Tag: Fenway Bowl

Dec 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Connecticut Huskies running back Mel Brown (7) runs the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

UConn snaps ACC curse, beats North Carolina in Fenway Bowl

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UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano threw for two touchdowns and the Huskies’ defense overwhelmed North Carolina for a 27-14 victory in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Boston.

Mel Brown ran for 96 yards and the Huskies (9-4) reached the nine-win level for the third time in program history.

It was a miserable day for the Tar Heels (6-7), who are in transition as they await Bill Belichick, who now takes over as head coach. Freddie Kitchens served as interim coach on Saturday following Mack Brown’s departure at the end of the regular season.

North Carolina’s Chris Culliver returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and backup quarterback Michael Merdinger threw for 86 yards. Six of the team’s 10 first downs came in the final 11 minutes.

Fagnano finished 16-for-23 for 151 yards for the Huskies, who were limited to a field goal in the second half after rolling up a 24-7 haltime lead.

North Carolina lost starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to an apparent shoulder injury on the team’s second offensive series. The Tar Heels, who were without running back Omarion Hampton (going into NFL draft), didn’t pick up a first down until less than 30 seconds remained in the first half, and that was followed by an interception.

UConn’s first points came on Chris Freeman’s 32-yard field goal. Then, with 3:45 left in the quarter, Fagnano connected with Skyler Bell on a 38-yard touchdown.

The Huskies led 10-0 before Culliver’s ensuing kickoff return, the only glitch for UConn in the first quarter.

Fifty seconds into the second quarter, Fagnano hit Alex Honig with a pass for a 4-yard touchdown.

The final first-half touchdown came on running back Cam Edwards’ leap into the end zone to complete a fourth-and-2 snap. That capped a 14-play drive that consumed almost six minutes.

North Carolina, which lost its fifth consecutive bowl outing, was credited with 1 rushing yard in the first half.

The Tar Heels drove 98 yards on eight plays to score on running back Caleb Hood’s 17-yard pass to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the game. Hood rushed for a team-high 78 yards.

UConn had gone 0-3 against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, but it had no trouble in snapping that streak against the Tar Heels.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Bill Belichick casts heavy shadow over Fenway Bowl

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Before a new era begins at North Carolina, there is one more football game to play.

That comes when the Tar Heels meet UConn on Saturday in the Fenway Bowl — at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

There is no doubt that much of the bowl game will include the backdrop of Bill Belichick becoming North Carolina’s coach beginning in the 2025 season. Adding to the buzz is the fact that the game will played practically in the backyard of where Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl wins.

The distractions could be numerous for the Tar Heels (6-6), who lost their final two games of the regular season.

“I want to compliment the guys on working to get better each and every day,” interim coach Freddie Kitchens said. “We’re just trying to do a good job staying where our feet are. I think the guys have done a good job of kind of knocking out some of the distractions.”

Since the departure of coach Mack Brown, Kitchens, who will remain with the program on Belichick’s staff, has overseen the North Carolina team. Belichick and Kitchens are in regular communication.

“He asks questions. I answer the questions,” Kitchens said, “so he’s fully aware of everything dealing with this program.”

UConn (8-4) certainly doesn’t want to be an afterthought in this bowl.

“It’s Fenway, (so) it’s going to be awesome,” Huskies coach Jim Mora Jr. said.

The Huskies are trying to match the program’s highest win total since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2000. UConn posted nine victories in 2003 and 2007.

“You guys can look back with a lot of pride that you’ve hopefully changed the trajectory of this program for a long time to come,” Mora said of his message to the team.

The trajectory for North Carolina, on the other, is that of a program in transition.

Kitchens is finishing his second season as North Carolina’s run game coordinator and tight ends coach. He is part of a group of assistants coordinating the offense for the bowl as 2024 coordinator Chip Lindsey departed for Michigan earlier this month.

“We try to draw on things we can control,” Kitchens said. “I expect them to play well and hopefully they expect themselves to play well.”

Kitchens has declined to discuss specifics regarding how the offense might be designed for the Connecticut game.

North Carolina defensive coordinator Geoff Collins remains in that position for Fenway Bowl.

“Nothing really has changed from a defensive staff or special teams staff,” Kitchens said.

Kitchens said that most players who entered the transfer portal have continued to work out with the Tar Heels and that he anticipates they will play in Boston.

One player who stepped away is running back Omarion Hampton, who ranks fourth all-time in rushing yards (3,565) for North Carolina. He has declared for the NFL draft after gaining 1,660 rushing yards — second in the nation behind the 2,497 of Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty of Boise State — and 15 touchdowns this season.

Mora said the Huskies will be without running back Durell Robinson (731 rushing yards), who is transferring to Auburn. Robinson is among at least 10 UConn players in the transfer portal, some of whom expressed interest in playing in the bowl.

“They want to finish this thing out,” Mora said.

The Huskies still have leading rusher Cam Edwards (756 yards) but will be without defensive lineman Dal’Mont Gourdine, who sustained a broken foot during a late-November practice.

North Carolina has won all three of its meetings with UConn, most recently earning a 12-10 win on Sept. 12, 2009, in East Hartford, Conn.

UConn is 0-3 against Atlantic Coast Conference members this year with losses to Duke, Wake Forest and Syracuse.

ACC teams (Louisville, Boston College) won the first two Fenway Bowls. Connecticut lost a regular-season game at the ballpark in November 2017, falling to Boston College.

Kitchens said he has been outside Fenway Park on a visit to Boston but never inside the gates.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. (13) runs the ball against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas Castellanos’ fourth-quarter TDs lead BC past SMU in Fenway Bowl

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BOSTON — Thomas Castellanos rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Boston College rallied past SMU 23-14 Thursday in the Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park.

Castellanos ran for 156 yards on 21 carries and logged 96 of his 102 passing yards in the second half to lead the Eagles (7-6), who lost their last three regular-season games.

The bowl win was BC’s first since 2016.

Castellanos’ rushing touchdowns came from 15 and 14 yards and enabled Boston College to overcome a 14-10 deficit.

BC’s Kye Robichaux also rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown.

SMU (11-3), which had a nine-game winning streak snapped, was shut out 13-0 in the second half and gained just three first downs in the fourth quarter.

SMU’s Kevin Jennings was 24-of-48 for 191 passing yards and a score. He added 51 yards on the ground.

Castellanos ran in the go-ahead score with 12:22 left after hitting freshman Jaedn Skeete twice during the eight-play, 72-yard drive, including a 32-yarder to set up the chance in the red zone.

After John Pupel broke up Jennings’ fourth-down pass, the Eagles needed just three plays to convert again, taking a 23-14 lead following a missed Liam Connor PAT. Robichaux ripped off consecutive runs before Castellanos found the right edge for the insurance score.

SMU crossed midfield on its opening series before a turnover — Neto Okpala recovering Jennings’ fumble — allowed Boston College to score first on Connor’s 45-yard field goal through steady rain and wind with 6:21 left in the first quarter.

Castellanos moved the chains with his feet on each of the Eagles’ first two drives, but a penalty on fourth down forced Connor to attempt 45-yarder. A miss wide kept the 3-0 score.

The Mustangs took a 7-3 lead on LJ Johnson Jr.’s 1-yard run with 9:14 left before halftime. Jennings extended the 15-play, 78-yard drive on 4th-and-4, finding Jake Bailey for a 5-yard completion along the sideline.

After Castellanos racked up 48 yards on five consecutive rushes, Robichaux scored a 6-yard run up the middle four plays later to lift the Eagles with 3:07 in the half.

SMU led 14-10 at the break as Jennings hit Knighton for a 6-yard pass to the right after eluding two tackles ahead of an earlier completion to Adam Moore.

With Boston College driving deep into opposing territory to start the third quarter, Alexander Kilgore intercepted Castellanos’ underthrown pass. However, SMU was scoreless in the period after KP Price blocked Collin Rogers’ 45-yard field goal to end a separate 15-play, 60-yard drive.

–By Josh Kummins, Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws the ball against the Temple Owls during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

SMU into enemy territory to face Boston College at Fenway Bowl

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No. 24 SMU aims for its 10th consecutive win when it treks north to meet future Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College in the second-ever Fenway Bowl on Thursday at Boston’s venerable Fenway Park.

The Mustangs are 11-2, beating Tulane 26-14 to win the American Athletic Conference championship — their first crown since 1984 in the Southwest Conference — following an 8-0 record in league play.

SMU has outscored opponents by more than 23 points per game and has logged 466.2 yards of offense per game. The Mustangs’ only two losses came at then-No. 18 Oklahoma and TCU, which played for the national championship last January.

Despite the success, SMU was not selected for a New Year’s Six game.

“The bottom line is we’re still celebrating (a conference championship) and we’re not going to let things that maybe we don’t agree with overshadow that,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said of the bowl announcement.

After star sophomore quarterback Preston Stone broke his leg in the regular-season finale against Navy, SMU turned to Kevin Jennings for his first career start in the AAC title game. The redshirt freshman threw for 203 yards and a touchdown.

The Mustangs’ balanced offense has accounted for 32 passing and 28 rushing touchdowns. SMU has eight 300-yard receivers, led by RJ Maryland’s 518 with seven touchdowns. Jaylan Knighton has 720 rushing yards and seven scores.

SMU ranks second nationally in sacks with 47, behind Elijah Roberts’ 10. The Mustangs are sixth in scoring offense at 40.6 points per game.

Lashlee, who was UConn’s offensive coordinator for a 2017 game against Boston College at Fenway Park, knows the significance of finishing the season on a high note.

“We haven’t won a bowl game here (since 2012), we need to try to accomplish that,” Lashlee said. “Getting (win) No. 12 to tie the school record would be big time. Whether or not we win or lose, that game’s not going to really validate or diminish this team’s accomplishment, I think it’s pretty cemented.”

The Eagles (6-6) look to the bowl invitation as a fresh start after losing to Virginia Tech, Pitt and Miami consecutively to end the regular season, following a five-game win streak that was their longest since 2010.

Thomas Castellanos ranks third in the country for rushing yards by a quarterback with 957. The UCF transfer threw for 15 touchdowns – including seven to Lewis Bond – and ran for 11 during the regular year.

Coach Jeff Hafley feels that Castellanos is throwing the ball as well as he has as an Eagle.

“He’s got a chance to be special,” Hafley said. “I think we’re only seeing the very surface of it.”

The bowl will offer a glimpse of Boston College’s future. Team-leading linebacker and captain Vinny DePalma (87 total tackles) is one of only three graduate students listed as a definite starter on the depth chart.

“That’s rare around college football right now,” Hafley said. “The guys that are gonna play in this game, maybe less than five are leaving. I think it’s really important to keep building.”

The Eagles have been bowl eligible four times since 2018, but only the 2020 Birmingham Bowl was actually played due to weather or COVID-19 protocols during that stretch.

Louisville beat Cincinnati 24-7 in the inaugural Fenway Bowl in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Jawhar Jordan (25) runs in a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville sacks Cincinnati’s chances at Fenway Bowl

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Maurice Turner rushed for 160 yards and Jawhar Jordan added 115 yards on the ground with two long touchdown runs to help Louisville to a 24-7 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday in the Fenway Bowl at Boston.

Brock Domann started at quarterback in place of Malik Cunningham (opt out) and completed 13 of 21 passes for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Cardinals. Marshon Ford caught a touchdown pass and Louisville recorded seven sacks while claiming the Keg of Nails trophy in the first battle since 2013 between schools located roughly 100 miles apart.

Yasir Abdullah and YaYa Diaby each had 1.5 sacks as the Cardinals outgained the Bearcats in yards 419-138.

Cincinnati’s Evan Prater was 7-of-15 passing for 83 yards and one touchdown while starting in place of Ben Bryant (foot). Wyatt Fischer caught a touchdown pass for the Bearcats.

Despite the loss, Cincinnati leads the series 30-23-1.

Both teams played under interim coaches — Deion Branch for Louisville and Kerry Combs for Cincinnati. Combs filled in for Luke Fickell, who departed for Wisconsin. Branch served due to Scott Satterfield leaving for the Bearcats’ job.

Jeff Brohm, recently of Purdue, has returned to his alma mater as Louisville’s new coach.

Jordan’s two long scoring runs helped the Cardinals take a 21-7 halftime lead.

He provided the game’s first points when he darted right on a 49-yard scoring run with 21 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Bearcats knotted the score at 7-7 when a highly pressured Prater got the ball to Fischer near the left sideline. Fischer navigated to his right to complete a 20-yard scoring play with 10:58 left in the half.

Louisville moved back ahead 14-7 when Domann connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ford with 5:52 remaining in the half. Jordan again broke free to his right on a 41-yard scoring run to make it a 14-point margin with 42 seconds left in the half.

James Turner booted a 48-yard field goal with 3:49 left in the third quarter to boost Louisville’s lead to 17.

This was the first Fenway Bowl actually to be played. The inaugural 2020 bowl was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s game between Virginia and SMU was wiped out when the Cavaliers had a COVID-19 outbreak.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2021; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall looks on during the game against William & Mary Tribe at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Military Bowl, Fenway Bowl canceled over COVID issues

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The Military Bowl and Fenway Bowl both were canceled Sunday due to COVID-19 concerns.

Boston College (6-6) was set to meet East Carolina (7-5) in the Military Bowl on Monday in Annapolis, Md.

Virginia (6-6) was to face SMU (8-4) in the inaugural Fenway Bowl at Boston’s Fenway Park on Wednesday.

They are the second and third bowl games to be canceled amid the pandemic’s current omicron variant-driven resurgence. Last Friday’s Hawaii Bowl between Memphis and Hawaii was called off Thursday when the Rainbow Warriors withdrew due to COVID-19 issues, injuries and transfers.

COVID issues at Boston College prompted the Military Bowl’s cancellation.

“This is a terrible situation obviously,” Military Bowl president and executive director Steve Beck said in a news release. “We appreciate everyone who worked so hard to try to make the game happen. Of course, the health and safety of the players and coaches is top priority. The decision not to play is understandable, but disappointing.”

COVID concerns forced Virginia to pull out of the Fenway Bowl. It was supposed to be the final game for outgoing Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

“The University of Virginia is no longer able to participate … due to the number of COVID cases impacting its roster, preventing safe participation,” Fenway Bowl organizers posted on Twitter. “As a result of this withdrawal, the game and associated activities will no longer take place.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia, SMU meet at Fenway Bowl amid coaching transitions

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Two coaching eras end when Virginia and SMU meet in the inaugural Fenway Bowl on Wednesday at Boston.

It is the final game for Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall, who made the surprising announcement on Dec. 2 that he was stepping down after six seasons. His successor, former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, will take charge after the bowl game.

Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is the Mustangs’ acting head coach for the game at Fenway Park, home of baseball’s Boston Red Sox. Head coach Sonny Dykes departed for TCU at the end of November and his replacement, former Miami and SMU offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, takes the Mustangs’ reins in 2022.

Virginia (6-6) and SMU (8-4) both stumbled toward the end of the regular season. The Cavaliers are on a four-game losing streak and the Mustangs have dropped four of their last five.

Virginia fell 29-24 to rival Virginia Tech in its last game on Nov. 27.

“We don’t want to send (Mendenhall) off with the V-Tech game,” Cavaliers quarterback Brennan Armstrong said. “I’m glad we get one more opportunity to send him on a good note, send our fifth-year seniors out, and the COVID-year seniors. That’s my goal. That’s what I really want: to send those guys out on a high note, because you always remember your last game here, and you want it to be a W.”

Armstrong ranks second in the nation with 4,449 passing yards and set a UVA record with 31 touchdown passes.

SMU counterpart Tanner Mordecai, an Oklahoma transfer, has passed for 3,628 yards and ranks fourth in the country with 39 TD passes.

After going 5-7 in Dykes’ first full season in 2018, the Mustangs have posted a 25-10 record since. They started 7-0 this season and climbed to No. 19 in the polls before the rough finish.

Running back Tyler Lavine said he is happy to “be a part of a team that’s changed this program around” and he is hoping for a home-run finish in Boston’s ballpark.

“I feel like everyone has been killing it,” Lavine told Spectrum News 1 in Dallas. “Everyone sees the end goal and I think we can keep going.”

The Mustangs are 7-9-1 in bowl games, with their most recent victory coming at the 2012 Hawaii Bowl. The Cavaliers are 8-13 all-time in bowl games, including 1-2 during Mendenhall’s six seasons.

This is the first meeting between the programs.

–Field Level Media