Tag: Boston College

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

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) passes as Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins (34) defends Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Nebraska, BC excited about visit to New York for Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The opportunity in front of Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday is not lost on first-year coach Bill O’Brien.

When the Massachusetts native leads the Eagles (7-5) onto the hallowed New York ground, Boston College will be shooting for its first eight-win season since 2009. Facing an opponent as prestigious in the world of college football as Nebraska (6-6) makes it even more special.

“I think that was the big thing for us,” O’Brien said. “Can we play a great, legendary program? (We’re) all very excited about the opportunity to go up against a program like Nebraska in Yankee Stadium around Christmastime. It’s a very, very cool opportunity.”

The Eagles not only look to send seniors such as ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku (FBS-leading 16 1/2 sacks in the regular season), running back Kye Robichaux (452 yards, six touchdowns in the past four games) and former walk-on linebacker Joe Marinaro out on a high note, but also keep an eye on the future with many expected 2025 returnees already contributing on the depth chart.

Florida International junior transfer Grayson James has emerged as Boston College’s top quarterback, throwing for five touchdowns in four starts since Florida State-bound Thomas Castellanos departed the program midseason. The Eagles won three of those games, all in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

This season has also seen the likes of running back Turbo Richard, wide receiver Reed Harris and safety Carter Davis receive significant time as true or redshirt freshmen for O’Brien’s team.

“There’s a lot of guys that will be playing in this game that will hopefully be playing for us next year,” O’Brien said. “If you can’t get up to playing in a game like this, I think for our guys, you might want to check yourself out a little bit.”

While Boston College seeks back-to-back bowl victories after toppling now-ACC rival SMU in the Fenway Bowl last December, Nebraska is headed to its first postseason appearance since 2016.

The Cornhuskers clinched the bowl berth with a Nov. 23 win over Wisconsin, ending a four-game losing streak that followed a 5-1 start. Five of Nebraska’s six losses were by eight or fewer points, including setbacks against ranked Big Ten foes Illinois and Ohio State.

“We’re unbelievably excited and grateful,” second-year Nebraska coach and native New Yorker Matt Rhule said. “We’ve worked really hard to get to this point. A tough schedule this year, had a chance to play against a lot of great teams.”

Nebraska has one of the nation’s top young quarterbacks at the helm. Dylan Raiola has thrown for 12 touchdowns and ranks second among FBS freshmen with 2,595 passing yards and a 66.6 percent completion rate.

Raiola shot down transfer portal rumors and affirmed his commitment to the Huskers since the regular season concluded.

“I never officially entered and never really was shopping around,” Raiola said. “I’m playing quarterback at Nebraska.”

The game has added significance to Rhule due to his New York City roots. This month, he added Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator and promoted John Butler to defensive coordinator.

Eight Nebraska players hail from New York or New Jersey, including sophomore starting defensive end Cameron Lenhardt and sixth-year senior running back Rahmir Johnson.

“It’s been home for a long time,” Rhule said. “This is a special, special kind of full-circle moment for us.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles running back Kye Robichaux (5) scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Boston College defeats Pitt to continue Panthers slide

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grayson James threw for a pair of second-half touchdowns and six passes of at least 25 yards as Boston College defeated Pitt 34-23 in Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference action at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

James finished 20-of-28 for 253 yards, helping the Eagles (7-5, 4-4 ACC) to their second straight and third win in four games. He connected with Reed Harris (three receptions, 85 yards) and Kamari Morales for scores, with the former scoring for the second week in a row.

Jordan McDonald and Kye Robichaux rushed into the end zone to help the Eagles open up a 13-0 lead that they would never relinquish, reaching the seven-win mark in the regular season for the first time since 2018.

Despite Nate Yarnell throwing for 296 yards and three touchdowns in place of injured starter Eli Holstein, Pitt (7-5, 3-5) suffered its fifth consecutive loss since a 7-0 start.

Gavin Bartholomew caught Yarnell’s first two touchdowns before Konata Mumpfield finished a 144-yard day on eight receptions with one of his own.

Boston College sacked Yarnell six times. Standout defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku had 10 total tackles (4 1/2 for loss) and 3 1/2 sacks.

After Pitt closed within 20-17, James hit Jeremiah Franklin on a third-and-10 scramble to continue a key eight-play, 83-yard scoring drive that Harris finalized on a 28-yard jump-ball in the front corner of the end zone with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

Pitt’s fumbled snap on 4th-and-2 turned the ball back to James, whose 15-yard dot to Morales with 6:12 remaining added insurance. A Lewis Bond conversion on fourth-and-4 set the table.

Mumpfield made a 15-yard touchdown reception with 3:59 left.

A play after James completed his third 25-yarder of the first quarter over the middle to Franklin, Jordan McDonald broke out for a 36-yard touchdown run to give Boston College a 6-0 lead with 1:53 left. The PAT attempt was unsuccessful following a bad snap.

James’ 53-yard strike to Harris set up the Eagles to extend their lead to 13-0 on Robichaux’s 2-yard run with 6:35 left before halftime.

Pitt used a 75-yard drive to score in the ensuing eight plays. Facing third-and-11, Yarnell found a wide-open Bartholomew for an 11-yard score, cutting the Panther deficit to 13-7.

Yarnell then drove the Panthers into opposing territory in four plays, but Neto Okpala’s pressure and tipped pass landed in the hands of defensive tackle Ty Clemons for a 55-yard interception return with 33 seconds left before halftime.

Pitt’s Ben Sauls snuck in a 57-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired.

After a fourth-and-2 hold inside their own territory, Bartholomew caught Yarnell’s last two passes of an eight-play, 65-yard drive, including a five-yarder with 7:50 left in the third to make it 20-17.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Lewis Bond (11) leaps over North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Antavious Lane (1) during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Boston College wallops North Carolina to gain bowl eligibility

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Boston College scored on five of six trips to the red zone and possessed the ball for 38:02 en route to a dominant 41-21 win over visiting North Carolina in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Grayson James finished 18-of-27 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score to lead the Eagles (6-5, 3-4 ACC), who had a 420-212 advantage in total yards.

James connected with Reed Harris for a score, while Lewis Bond caught a team-high nine passes for 81 yards. Kye Robichaux paced the Eagles’ run game with 93 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

The win lifted Boston College to bowl eligibility for the second straight year and eighth time in the last nine seasons.

Chris Culliver’s 95-yard kickoff return was North Carolina’s (6-5, 3-4) lone touchdown before Davion Gause rushed for two in the fourth quarter.

Jacolby Criswell threw for 176 yards (16-of-309), but the Donovan Ezeiruaku-led defense sacked him seven times and intercepted three passes, including a Ryan Turner return for a touchdown.

Omarion Hampton rushed for only 53 yards on 11 carries for the Tar Heels, who were 3-of-13 on third downs and committed eight penalties.

The Eagles put together a 13-play scoring drive in 6:15 following the opening kickoff. After Robichaux’s touchdown catch out of the backfield was nullified due to offensive pass interference, Liam Connor snuck a career-long field goal of 49 yards just over the crossbar.

Following Boston College’s quick stop, James faked the Tar Heel defense and scored on a 3-yard run to the left. A key third-and-9 conversion to Harris set up the 10-0 score.

Boston College got the ball back after stopping a fourth-and-2 and scored again in three plays on John Montague’s 24-yard end-around run to the left with 9:05 left before halftime.

Culliver’s ensuing kickoff return was Carolina’s longest since 2017, cutting the deficit to 17-7.

An incompletion on fourth-and-2 turned the ball back to the visitors with 1:55 left in the half, but Joe Marinaro’s interception three plays later set up James’ 18-yard, over-the-top connection to Harris to set the 24-7 halftime score.

Turner’s sack forced UNC into a three-and-out immediately following the intermission, and after Isaiah Farris busted out a 52-yard punt return, Connor booted a 27-yard field goal to extend the Eagle lead to 27-7.

After Hampton’s 15-yard run on fourth-and-2 moved the chains, Neto Okpala’s pressure forced Criswell to hurry a throw that Turner picked off for a 78-yard touchdown with 12:38 left.

Robichaux took a direct snap and scored on an 8-yard run with 5:51 left, capping a nine-play, 64-yard drive in 5:48.

Gause scored twice in the final 2:09.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) scores a touchdown as Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive back Nick Andersen (45) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina, BC likely to engage in ground-and-pound battle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After clinching bowl eligibility for the sixth consecutive season, North Carolina aims for a four-game win streak and its third straight road victory Saturday when it faces Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3) have sandwiched a pair of three-game win streaks around a four-game skid following their 31-24 home victory over Wake Forest last week. Extending their run against the Eagles (5-5, 2-4) will take a hard-nosed effort.

The two teams rely on the run more than any other teams in the ACC, with North Carolina’s league-high 415 rushing attempts one more than that of Boston College.

“It’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be such a competitive game,” Tar Heels coach Mack Brown said. “Both teams are going to run the ball, so it’s going to be the toughest man wins on this one. And they’re both tough, so it’s going to be (who is) the toughest for the longest.”

Omarion Hampton rushed for a season-high 244 yards against Wake Forest. The junior needs only 78 more to become just the fourth ACC player in the past 20 years with 1,500 yards in back-to-back campaigns.

“Omarion is a machine,” Brown said. “He’s protected the ball, he’s caught the ball well, he’s done everything perfect for us.”

North Carolina has had a 100-yard rusher in every game between Hampton (142.2 rush yards per game) and freshman Davion Gause.

Boston College pushed then-No. 14 SMU to the final minutes of a 38-28 road loss last week, as Kye Robichaux’s second touchdown brought the Eagles within three in the fourth quarter.

After getting the ball back following a punt, though, the offense — led by Grayson James for the first time since Thomas Castellanos departed the program — was forced to turn the ball back over on downs.

Leading the Eagles’ rushing attack, Robichaux went for 288 yards and four touchdowns over the last two weeks. UCF transfer Jordan McDonald has broken out for 196.

“(McDonald is) one of the most improved players on our team — and he’s done it on the practice field,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and we’re really counting on him.”

A win separates the Eagles from bowl eligibility for the second straight season. They beat SMU in the Fenway Bowl last December.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about North Carolina. If you take care of business, then you’ll be eligible,” O’Brien said. “We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us, so I think that’s our focus.”

North Carolina is 6-2 in the all-time series, having won five straight since Boston College claimed the 2004 Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) warms up before a game against the Louisville Cardinals at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Report: Benched BC QB Thomas Castellanos to transfer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos will enter the transfer portal after being benched this week, On3 Sports reported Wednesday.

Eagles coach Bill O’Brien announced Tuesday that Grayson James will start Saturday against No. 13 SMU in Dallas. At the time, O’Brien said Castellanos would be taking a few days away from the program.

Castellanos is in his second season at Boston College after transferring from UCF, where he began his college career in 2022.

Boston College is coming off a 37-31 win against Syracuse last Saturday. Castellanos started the game before being replaced by James, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Castellanos played in 13 games (12 starts) in 2023 and totaled 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards, the first 2,000/1,000 season in Boston College history.

This season, he has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,366 yards with 18 TDs and five interceptions. He has added 194 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

James, a fellow junior, is in his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Florida International. In limited action with the Eagles, he has completed 24 of 38 pass attempts for 219 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Boston College (5-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has three remaining games and needs one win to become bowl eligible.

–Field Level Media

Boston College's Kye Robichaux carries the ball during the second annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl vs. SMU at Fenway Park on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

No. 14 SMU rides six-game win streak, BC lands in spoiler mood

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After going head-to-head in the Fenway Bowl last December, No. 14 SMU welcomes Boston College to Dallas for the teams’ first meeting as Atlantic Coast Conference foes on Saturday.

The Eagles (5-4, 2-3 ACC), who concluded last season as 23-14 winners over SMU at Boston’s historic ballpark, are back above .500 after beating longtime rival Syracuse 37-31 last week.

The Mustangs (8-1, 5-0) are fresh off a bye but dropped one spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Their most recent game was a 48-25 win over then-No. 18 Pitt on Nov. 2.

“(BC has) a new team, I think they’re better this year. We have a new team, I think we’re better this year,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “They’ve got a new coach (Bill O’Brien). Yeah, some of the players are the same. Obviously, we didn’t like the outcome of that game … but it’s not going to have any bearing on Saturday.”

BC has Grayson James slated to make his second start at quarterback after he relieved Thomas Castellanos in the third quarter against Syracuse.

“I think what’s best for the team right now is for Grayson James to be the starter,” O’Brien said. “Tommy has done a great job for us. He’s an awesome competitor. … Obviously, he wasn’t real thrilled with that. He’s taking a couple days.”

An FIU transfer, James helped the Eagles score 23 of their 37 points in the second half last week. Castellanos threw for just 14 yards and rushed for minus-10.

With Castellanos injured against Western Kentucky, James was 19-for-32 for 168 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 21-20 Week 4 win. He also ran for a score.

The Eagles’ run game was key in their most recent victory. Kye Robichaux and Jordan McDonald combined for 331 total yards and three touchdowns.

“The line played well, the tight ends played well, the running backs ran well. It was a good day,” O’Brien said. “They’re both big, they’re downhill guys.”

Led by quarterback Kevin Jennings (178.6 passer efficiency rating in ACC play) and a balanced receiving corps, the Mustangs have averaged 43 points across a six-game win streak.

Their defense has allowed a conference-low 90 rushing yards per game and forced 19 turnovers, including one in seven of the last eight contests.

It has added up to SMU becoming the first team to start 5-0 in conference play as a first-year program moving from the Group of Five to a power league.

“I think we’ve proven that we belong in the conversation,” Lashlee said. “I’m not going to worry about us and (rankings) right now because we’ve got to take care of business. … If we don’t win the next three games, we don’t really have an argument.”

The Mustangs have improved health-wise since the Pitt game, as starting linebacker Kobe Wilson is expected to return, and wide receiver Jake Bailey and defensive end Elijah Roberts could be game-time decisions.

“Everybody’s beat up, everybody’s got guys out (late in the season),” Lashlee said. “Who’s the next man up? Guys going that aren’t 100 percent, how fresh can they feel on Saturday? It’s going to come down to depth and toughness.”

Last season in the Fenway Bowl, which is one of just two SMU losses in its last 19 games, Jennings was 24-of-48 passing for 191 yards and a touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) throws a pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Louisville escapes 20-point hole to defeat Boston College

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Tyler Shough connected with Nate Kurisky for two touchdowns in the second half and finished with 333 yards passing as Louisville climbed out of a 20-point deficit to defeat Boston College 31-27 on Friday night in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

After being held scoreless until just before halftime, the Cardinals (5-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored the game’s final three touchdowns and held on for their second win in a three-game span.

Shough, who completed 28 of 38 passes, surpassed the 300-yard mark for the fourth time this season.

Isaac Brown led Louisville’s rushing attack with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Ja’Corey Brooks had eight catches for 120 yards.

Aided by consecutive short punts, the Cardinals needed only four plays on each ensuring drive to cut the game to one possession — on Brown’s 18-yard run — and then take the lead.

Shough led off the Cardinals’ following drive with a 34-yard pass to Ahmari Huggins-Bruce before finding Kurisky for a 6-yard score to take a 31-27 lead with 7:12 left.

The Eagles (4-4, 1-3) punted on their next possession, but flipped the field with an interception by KP Price at the Boston College 47-yard line with 3:43 left. However, Thomas Castellanos (13-for-28, 164 yards, three touchdowns) was unable to orchestrate a winner.

Treshaun Ward, Kamari Morales and Jeremiah Franklin all caught touchdown passes for Boston College, which has lost three straight games.

An interception by Boston College’s Quintavious Hutchins set up the game’s opening score. On fourth-and-1, Castellanos found Morales on a play-action pass to the left, scoring a 54-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.

After Louisville’s Brock Travelstead missed a 56-yard field goal to start the second, the hosts made it 14-0 after a 10-play, 61-yard march. Ward rushed for 35 yards along the way and, after an offsides penalty on Liam Connor’s field goal attempt allowed the offense to go for it on fourth down, Ward caught a 4-yard scoring pass in the left corner.

Hutchins then corralled Huggins-Bruce’s fumble, and with 6:30 left before half, Kye Robichaux capped a rush-exclusive drive with a 4-yard score. Connor missed the PAT, keeping the score at 20-0.

The Cardinals scored on Brown’s 4-yard rush to the far-left corner with 1:19 remaining in the half, finalizing a 10-play, 76-yard drive.

Louisville put together 11 plays in 4:10 out of halftime, but a red-zone stand forced the Cardinals to settle for Travelstead’s 23-yard field goal.

Boston College needed just five plays to respond, thanks to Castellanos’ 6-yard pass to Franklin over the top with 7:58 left in the third. A 59-yard completion to Ward helped to set up the play.

Shough hit Kurisky for Louisville’s third straight score, a 4-yard touchdown, at 3:50 of the third. On the prior play, Price appeared to score a 90-yard fumble recovery, but the runner was deemed down to allow the visitors to continue the 9-play, 83-yard drive.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) hands off to running back Kye Robichaux (5) against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Boston College, Louisville try to brush off recent losses

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Boston College will host Louisville in a matchup of Atlantic Coast Conference teams hoping to return to the winning track on Friday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Eagles (4-3, 1-2 ACC) have had peaks and valleys throughout their back-to-back losses at Virginia and Virginia Tech, including turning the ball over three times in each. In last Thursday’s game, which followed a bye week, Bill O’Brien’s team trailed 28-0 before a second-half comeback by the Thomas Castellanos-led offense fell short.

“These are tough games, right? All of them are tough,” O’Brien said. “We have to limit our mistakes. … If we can limit our turnovers, penalties, stop the run better, obviously we’ll be in these games. If we don’t, we won’t.”

The Boston College defense allowed 532 total yards last week, but this season has intercepted nine passes — one more than its total from all of last season. Cameron Martinez added to that latter total last week while posting a fumble recovery and seven tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.

However, the status of a defensive anchor in linebacker Kam Arnold (40 total tackles) is uncertain after he was spotted in a sling at practice earlier this week.

“I think that sling is kind of a precaution,” O’Brien said. “I’ll probably know more in a few days, but that’s probably a day-to-day deal.”

Louisville (4-3, 2-2) opens a three-game road swing after falling in a 52-45 Saturday shootout against Miami. The home loss came despite the Cardinals accounting for 400-plus yards of total offense for the fifth time this season.

“If you’re not prepared for the ups and downs going into (the season), it’s going to catch you off guard and you’re not going to be able to adjust,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “So, we talk about simple things: it’s got to be a one-game season … no matter whether we win or lose.”

Quarterback Tyler Shough was 31 of 51 for 342 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Hurricanes. Ja’Corey Brooks had two scores in his third 100-yard receiving game.

The Cardinals also saw Caullin Lacy return a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown, and they sacked Miami’s Cam Ward three times, but the flip side was allowing a season-high 538 yards.

“I just think all of us need to continue to work through some things that have not gone well, address it, work hard at improving on it because every little thing matters and we just in some of the losses we haven’t been good enough overall to get it done,” Brohm said.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws a touchdown during the second quarter against the Boston College Eagles at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Bhayshul Tuten sets Virginia Tech rushing record in win over BC

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Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a school-record 266 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead Virginia Tech to a 42-21 ACC victory over Boston College on Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (4-3, 2-1 ACC) led 14-0 after one quarter and 28-0 at halftime, but BC scored three TDs in a 5:53 span in the third quarter to make it a 28-21 contest. BC’s second and third TDs followed Virginia Tech turnovers.

Tuten’s third touchdown came on a 6-yard run and helped the Hokies extend their lead to 35-21 with 11:02 remaining in the game. The touchdown came three plays after BC (4-3, 1-2) had failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 play from its 49-yard line with 12:33 remaining.

Tuten added a 61-yard TD run with 8:28 to play. He also scored on an 83-yard run and caught a 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Kyron Drones, who had TD runs of 11 yards and 1 yard.

Darren Evans held Virginia Tech’s previous record for yards rushing in a game (253 in 2008).

BC scored on a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Treshaun Ward, an 11-yard pass from Castellanos to Jeremiah Franklin and a 5-yard run by Kye Robichaux. The latter touchdown came with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter and trimmed Virginia Tech’s lead to 28-21.

Castellanos completed 17 of 26 passes for 205 yards but was limited to 58 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Drones opened the scoring with his 11-yard TD, which capped an 11-play, 88-yard drive with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter. His QB sneak helped make it 14-0 with 3:06 left the first. Drones completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Tuten’s 83-yard TD run came with 12:40 left in the second quarter, and Virginia Tech led 28-0 after Tuten’s 20-yard TD reception and John Love’s PAT with 11 seconds to go in the first half.

The Eagles fumbled the ball away twice in the first half as the Hokies compiled 332 yards of offense. BC lost three fumbles in the game, leading to 21 points for Virginia Tech.

–Field Level Media