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For the first time this season, Boston College (4-0) met a team that had the ability and talent to push back. The Missouri Tigers (2-2) made their first-ever trip to Alumni Stadium and gave the Eagles all they could handle. The 41-34 overtime thriller was a back and forth affair that each team had a chance to win. BC was able to based on making one more defensive play than the Tigers. Brandon Sebastian intercepted a Connor Bazelak pass in the first OT after the Eagles had taken the lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Grosel to Zay Flowers. It sealed Boston College’s first win over a Southeastern Conference team since Halloween of 1987 and gives the team an undefeated month of September.
Missouri was able to do what the first three teams on the Eagles schedule had trouble doing, move the ball. The Tigers were able to get the ball downfield through the air. Their offensive line did a great job of protecting Bazelak who was not sacked during the entire game. Because he had time to throw the football, he was able to throw for 303 net yards on 30-of-42 passing. Yes, he was picked off twice including the final throw that ended the game. But the difficulties of the Eagles front seven to put any pressure on him must be a bit of a concern for the coaching staff of BC. The same can be said of the Tigers front seven who had their problems with the Boston College offense that returned to be more balanced than they were a week earlier. BC gashed the Tigers defense to the tune of 275 yards on the ground. Pat Garwo had another big day running the ball as he gained 175 yards on 25 carries and scored twice including a 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7. Grosel was efficient going 18-of-28 for 175 yards, threw two TD passes, and was intercepted once. His favorite target was Flowers who had eight catches for 62 yards and the game-winning score.
Both teams were good on the offensive side of the ball. The Tigers ended up with 22 first downs of which 17 came through the air. Boston College did it the other way, with 23 first downs of which 16 came on the ground. The offensive lines of both teams did their job controlling the line of scrimmage giving their play-makers a chance to make plays. Both teams were very good in the red zone as each team was a perfect 5-for-5. This was an old-fashioned shootout between two teams that at the moment are playing at a high level on offense.
This leads us to what is next for the Boston College conference play. It begins this coming Saturday night when the Eagles travel to Death Valley to take on #25 Clemson who starts the second month of the season with two losses already. However, it must be said the Tigers have played a better schedule to date than the Eagles have. In the recent matchups between the two schools, Boston College has shown an ability to stay with the Tigers for long stretches of the game. In the end, the talent level of the Tigers has proved to be too much for Boston College to overcome. Can and will this time be any different? On Saturday night we will find out.
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