Boston College gets by Temple 45-35 to go 4-1

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Boston College gets by Temple 45-35 to go 4-1

A “great team win” is how BC head coach Steve Addazio described Saturday afternoon’s victory over the Temple Owls. The coach said his team “played strong and kept battling”.

They had reason to do so as injuries to a couple of key members of the offense in the second half forced other players to step up and perform.

The defense, which has had trouble getting off the field in the past couple of weeks, received a huge fourth-quarter sack from Zack Allen (two on the day). The combined effort lifted the Eagles (4-1) to a 45-35 win over Temple (2-3).

Running the rock was the name of this game. At times both teams were able to gain big chunks of yards on the ground. The Eagles first drive of the game was an example. A twelve play drive, in which seven of the plays called were a run. It set up BC’s first score, a seven-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Brown (15-for-33, 139 yards and two touchdowns) to Tommy Sweeney. The extra point was good and it was 7-0 Eagles.

Touchdown @Tommysweeney15! The Eagles strike first.#WeAreBC🦅 pic.twitter.com/M3Ccjh1MLq

— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) September 29, 2018

Temple got that right back the very next time they had the ball. Running back, Ryquell Armstead took a handoff and darted through a big hole untouched 75 yards for the tying score. It was part of a big day for the senior back as he would score four times and run for 172 yards on the day. That makes four straight hundred yard games for Armstead.

Twenty-one second later, the Owls had the lead. Eagles kick returner, Michael Walker, fumbled the ensuing kickoff. After BC elected to have Temple kick over because of a penalty, Isaiah-Graham Mobley picked it up at the Eagles nineteen-yard line and ran it back for a Temple score. It’s the fifth straight game the Owls have scored a non-offensive touchdown.

Boston College came right back with their own version of the “Philly special” as Jeff Smith found a wide open Brown for a sixteen yard TD pass down the right side. For Smith, who was a quarterback at one time, it was his sixth career touchdown pass. The extra point attempt by freshman John Tessitore was no good, so Temple had a one-point lead at 14-13

In the second quarter, Temple extended their lead. A 13-play drive ended with Armstead’s second TD of the game. This one was from a yard out to make it 21-13 Owls.

Boston College ended the half with back to back scores to take the lead into the break. First, Dillon scampered 52 yards to paydirt (163 yards on 28 touches two touchdowns). The two-point try was good and the game was tied at 21-21.

The Eagles took the lead when the defense set up the offense. Anthony Russo ( 20-for-45, 2 int’s 255 yards) threw his first pick of the day. Taj-Amir Torres returned it twenty-nine yards to the Owls nine-yard line. It set up Dillon’s second TD of the day from two yards out. At halftime at Alumni Stadium, the Eagles were up 28-21.

Each team score in quarter number three. Boston College’s score came on the second hookup of the day between Brown and Smith. This one was for nine yards to put the Eagles up 38-21.

Armstead was doing all he could to keep his team in the game. His third score was from a yard out. The touchdown was set up by a thirty-yard completion from Russo to Isaiah Wright. It was 38- 28 Eagles after three.

Armstead struck again for his fourth score of the game. Again from a yard out to bring Temple to within a field goal at 38-35.

Boston College’s depth at running back came up big when it was needed. With Dillon out due to an apparent ankle injury, R-Sophomore Ben Glines stepped up. He capped off a 106-yard second-half performance on twenty carries by scoring from a yard out with under three minutes to play. It restored the ten point lead for Boston College at 45-35.

Huge insurance for the Eagles provided by Ben Glines. 20 for 106 and a score with Dillon on the bench. #WeAreBC pic.twitter.com/9xFYZNv8I1

— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) September 29, 2018

Dillon and Glines’ 100-yard day was the first two back hundred yard game since last November 18, 2017, when Dillon and Jon Hillman did it at Fenway Park vs Connecticut

After the game, Addazio addressed the injuries to both Dillon and Smith (a possible shoulder injury), by saying he had no information on either player. He called Glines “a valuable member of this team”. His comment was backed up by Allen who said Glines is “the heart and soul of this team”.

The non-conference part of the schedule is over and it’s all ACC from here on in. The Eagles are headed to North Carolina State next Saturday for a game against the Wolfpack.