BC Runs Away With 42-0 Win Over Rhode Island

Run is the operative word in the headline.  The Eagles scored all five offensive touchdowns on the ground, including three from Montel Harris, who was also the team leader in yardage with 143 on only 18 carries.

The passing game was non-existent, not that it was needed with the running game shredding the Rams defense.  Chris Crane (1-4, 6 yards) started, was ineffective again, and pulled for Dominique Davis (2-5, 21 yards) after two series.  If you take a look at those numbers in the parentheses, you will notice that BC attempted only nine passes and had only 27 yards through the air.  The game was played in wet conditions, but it was not windy.

It was also competitive into the second quarter until Davis led the Eagles to four consecutive scoring drives, including a rush of his own.  How few passing yards did the Eagles have?  To put it in perspective, the BC defense picked off four URI passes, each accounting for more yards than the Eagles got passing all day: 39 (Marty Bowman), 62 (Stephen Atkinson), 38 (Paul Anderson), 60 (Mark Herzlich touchdown).

The Rams opened the second half with a onside kick, caught in stride by Jim Falasca, which leads to another interesting stat.  BC had zero kickoff return yards since URI’s only attempt was the onside conversion.  The BC defense held for three downs and forced the punt try, which Rhode Island faked and completed to Joe Bellini, but the BC defense held again.

BC was just too big and too strong for Rhode Island, stopping most everything at the line.  URI only had 53 yards on the ground and Jim Ramella had two sacks as the signal callers were under fire for most of the day.  Crane started the second half and fumbled on the very first play as he was not ready to recieve the snap which bounced off him and was recovered by Rhode Island.  Crane came back out for the next possession, but Davis saw some action in the second half as well.

This team is going to continue to be plagued by this quarterback drama until someone becomes THE guy.  Coach Jeff Jagodzinski seems reluctant to make Davis #1, but he definitely has a quick hook for Crane.  Does he not trust Davis?  Does he think Crane is the better quarterback and feel that the more action he sees, the sooner he will break out?  Is this a way to motivate Crane to perform?  Is he running a two-quarterback system?  If the switching continues, the offensive line could get out of sync, and this unit has more new guys to their position (3) than returning veterans (2).

The Crane fumble looked like a cross between center and quarterback, however only Crane seemed surprised the ball was snapped.  BC will probably muddle through this season regardless as the schedule toughens up in the second half, but at least Davis will be getting experience to carry into next season, something this corps was lacking and may be the biggest quarterback issue of all.

Outlook

I correctly called this game, though I will not pretend that should shock you.  BC, at 3-1, is still on target for my preseason expectation of 7-5, so that means some rough seas ahead.  N. C. State, and former Coach Tom O’Brien, is up next as the Eagles head on the road for the first time since the season opener.  The Wolfpack are improved from last season, but they are not heading to a bowl this season and should be another victory for the Eagles.

ACC Rewind

• Maryland shocked Clemson with a win in Death Valley in an Atlantic Division battle.  Why Clemson extended Tommy Bowden when they should have fired them is still a mystery, as is how a preseason top 10 team is 3-2 and 1-1 in the conference.
• North Carolina stunned Miami in a Coastal matchup, scoring a touchdown to take the lead and intercepting a pass in the endzone to preserve the victory all in the final minute.
• Duke thumped Virginia to break a three-year conference losing streak.  Duke is on the rise, but the way Virginia lost marks another new low for the Cavaliers.
• Florida State got the offense rolling a little in a win over Colorado.
• Wake Forest was upset by Navy, leaving the ACC with no undefeated teams.
• N.C. State was beaten up at home by #13 South Florida.
• Virginia Tech uses Beamer-ball and Tyrod Taylor to key a good road win against Nebraska.

ACC Fast Forward

• Florida State visits Miami in their annual tilt with a little less luster on the programs.  The Miami defense is young and hard-hitting and should not have many problems with the Seminole offense.
• Maryland visits lowly Virginia and have the offense really rolling now that the quarterback derby is over.
• Duke’s conference winning streak should be short lived as they visit Georgia Tech.
• Western Kentucky heads into Virginia Tech and should leave out with a loss.
• North Carolina should dismiss their southern hospitality and beat their visitor, UConn.

Top 10

1. Oklahoma: beat possible BCS buster #24 TCU
2. LSU: unconvincing win at home against Mississippi State raises questions
3. Missouri: idle
4. Texas: routed Arkansas in a make-up game forced by Hurricane Ike
5. Alabama: outlasted #3 Georgia on the road and still have not trailed this season
6. Texas Tech: idle
7. BYU: idle
8. USC: lost for second consecutive trip to Oregon State, but still class of Pac-10
9. Georgia: trailed 31-0 before huge comeback comes up short at home against #8 Alabama
10. Penn State: looks to be real after winning first challenge at home against #22 Illinois

UMass Watch

The Minutemen had the week off to collect themselves after the back to back losses.  Despite last week’s loss to Texas Tech, they dropped only one spot in the poll, to #10.  The road does not get any easier as they host FCS #12 Delaware next week.

Tags: Boston College, UMass

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