Boston College
7-6
Penn State
7-6
Football Falls to Penn State in 2014 Pinstripe Bowl
December 27, 2014 | Football
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New York, N.Y. - The Boston College football team lost in overtime to Penn State, 31-30, in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday evening at Yankee Stadium. In front of a record-setting crowd, the Eagles (7-6, 4-4 ACC) rushed for 289 yards against the Nittany Lions (7-6, 2-6 ACC), who came into the game with the top-ranked rushing defense in the nation, averaging 84.8 yards per game.
For the first time since 2006, two BC players recorded 100-yard rushing games as graduate quarterback Tyler Murphy and freshman running back Jon Hillman tallied 105 (11 carries) and 148 (25 carries), respectively. The last time BC completed the feat was on Nov. 11, 2006 when L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender ran for 118 and 105, respectively, in a 28-7 victory against Duke. Murphy and Hilliman were just the third and fourth players to gain over 100 yards in a game on the PSU defense in 2014.
The game came down to the wire in front of 49,012 fans, the largest Pinstripe Bowl crowd to date and the second largest football audience at Yankee Stadium. After the two defensive-minded teams played to a 7-7 draw in the first half, BC built a 21-7 lead in the third quarter, but PSU scored to retie the game. The two teams traded field goals to send it to OT.
The game came down to a missed extra point. Murphy hit junior David Dudeck for a 21-yard score on the third play of overtime to put BC on top. It was not only the wide receiver's first touchdown of the season, but his first catch of the game. Freshman Mike Knoll did not convert the extra point, giving BC a six-point lead.
On third-and-15, PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg found Jesse James for a 17-yard pick up and then on third-and seven, the QB connected with Kyle Carter on a 10-yard pass for the TD. Sam Ficken made the extra point to give the Lions the win.
Murphy completed 11-for-19 passes for 99 yards and threw two touchdowns. He ran in for one more. The Eagles did not turn the ball over for the fourth time in 2014.
Hackenberg completed 34-for-50 passes for 371 yards. He threw four touchdown passes. The BC defense capitalized on two fumbled snaps, recovering the ball. The Eagles also did not allow over 100 rushing yards for the eighth time in 2014.
The Lions were the first to get on the board, scoring with just over five minutes to play on a three-play drive. Hackenberg connected on a 72-yard pass to Chris Godwin to put PSU up, 7-0.
The Eagles answered right away to tie the games as Hilliman broke free on the second play of the drive and rushed in for a 49-yard score to make it a 7-7 game. BC started with great field position after Penn State attempted an on-sides kick, but caught the ball out of bounds. Hilliman's team-leading 13th rushing TD of the season tied for ninth in BC single-season record books.
The two teams locked into a defense battle for the rest of the half, not allowing the other to score. BC recorded two sacks and a fumble recovery but could not capitalize. The Eagles converted on a fourth-and-one with less than a minute to play, but a false start forced BC back 10 yards and the time expired.
Boston College took the lead on its first drive on the second half. Sophomore Myles Willis gave the Eagles good field position with a 32-yard return to start at the 40-yard line. BC ran six straight times for 32 yards before Murphy completed two straight passes to put the Eagles at Penn State's 18-yard line. On third-and-11 at the 19, Murphy found graduate Shakim Phillips in the end zone for the wide receiver's team-leading fourth TD reception to put the Eagles up, 14-7., with just over eight minutes to go in the quarter.
Murphy gave the Eagles a 21-7 lead late in the same quarter. Hackenberg fumbled at BC's 29-yard line and sophomore Matt Milano recovered. BC capitalized on its second turnover, running the ball four straight times, capped off by Murphy's 40-yard touchdown run. His 11th rushing TD of the season tied him for second with Matt Ryan for career rushing touchdowns by a BC QB.
Penn State fired back on its ensuing drive. Von Walker returned the kickoff 26 yards to the PSU 37.On third-and-nine, Hackenberg found Geno Lewis for a 32-yard reception and 15 yards was tacked onto the end of the play for a face mask penalty. On third-and-two at BC's seven, the Penn State QB found Lewis for a seven-yard score to make it 21-14 as time expired in the third quarter.
With 7:33 to play in the game, Akeel Lynch broke free for a 35-yard run and was downed at the one-yard line. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball back, Hackenberg threw a 16-yard pass to DaeSean Hamilton to tie the game at 21 with just under seven minutes to play in the game.
Knoll put the Eagles back on top with 2:10 to play, connecting on a 20-yard field goal. Ficken hit a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to force overtime.
The Pinstripe Bowl was Boston College's 24th bowl appearance. The Eagles are now 13-11 all-time in the postseason. The game also marked the 24th time the Eagles and the Lions met, but it was the first time on neutral territory. Penn State leads the all-time series, 20-4.
Team Stats
BC 0, PSU 7
PSU - Godwin, Chris 72 yd pass from Hackenberg, C. (Ficken, Sam kick) 3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:01
BC 7, PSU 7
BC - Hilliman,J 49 yd run (Knoll,M kick), 2 plays, 52 yards, TOP 0:42
BC 14, PSU 7
BC - Phillips,S 19 yd pass from Murphy,T (Knoll,M kick) 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:45
BC 21, PSU 7
BC - Murphy,T 40 yd run (Knoll,M kick), 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:58
BC 21, PSU 14
PSU - Lewis, Eugene 7 yd pass from Hackenberg, C. (Ficken, Sam kick) 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:04
BC 21, PSU 21
PSU - Hamilton, D. 16 yd pass from Hackenberg, C. (Ficken, Sam kick) 6 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:44
BC 24, PSU 21
BC - Knoll,M 20 yd field goal 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:31
BC 24, PSU 24
PSU - Ficken, Sam 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:45
BC 30, PSU 24
BC - Dudeck,D 21 yd pass from Murphy,T (Knoll,M kickfailed) 4 plays, -2 yards, TOP 0:12
BC 30, PSU 31
PSU - Carter, Kyle 10 yd pass from Hackenberg, C. (Ficken, Sam kick) 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
