BC needs best to beat Virginia
The repercussions from Boston College’s 45-42 upset victory at Louisville last Saturday could propel the Eagles onward to bowl eligibility, or be the lone bright spot in another losing conference campaign.
The Eagles (3-4, 1-2) season might go either way today when they engage the resurgent Virginia Cavaliers (5-1, 2-0) in an ACC interdivisional game in Charlottesville, Va.
The low and high points of BC’s offense occurred in the last two games against quality conference foes. The Eagles managed only 344 yards of total offense on 66 plays, which included an abysmal 2-of-15 on third down, in a 23-10 home loss to Virginia Tech on Oct. 7.
BC reversed course by gaining 555 yards of total offense (364 rushing) on 87 plays, converting 9-of18 third downs against the Cardinals. Tailback A.J. Dillon led the way with a freshman school record 272 yards on 39 carries with four touchdowns.
Which BC offense will show up at Scott Stadium today?
“Those emotional roller coasters, those are tough rides to go on,” said BC coach Steve Addazio. “I’m not unrealistic about it but you try with your team not to ride those because they are wearing and they are tiring.
“You’ve just got to get ready for the next week, whether you come off a devastating loss or a skyhigh win. I can’t look in the rearview mirror. You’ve got to have belief in where you are headed. I think that is critically important to be always forward thinking and not rear thinking.”
BC’s offensive explosion enabled the defense to outlast Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner who posted staggering numbers and brought the Cardinals back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
The BC defense has experienced breakdowns in the fourth quarter against Louisville and Clemson, and was manhandled by Notre Dame throughout in a 42-20 home loss on Sept. 16.
But in the other four games, the Eagles defense has been solid despite losing two starting linebackers (Connor Strachan and Max Richardson) to knee injuries. The secondary has recorded an interception in every game and is second in the ACC with nine.
“We are going into the game with all the confidence in the world and we’ve played some really tough teams and we’ve played some good football,” said linebacker Ty Schwab.
The BC defense has encountered a talented dualthreat quarterback in every game this season — most recently Wake Forest’s John Wolford, Kelly Bryant of Clemson, Notre Dame’s Brandon Wimbush and Jackson. But Virginia senior quarterback Kurt Benkert is a traditional pocket passer who avoids trouble with precision passes and a quick release. Benkert has completed 158-of-243 passes for 1,680 yards with a quarterback efficiency of 138.15.
Benkert has 15 touchdowns with three interceptions and will be a tempting target for BC sack masters Harold Landry and Zach Allen.
“He is more of a pocket guy and less of a QB run guy — and not that he can’t run, he can,” said Addazio. “But that is not what they are all about so we have to crank up that pass rush and get ready to get after it a little bit.”