Boston College wins 28-8 over Central Michigan University

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CHESTNUT HILL – The Boston College Eagles took a break from conference play to for a non-conference matchup against MAC power Central Michigan.

The Eagles began the season with a 23-20 win at Northern Illinois Sept. 1. The Eagles finished the month of September with a 28-8 win over Central Michigan.

Depth has become an issue in the early goings of the season as Boston College came into the contest down seven starters. After the game, Head Coach Steve Addazio said, “the attitude and mindset is good. This is a tough group of kids”.

They would need to be that way after playing their hearts out on the road last week at Clemson and coming up short. Boston College needed a bounce back in a big way. As running back Jon Hilliman said later, “this was a must win for us”.

It did not start out that way, after an exchange of punts early in the first, The Chippewas were able to pin the Eagles at their one-yard line. Hilliman took a handoff on the first play of that drive and was tackled in the end zone by Junior DT Nate Brisson-Fast for a safety, giving the Chippewas a 2-0 lead.

Boston College’s special teams unit would be a factor all game long, especially the punt return squad. Junior Michael Walker had a monster game returning punts for the Eagles. His first big return came on the ensuing Central Michigan drive that followed the safety. A Jack Shelton punt for CMU was brought back 61 yards by Walker to set the Eagles up deep in the Chippewas’ territory — at their six-yard line.

It would take only one play for the Eagles to convert. Hilliman carried the ball into the end zone from six yards out. It would be the first of three scores on the day for the junior, the seventh time he has scored more than one TD in his career to give the slim 7-2 to the Eagles.

Boston College increased the lead after the defense forced a three and out from Central Michigan. Starting from their own 47-yard line and aided by two defensive penalties by CMU defense. BC would finish the drive with a 15-yard Touchdown run off the right side by freshman A.J. Dillon. 14-3 BC after one quarter.

Central Michigan made the game a one score affair early in the second. A seven play drive that featured Freshman running back Kumehnnu Gwilly, who carried the ball three times and was very productive. His first rush went for 33 yards down to the BC 29. After, a pass completion from QB Shane Morris (21-for-42, 171 yards, 3 INTs) of 18 yards to Jonathan Ward put CMU in the red zone. Gwilly would take the ball down to the Eagles’ 15 yard line. A second completion, this time to Mark Chapman of 15 yards, gave the Chippewas a first and goal from the Eagle one. Gwilly punched it in from there and make the score 14-8 Boston College.

The Eagles would get that score back with the help of the punt return team. Walker second big return this one for 29 yards (128 punt return yards for the day a career-high) set up the offense at the CMU 17 yard line. Three plays later Hilliman ran it in from two yards out for his 23rd career touchdown at Boston College and it was 21-8 Eagles.

The third quarter saw the Eagles put the game away with a punishing drive that took twelve plays of which ten were running plays. Hilliman and Dillon ( 25 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD) ran the ball down the throats of the Chippewas defense. It would set up a three-yard TD pass from Freshman quarterback Anthony Brown to Hilliman (24 career touchdowns) to make the score 28-8 Boston College.

It was a gutsy performance from the Freshman signal caller, who played despite a right shoulder injury that held him out of practice all week. His numbers were not great, going 14-for-21 for 85 yards and one score. However, he did not turn the ball over and manage the game nicely. His Coach said after the game that “he did not know if Brown could go today”. Brown himself said it was not until Thursday or Friday that he thought he could give it a go.

Not to be left out is the play of the Eagles secondary, Lukas Denis had a nice day, recording a pair of interceptions. He now has five picks on the season. Denis seems to be finding ways to be at the right place at right time and his coach is thankful for that.

There was no scoring in the fourth, as both teams missed field goal tries. Final score 28-8 Eagles who improved to 2-3, Central Michigan drops to 2-3.

Boston College will be back in ACC play Saturday as the Eagles will host Virginia Tech.