#2 Clemson handles #17 BC in a 27-7 win
With all the excitement of ESPN and their Gameday crew on campus, the #17 Boston College Eagles (7-3, 4-2) were trying to add to it with an upset of the #2 ranked Clemson Tigers (10-0, 7-0). With first place on the line, not to mention a possible berth in the ACC championship game, a lot was on the table at Chestnut Hill.
With a crowd that was ready to explode if given a reason to do so, the Eagles won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Clemson Tigers went right to work showing why they are ranked number two.
The first drive of the game for Clemson resulted in a 30-yard FG by Greg Huegel. The key play on the drive was a 41-yard pass completion from Trevor Lawrence to Amari Rogers. It would set the Tigers up deep in BC territory at the Eagles 18. However, the Eagles defense stiffened and forced the successful field goal. It was 3-0 Tigers with twelve minutes left in the first quarter.
74 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!!! On his 44th career punt return, @TheRealMOW3 runs it all the way back to put BC in front!#WeAreBC🦅 pic.twitter.com/r7zS254sZ2
— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) November 11, 2018
Boston College’s special teams got into the game. After the Eagles defense forced a Clemson punt. Eagles return man Michael Walker caught it and made one man miss. He picked up blockers down the right sideline and returned it 74 yards for an Eagles touchdown. For Walker, it was his first career punt return score. It was 7-3 Eagles with 6:22 left in the quarter.
Clemson would add to their advantage with a nine-play seventy-yard drive that Lawrence, (29- for- 40 295 yards, one TD, one INT) would finish off with a two-yard TD pass to Rogers.
10-3 Clemson after one quarter.
The news got worse for the Eagles as starting quarterback Anthony Brown would leave the game with an apparent ankle injury on their first drive. He would be ruled out for the rest of the night.
Boston College was also losing the statistics battle as the Eagles offense could muster only 23 yards of offense on just nine plays.
The second quarter saw more of the same. The only difference was the QB for Boston College. EJ Perry (12 for 21 for 98 yards). The sophomore from Andover, MA. was now in charge of the Eagles attack.
The Tigers extended their lead with another field goal by Huegel, this one for 23 yards. At the break, the Tigers were up 13-7.
In some ways, it is hard to believe this was a one-score game at the half. Clemson had a commanding advantage in total yards as the Tigers outgained the Eagles 260 to 24. It was 216 to 23 through the air. Boston College’s running game could not get going managing only one yard on 15 tries.
The second half is underway! BC ball at its own 23. pic.twitter.com/j3Ya6aWNA3
— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) November 11, 2018
In the second half, Clemson tacked on another score after a BC punt to open the third quarter. The Tigers needed only three plays to go 64 yards, with Lawrence going the final six on the ground. He faked a handoff and went left to the end zone to make it 20-7 Tigers after three.
The Tigers showed they to have special teams capability as Rogers took an Eagles punt and headed down the left sideline for a Clemson touchdown. The return covered 59 yards and gave the Tigers a 20-point lead at 27-7.
Clemson ran out the clock and won the game 27-7. With the victory, the Tigers win the Atlantic Division and punch their ticket to the ACC championship game on December 1.
Clemson has now won 16 of their last 18 against Top 25 teams. Since Dabo Swinney has been the head man, the Tigers are 25-18 vs Top 25 opposition.
Next up for the Eagles is their final road game of the year. A trip to Tallahassee to take on Florida State.
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