Boston College Enters League Play

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After a tough Saturday night in East Lansing, Michigan, the Eagles (1-1) will stay on the road to begin conference play this coming Saturday night when they face the Stanford Cardinals. The 42-40 double overtime loss to Michigan State could be a game we look back on at the end of the season as a game that got away. BC led at the half, 21-14, on the strength of a 21-point second quarter. In the second half, the Eagles were outscored 13-6, which led to the game needing extra time. It would be a two-point conversation in the second OT that would end up being the difference.

Despite the loss, there were bright spots for Boston College. None brighter than at the quarterback position. Dylan Lonergan, making his first start on the road in his college career, made the most of it. He would throw for 390 yards on 34-of-45 passing, and threw four touchdown passes, three of them in the second quarter. WR Lewis Bond had a big night with 11 catches for 90 yards. RB Turbo Richards had 55 yards on the ground on 13 carriers and a score. He was also a part of the passing game with 7 receptions for 66 yards and an eight-yard TD catch. The running game underperformed, gaining only 67 yards on the night. The Eagles will need balance going forward this season.

On defense, BC had its good moments and not-so-good moments. They would sack MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles four times, and they intercepted him once in the first half. However, the unit would allow 148 net yards on the ground and a score. As well as 231 yards through the air with four touchdowns by Chiles. In the red zone, the Spartans were a perfect 5-for-5 on the night. Michigan State kept coming, and the Eagles could not stop them in the end.

Now the attention turns to league play. Boston College heads west to meet the Stanford Cardinals (1-1). This will be the home opener for the Cardinals after a win at Hawaii and a loss at BYU. This will be the fifth time these two programs have met. The first time since 2001. The series is tied at 2-2 with the home team winning every game. The two coaches, Bill O’Brien of BC and Frank Reich of Stanford, have met each other before in the pro ranks, when O’Brien was at Houston and Reich was at Indy. Reich holds a 3-2 record over O’Brien.

Stanford has a transfer QB of their own. Ben Gulbranson is playing his final year of college football with the Cardinals. Over five seasons at Oregon State, he made 18 appearances, with 11 of them being starts. He completed 61.8% of his passes with the Beavers, including 15 touchdowns. He also had 6 rushing touchdowns. The Cardinals’ defense has allowed only 4 red zone touchdowns in 10 tries. That is good for 6th in the league in touchdown percentage at 40%. Stanford brought in 17 transfers this season. The most in a single season in school history. Both teams will be looking to win their opening game in league play.