left.

A tidy first quarter featured just one offensive series — and touchdown — per team, but BC took a 10-point halftime lead after three combined scoring drives in the final 3:38 before intermission.

The Eagles strung together an opening 14-play, 85-yard series that ended with Robichaux taking a 3-yard run into the end zone, his third early carry.

Holy Cross’ response was a Fuller 2-yard touchdown run, capping a 15-play drive that spilled four seconds into the second quarter. To set up the score, Sluka ran for gains of 17 and 21 yards and hit Phoenix Dickson for a 17-yard completion.

On another 14-play series for the Eagles, O’Keefe found the edge for a go-ahead, 14-yard score with 7:06 left in the half.

Castellanos hit Takacs with a 2-yard score over the top to make it 21-7 BC, but two penalties set the visitors up at midfield and Sluka cut the deficit in half with an 8-yard run with 46 second left.

Liam Connor’s 37-yard field goal ended the half for BC.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Northern Illinois Huskies receiver Kacper Rutkiewicz (8) runs the ball during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Northern Illinois takes down Boston College in OT

Rocky Lombardi’s 1-yard quarterback sneak in overtime lifted visiting Northern Illinois to a 27-24 victory over Boston College in the season opener for both teams Saturday at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Liam Connor’s 39-yard field goal put Boston College ahead after the first series of the extra session, but Lombardi led the winning four-play drive to give the Huskies (1-0) their second Week 1 win over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in three years. Northern Illinois defeated Georgia Tech in 2021

Lombardi ended the game 13-of-29 passing for 165 yards.

Antario Brown accounted for the first two Northern Illinois touchdowns, catching one and throwing for the other as the Huskies led 14-0 with 10:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos led a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives to help Boston College (0-1) overcome a 21-7 deficit and force overtime. Castellanos hit J Williams on a 30-yard scoring pass with 1:44 remaining in the game to forge a 21-21 tie.

The UCF transfer was 12 of 28 for 138 yards and rushed for 67 yards on nine carries, taking over for Emmett Morehead for the majority of the game after the first quarter.

After JaVaughn Byrd intercepted Castellanos’ final pass of the third quarter, Brock Lampe broke through for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:24 remaining in regulation to put NIU up 21-7. The 12-play drive, aided by a pass interference call on a fourth-down attempt, took 7:04 off the clock.

A 2-yard Castellanos run with 5:59 left brought BC back within 21-14 before Williams’ TD capped a 6-play, 83-yard drive in only 1:39.

Ten penalties for 95 yards hurt BC in its second straight season-opening loss.

NIU scored the game’s first points with 2:44 left before halftime. Justin Lynch’s 7-yard screen pass to Brown got the Huskies in the end zone to cap an 8-play, 60-yard drive that also included Chris Carter catching a 32-yard pass over the middle from Lombardi.

The visitors doubled their lead at the end of a 10-play drive in the first 4:27 of the third quarter. Brown’s 2-yard run to the right resulted in the touchdown.

A big defensive play helped set the Eagles up to make it 14-7 with 4:58 left in the third. Khris Banks recovered a Lombardi fumble, leading to a five-play series that ended with Castellanos and Bond connecting on an 11-yard pass.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Emmett Morehead (14) celebrates a touchdown against the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Northern Illinois, Boston College seek fresh starts after rough 2022

After posting identical 3-9 records last year, Boston College and Northern Illinois look for a fresh start in Saturday’s season opener in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Eagles bring 74 percent of their overall 2022 production into the program’s 125th season. Fourth-year coach Jeff Hafley believes his team has a talented roster that is ready to improve on a disappointing effort last season.

“There was more competition regarding the depth chart than we’ve ever had,” Hafley said. “We’ve had some guys during this camp that moved ahead, but then a week later the other guy jumps. … I think the competition brought out the best in a lot of people.”

A new starting quarterback leads the way for BC in Emmett Morehead, who was one of only three true or redshirt freshmen nationally to put together multiple games of at least 325 passing yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

The loss of preseason All-American guard Christian Mahogany (torn ACL) was compounded by injuries across the offensive line throughout last season, forcing the Eagles to use nine different starting combinations.

Graduate student Jack Conley was the only player to start all 12 games, playing four positions.

“The memories of not having the same O-line for nine straight weeks, hopefully it’ll never happen again in the history of football,” Hafley said.

With BC’s all-time leading receiver Zay Flowers now set to play on Sundays, look for Ryan O’Keefe to make an impact. The transfer was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference pick at UCF.

NIU lost four of its final five games of 2022 but does return eight starters on offense.

Quarterback Rocky Lombardi was injured in the third game last season, while 2021 All-MAC receiver and kick returner Trayvon Rudolph went down in preseason camp.

“Similar to us a year ago, (BC) dealt with some injuries that hurt their team a little bit,” Huskies coach Thomas Hammock said. “It’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us. It’s about continuing to get better. … I think if we can play a team game and complement one another, we’re going to improve as a football team.”

The Huskies have six veterans back from an offensive line that allowed just 12 sacks in as many games last year.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles cornerback Jalon Williams (14) breaks up a pass intended for Syracuse Orange wide receiver Damien Alford (82) during the second quarter at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Shrader, Sean Tucker boost Syracuse over Boston College

Garrett Shrader threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and Sean Tucker ran for two more as Syracuse came back for a 32-23 win over host Boston College on Saturday night.

Devaughn Cooper (8 yards) and Damien Alford (58 yards) caught Shrader’s touchdown passes and Cooper scampered in from 5 and 29 yards out as the Orange (7-5, 4-4 ACC) held a 26-13 scoring edge in the final quarter.

Shrader finished 21-of-27 for 285 yards while Tucker rushed for 125 yards on 21 carries, becoming the third-leading rusher in Syracuse history.

Oronde Gadsden II had six catches for 106 yards for Syracuse.

Anwar Sparrow logged three tackles for loss.

Emmett Morehead was 29-of-38 for 252 passing yards and two touchdowns for BC (3-9, 2-6).

Zay Flowers (110 yards) caught two TD passes, setting BC records with 12 this season and 29 in his career.

Pat Garwo (83 yards) also ran for a score.

With BC driving near midfield, Morehead was strip sacked by Caleb Okechukwu and Syracuse took over with 5:25 left. Tucker broke through to cap a 6-play drive in 2:29.

BC led 10-0 in less than five minutes. Syracuse’s first four possessions resulted in a Bryce Steele fumble recovery, an Edwin Kolenge blocked punt, a missed field goal and a punt.

The special teams highlights resulted in BC starting inside the red zone, though it first settled for a 28-yard Connor Lytton field goal.

After Syracuse went 3-and-out, the Eagles found the end zone in three plays as Morehead hit Flowers for a 7-yard reception.

With 2:18 left in the half, the Orange capped a 12-play, 66-yard drive with a 47-yard Andre Szmyt field goal.

After Sparrow’s recovery inside BC territory on the following possession, the Orange was tackled for loss and a flagrant foul on right tackle Enrique Cruz stalled a late drive.

The first two third-quarter drives lasted 6:17 and 7:03. After BC went scoreless, Syracuse was held to a 29-yard field goal after two penalties and a Donovan Ezeiruaku sack.

A 30-yard toss to Flowers along the sideline set up Garwo’s TD run at the end of a nine-play drive early in the fourth.

Syracuse responded with an 8-play, 81-yard drive, scoring on Cooper’s 8-yard catch-and-run with 9:56 left.

The Orange took an 18-17 lead with 7:05 remaining, as a quick 3-play series ended with Alford catching a 58-yard pass.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA;  Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) runs around end towards the end zone against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the first half at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Ailing Orange look to finish strong vs. up-and-down BC

Two long familiar foes clash in Saturday’s regular-season finale as Boston College hosts Syracuse for the first time since 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

After fighting through injuries all season, the Big East-turned-Atlantic Coast Conference rivals look to finish strong in their 56th all-time meeting.

The Orange (6-5, 3-4 ACC) have lost five straight since their superb start to the season earned them their first bowl game in five seasons. The Eagles (3-8, 2-5) were shut out last week at Notre Dame, 44-0, a week after they had knocked off then-No. 16 NC State.

Syracuse battled in last Saturday’s 45-35 loss to Wake Forest despite missing 12 players from its season-opening depth chart.

“Our goal right now is Boston College, and that’s where we have to be at because you only get 12 opportunities to play 13, which we have received,” coach Dino Babers said. “To be fair to everyone, we have to stay locked in on that, but … the numbers are concerning.”

Left tackle Matthew Bergeron, who had started 38 consecutive games, was one of three linemen out.

Against Wake, Garrett Shrader threw for a career-best 324 yards, and Sean Tucker scored twice while rushing for 106 yards.

Tucker became the fourth back in ‘Cuse history to surpass 3,000 for his career, joining Joe Morris (4,299), Walter Reyes (3,424), and Delone Carter (3,104).

“Eleven explosive plays, seven guys caught the ball,” Babers said. “That just shows you guys are getting better and coaches are doing a good job bringing the underbelly along.”

BC has a conference-high 34 underclassmen on its two-deep but using nine different starters across the offensive line has been particularly challenging.

Also, quarterback Phil Jurkovec has missed three games due to a concussion and broken rib.

“It’s probably not looking good like he’ll play in this last game,” BC coach Jeff Hafley said.

Emmett Morehead has thrown for seven touchdowns since Jurkovec was injured at UConn. He is one of only two freshman quarterbacks in the country this season have multiple 325-yard, three-touchdown games — and the other is North Carolina’s highly touted Drake Maye.

Zay Flowers has become the Eagles’ all-time leader in receiving yards (2,946) and receptions (192). He needs two touchdowns to match Kelvin Martin’s school record of 29.

“When he’s going out there practicing 100 miles an hour … and giving everything, it says a lot more than someone yelling and screaming,” Hafley said. “There’s a lot of guys like that. …

“It hasn’t been perfect, but there’s no quit.”

BC has been held to a field goal or less three times this season but had not been blanked since 2016 before last week’s 44-0 loss.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) dives for the pylon as Boston College Eagles defensive back Josh DeBerry (21) defends in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

No. 18 Notre Dame dominates from 1st play in 44-0 shutout

No. 18 Notre Dame scored on its first eight drives and cruised to a 44-0 win over visiting Boston College on a snowy Saturday nonconference action at South Bend, Ind.

Audric Estime rushed for two touchdowns and Logan Diggs had a team-high 122 yards and a score on 15 carries, leading the Fighting Irish (8-3) to their fifth straight triumph.

Notre Dame finished with a 437-173 advantage in total yards. The count was 336-81, including 214-1 on the ground, in the first half.

Freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison intercepted three of BC quarterback Emmett Morehead’s passes. Isaiah Foskey became Notre Dame’s all-time sacks leader, taking down Morehead for his 25th to end the opening half.

Quarterback Drew Pyne went 13 of 25 for 156 yards and one touchdown.

For BC (3-8), which has lost five of six, Zay Flowers had 46 receiving yards and Alex Broome rushed for 25. Morehead ended 9-for-22 for 117 yards and was sacked four times as the Eagles turned the ball over five times.

On defense, Vinny DePalma had a game-high 12 tackles.

After Diggs ran for 51 yards on the opening play from scrimmage, the Irish got stopped in the red zone and settled for Blake Grupe’s 26-yard field goal.

It was 10-0 in less than three minutes. Morrison picked off Morehead to end the Eagles’ first series prematurely, leading to a Diggs 1-yard score on his fifth consecutive carry.

An eight-play, 81-yard drive resulted in the second straight Notre Dame touchdown and a 17-0 lead. Pyne went 6-of-7 on a drive that finished with a 1-yard TD to Matt Salerno with 4:15 left in the first.

BC’s Donovan Ezeiruaku broke up a third-down pass, holding Notre Dame to a 41-yard field goal to begin the second quarter.

Grupe was called upon again at 8:27 before halftime, hitting from 46 after a penalty and Pyne’s scamper coming up short of a first down.

Estime (7 yards) and Chris Tyree (12) rushed for TDs in the final 3:04 of the first half.

Aside from two of Morrison’s interceptions, BC fumbled twice and punted twice in the first half.

Following another Morrison pick, Estime ran to the left for a 6-yard score with 8:54 to play in the third.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback MJ Morris (16) scrambles during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Emmett Morehead helps Boston College shock No. 16 NC State

Emmett Morehead threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns as Boston College upset No. 16 North Carolina State 21-20 on Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Morehead connected with Joe Griffin for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left and Connor Lytton kicked the decisive extra point.

Morehead completed 29 of 48 passes with two interceptions for the Eagles (3-7, 2-5 ACC) as they snapped a four-game slide. The Eagles also broke a 15-game losing streak to ranked opponents.

Zay Flowers was Morehead’s top target as he hauled in seven catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

To add another layer to Boston College’s shocking victory, the Eagles won while rushing for minus-one yard on 23 carries.

NC State (7-3, 3-3) saw its 16-game home winning streak at Carter-Finley Stadium come to an end. Had the Wolfpack won this game, the streak would have set a new program record.

Boston College trailed by as much as 13 points. They moved ahead with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that took two minutes and 33 seconds. The drive was capped off by Morehead’s short touchdown pass to Griffin.

NC State tried to respond, but threw an incomplete pass and was then flagged for an illegal forward pass that was caught by a Boston College defender.

NC State scored on each of its first two drives to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. MJ Morris — making just his second career start — found Trent Pennix Jr. for a 27-yard score, and then Morris had a 10-yard scamper for the second touchdown.

Morris finished with 135 passing yards while completing 12 of 24 passes. He also rushed for 22 yards. Michael Allen paced the rushing attack for NC State with 77 yards on 14 attempts, while Jordan Houston rushed for 71 yards on 14 touches.

After a Boston College score, NC State’s Christopher Dunn connected on a pair of field goals — from distances of 30 and 45 yards — to put the Wolfpack up 20-7. With the second kick, Dunn became the ACC’s career leader in field goals made with 89.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko during the second half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Riley Leonard, Duke run over Boston College

Duke earned its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference road win, scoring 24 first-half points on the way to defeating Boston College 38-31 on Friday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Blue Devils (6-3, 3-2 ACC) rushed for 232 yards, eclipsing the 200 mark for the sixth time this season. Jaquez Moore had two of the team’s four rushing scores.

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard completed 16 of 24 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown, and he added a game-high 96 yards and a score on 13 carries.

Boston College quarterback Emmett Morehead made his first career start in place of Phil Jurkovec (knee), and he finished 27 of 45 for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Zay Flowers and Joseph Griffin Jr. caught two TD tosses apiece, and Griffin racked up 103 yards on five receptions.

Shaka Heyward logged 11 tackles, leading a Duke defense that sacked Morehead five times.

Duke opened the game with a six-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. Leonard called his own number for a 60-yard TD, his ninth on the ground this season.

After the teams traded three-and-outs, the Eagles scored on a six-play, 72-yard drive. A 22-yard Alex Broome run and a 36-yard Morehead-to-Griffin connection set up a 2-yard touchdown toss to Flowers.

Todd Pelino’s 39-yard field goal lifted the Blue Devils with 4:07 left in the first quarter.

Duke ate 5:53 and made it 17-7 on a Jordan Waters 7-yard run to begin the second. Another Blue Devils drive starting near midfield ended with Sahmir Hagans catching an 8-yard touchdown with 4:16 until halftime.

In the final minute of the half, Boston College cut its deficit to 24-14 as Morehead found Griffin for a 2-yard high ball in the corner of the end zone.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with Moore’s 24-yard run up the middle, capping a six-play, 63-yard drive.

A fourth-down catch by Griffin kept an 80-yard drive going and allowed Flowers to score on an 18-yard catch-and-run with 3:31 to go in the third, bringing the Eagles within 31-21.

Moore punched in a 2-yard score on Duke’s first play of the final quarter, completing an eight-play, 50-yard series.

Griffin hauled in a 26-yard pass with 12:07 left to slice Boston College’s deficit to 10.

Connor Lytton’s 34-yard field goal made it 38-31 in the final minute of regulation.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2022; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Boston College Eagles special teams Zay Flowers (4) returns the ball against the Connecticut Huskies in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

UConn clamps down on Boston College 13-3

Freshman quarterback Zion Turner threw for a season-high 173 yards and a touchdown as UConn held off visiting Boston College in a 13-3 victory Saturday at East Hartford, Conn.

Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec threw for 155 yards but was intercepted twice, including one in the end zone late in the second quarter. Jurkovec, who absorbed three of UConn’s four sacks, also rushed 14 times for 29 yards before leaving with an apparent knee injury in the third quarter.

In a mistake-filled game, the Eagles (2-6) also fumbled away late chances.

Boston College trailed 10-3 in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Emmett Morehead found Jeremiah Franklin for a short completion, but Franklin fumbled, and the Huskies’ Jackson Mitchell recovered at the Boston College 32.

UConn (4-5) went three-and-out, but Noe Ruelas nailed a 43-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13-3 with 6:26 remaining.

On Boston College’s next possession, Mitchell picked off Morehead, giving the Huskies possession at their own 32.

After forcing UConn to punt, the Eagles gave the ball right back to the Huskies. Star BC wide receiver Zay Flowers, who dropped a possible touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and had just two catches for 35 yards, muffed the punt, with Mitchell making the recovery. Mitchell also had a sack for UConn and Pryce Yates had two more.

In 14 previous meetings between these schools dating back to 1908, the Eagles were 12-0-2.

Aaron Turner had 70 yards on four catches for the Huskies. The Eagles’ Patrick Garwo amassed 89 yards receiving and 13 rushing.

On the game’s third play from scrimmage, Turner hit Justin Joly down the right sideline, and one missed tackle by Boston College was all Joly needed to finish the 62-yard scoring play. Ruelas’ extra point made it 7-0 just 65 seconds into the game.

The Eagles then gambled on their first possession, going for a first down on fourth-and-1 at their own 34, but Jurkovec was held to no gain.

The Huskies then moved to a first-and-goal at the Boston College 5-yard line, but a fumbled snap cost them 20 yards, and they settled for Ruelas’ 31-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.

The Eagles’ only points came on Connor Lytton’s 19-yard field goal with 9:57 left in the first half. He missed a 43-yard attempt in the closing seconds of the game.

–Field Level Media