Boston College Athletics
Photo by: Frank Selden
Four Downs: Virginia Tech
November 04, 2018 | Football, #ForBoston Files
A come-from-behind win sets up a matchup for the ages next week
There were several not-so-subtle undercurrents before kickoff of Saturday's Boston College-Virginia Tech football game. Nearly everyone favored the Eagles on the road, but the margin for error was slim enough to shift ESPN's Football Power Index to Virginia Tech. The Hokies had the advantage according to that measure, but it was also less than 0.5%. Â
On ESPN's College GameDay, Rece Davis mentioned the BC game with "possible GameDay implications," lending another voice to what was the obvious statement. The ACC itself had previously announced a six-day hold on game times pending the outcome of Saturday. So, there was an obvious message: college football was ready to believe in BC, but BC had to hold up its end of the bargain at Lane Stadium.
By night's end, the No. 22 Eagles had a resounding answer in a 31-21 victory over the Hokies, establishing a collision course with No. 2 Clemson next Saturday night in Chestnut Hill.
"We went on the road in one of the most difficult places to play in the country," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We played a very physical football team that was inspired. Our team had a strong resolve. They knew we had some missed opportunities and came out with a tremendous amount of energy and passion."
Saturday's game marked a major breakthrough for the Eagles. They scored 24 second half points after trailing, 14-7, at the break. An offense that controlled only five minutes of clock time in the second quarter held onto possession for 16 minutes in the second half. A defense that gave up 212 first half passing yards surrendered only 70 yards the rest of the game. A BC team that had won only two games when trailing at halftime over the entire Steve Addazio era rallied and defeated a team that had never lost when leading at halftime in the Justin Fuente era.
"You could tell by the look in their eyes that we were going to find a way to win this game," Addazio said. "Our defense stood tall, our offense found ways to drive the ball down the field and score. It was a great team win in all three phases in a tough environment. Our guys found a way to finish. That was no easy task to come back and beat this football team. I'm proud of our team and coaches, they stuck together and had tremendous faith."
To the victors now comes the spoils. ESPN is riding into Boston this week for College GameDay. Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso will stand in front of the Chestnut Hill crowd for the third time in program history. The national television audience will watch on ABC at 8 p.m. when the Eagles run out of the tunnel to a more electric atmosphere than the Red Bandana Game two weeks ago.
*****
First Down: Offensive adjustments
Virginia Tech posted the expected problems against BC in the first half. The Eagles scored on their second drive, going 75 yards in 13 plays and finishing with an AJ Dillon run over the left side, but the Hokies adjusted and brought the right personnel after that, preventing any forward momentum. Anthony Brown was only 8-of-18 after a second quarter in which he went 4-of-10, and half of his 59 yards passing had come on a single play.
It forced the Eagles to make adjustments, and it made heroes of different, more complementary pieces. Travis Levy sprinted to daylight with a 29-yard touchdown run that was virtually uncontested, and he followed it up with a gutsy second effort on a second-and-goal run that was initially stuffed in the backfield.
"Travis did an unbelievable job," Addazio said. "We gave him the game ball in the locker room. I'm very proud of his effort. On the goal line, he stopped and re-surged and got the ball over for a touchdown. He stepped up and played one heck of a football game when we really needed it."
Brown, meanwhile, got his passing going by hitting secondary targets that were left entirely too wide open. Korab Idrizi didn't have a defender within two to five yards of him on his 22-yard touchdown catch because the defense sold out on the jet sweep option. It marked his first career touchdown catch, just as Levy's runs marked his first two rushing scores.
"Obviously in the first half we missed some opportunities," Addazio said. "That happens; we were in a tough environment. But I thought in the second half, he played with great poise and confidence and really played fantastic. He was a really good field-general leader out there."
*****
Second Down: Ping Pong Pick
Speaking of first career highlights, the Idrizi touchdown might never have happened if not for freshman Brandon Sebastian. His interception three plays prior set up a short field for the Eagles and ultimately served as the crossroads play that tipped momentum and the game to Boston College.
Sebastian's play was the prime example of a player making a big time play during an incredibly short window. Quarterback Ryan Willis looked at a wide-open Damon Hazelton on a designed roll out play, but the receiver bobbled the pigskin when it hit him right in the numbers. It created a split-second window for linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who bobbled the ball in his own right.
Sebastian trailed that play, but exploded to the ball when Hazelton muffed the pass. McDuffie left the ball right inside the sideline, and his missile defensive back somehow managed to catch it on a tightrope. The play gave BC a first down deep in Virginia Tech territory after a short review confirmed the play.
"It was instinct," Sebastian said. "I saw the ball tipped up in the air, and I just tried to grab it and stay in bounds to make a play. I was up there like this (eyes wide), seeing if it was a catch but luckily I got my foot down and shortened the field for the offense to make a score. It was a big play. We needed that after halftime, where we were down. We had a momentum shift, and that was a big shift. It got the second half going for us."
BC originally recruited the redshirt freshman as a safety but converted him last season to cornerback. Sebastian in turn worked himself into a starter's role this year, and though he's had some growing pains, he is now an integral part of the No Fly Zone defense.
"At corner, you're going to get beat there sometimes," he said. "You have to have short memories, and go out and compete on the next rep. Our d-line up front is one of the best D-lines in the country. They get after the QB and it makes my job easier and the safety's job easier. When we play with technique, anything can happen."
*****
Halftime Hits
-The ACC Network's pregame montage got my competitive juices in so many different ways. I've always been a big Thirty Seconds to Mars fan, so the use of "Hail to the Victor" augmented the images of the 14-team conference in ways I couldn't imagine.
-The Virginia Tech loss opened the Coastal Division door for Pittsburgh, a team nobody had on the radar to start the season. The Panthers beat No. 23 Virginia and leapfrogged both the Cavaliers and the Hokies. I know I tweeted that Pittsburgh fans were ready to jump on the BC bandwagon for yesterday's game, and in turn BC fans should be appreciative for the Panther victory over Syracuse earlier this season.
-BC has now defeated both Miami and Virginia Tech in the same season for the first time since 2007. It was just the second time in the last 16 seasons that the Eagles defeated both teams.
-I believe the Eagles should crack inside the Top 20 after beating Virginia Tech on Saturday. That would mark the first time BC ranked that high since they were No. 17 entering the 2008 ACC Championship Game.
-The win marked BC's first win as a ranked team since it beat Maryland as the No. 20 team, 28-21, on November 29, 2008.
*****
Third Down: Virginia Tech
Saturday was something of a crossroads for both Boston College and Virginia Tech. The Hokies entered the game with three overall losses but still controlled the Coastal Division because only one was inside the ACC. Because Virginia played Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech had to win in order to continue setting the pace among the three teams.
"Play-calling has nothing to do with (this loss)," head coach Justin Fuente said. "Play execution has 100 percent to do with it. That's not taking it from the coaches to the players. It's the coaches to get the players and teach the players to execute."
The loss hurts the Hokies but at least keeps the door open for a bid to the ACC Championship Game. Virginia Tech plays Pittsburgh next week in a game that's become must-win; a loss effectively would create a two-game cushion with two games remaining, effectively ending its hopes of advancing.
A win next week would tie the Hokies with the Panthers atop the division with two games remaining. They would then host Miami, which just lost its third straight game this weekend when it lost to Duke, before playing Virginia with the division title potentially on the line.
*****
Fourth Down: The Boston College Eagles
Head coach Steve Addazio is in his sixth year at Boston College. He inherited a program coming off of a 2-10 season, and his immediate seven-win records made him a coaching commodity. That cooled following the 2015 season, but his rebuild of the Eagles is now reaching its first true apex.
"We're 7-2," Addazio said. "We are playing in a very tough side of this conference right now. We have handled our business, and now we have the opportunity to play the No. 2 team in the country, who is playing lights-out football."
It's been a long-term project, but BC succeeded largely because of all those who came before this year's team. This year's team is the direct result of last year's success, and the 2017 Eagles spring boarded out of 2016's return to bowl eligibility. This year's senior class had to play in 2015 as undersized freshmen, and the student-athletes underwent a trial-by-combat on the field.
Being able to host College GameDay is a victory for everyone who ever wore the Maroon and Gold. This program is built on its history, meaning every player, fan and supporter helped build it to a point where ESPN returns to Chestnut Hill.
That's what being a part of Boston College is all about. Builds and rebuilds have their own highs and lows throughout big wins and disappointing losses, but the goal is always to leave the program better than the present state. That's how success is built, and that's why Lee Corso will hopefully don Baldwin on Saturday afternoon.
"To go back home to Chestnut Hill, to play a big-time game, I hope our fan base is as energized as our team right now," Addazio said. "We're very grateful and fortunate that we're in a position to make it a big-time game."
*****
Point After: Clemson
Boston College might be celebrating on Sunday, but Clemson is a looming shadow for next week's game. The Tigers are absolutely rolling through their schedule, and this past weekend's game against Louisville turned into a virtual exhibition game.
Clemson scored two touchdowns in the game's first three minutes, adding 21 second-quarter points as part of a 35-3 halftime lead. They physically beat up the Cardinals with 28 additional points in the third quarter, scoring a season-high 77 in a 77-16 win at Memorial Stadium.
Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon and Tavien Feaster all ran for 100 yards as the Tigers scored four rushing touchdowns, and Kendall Joseph recorded 10 tackles as part of a six-sack performance by the defense. Clemson added two interceptions, including Isaiah Simmons' touchdown that came after a near-fumble and a delay of game penalty against the Louisville offense.
Louisville is struggling this year, and the loss rendered the Cardinals as bowl-ineligible, but it creates an imposing look from Clemson. So, while the pomp and hype will be incredible and fun this week, there's still a game waiting, under the lights, against arguably the biggest and most destructive wagon in college football.
On ESPN's College GameDay, Rece Davis mentioned the BC game with "possible GameDay implications," lending another voice to what was the obvious statement. The ACC itself had previously announced a six-day hold on game times pending the outcome of Saturday. So, there was an obvious message: college football was ready to believe in BC, but BC had to hold up its end of the bargain at Lane Stadium.
By night's end, the No. 22 Eagles had a resounding answer in a 31-21 victory over the Hokies, establishing a collision course with No. 2 Clemson next Saturday night in Chestnut Hill.
"We went on the road in one of the most difficult places to play in the country," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We played a very physical football team that was inspired. Our team had a strong resolve. They knew we had some missed opportunities and came out with a tremendous amount of energy and passion."
Saturday's game marked a major breakthrough for the Eagles. They scored 24 second half points after trailing, 14-7, at the break. An offense that controlled only five minutes of clock time in the second quarter held onto possession for 16 minutes in the second half. A defense that gave up 212 first half passing yards surrendered only 70 yards the rest of the game. A BC team that had won only two games when trailing at halftime over the entire Steve Addazio era rallied and defeated a team that had never lost when leading at halftime in the Justin Fuente era.
"You could tell by the look in their eyes that we were going to find a way to win this game," Addazio said. "Our defense stood tall, our offense found ways to drive the ball down the field and score. It was a great team win in all three phases in a tough environment. Our guys found a way to finish. That was no easy task to come back and beat this football team. I'm proud of our team and coaches, they stuck together and had tremendous faith."
To the victors now comes the spoils. ESPN is riding into Boston this week for College GameDay. Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso will stand in front of the Chestnut Hill crowd for the third time in program history. The national television audience will watch on ABC at 8 p.m. when the Eagles run out of the tunnel to a more electric atmosphere than the Red Bandana Game two weeks ago.
*****
First Down: Offensive adjustments
Virginia Tech posted the expected problems against BC in the first half. The Eagles scored on their second drive, going 75 yards in 13 plays and finishing with an AJ Dillon run over the left side, but the Hokies adjusted and brought the right personnel after that, preventing any forward momentum. Anthony Brown was only 8-of-18 after a second quarter in which he went 4-of-10, and half of his 59 yards passing had come on a single play.
It forced the Eagles to make adjustments, and it made heroes of different, more complementary pieces. Travis Levy sprinted to daylight with a 29-yard touchdown run that was virtually uncontested, and he followed it up with a gutsy second effort on a second-and-goal run that was initially stuffed in the backfield.
"Travis did an unbelievable job," Addazio said. "We gave him the game ball in the locker room. I'm very proud of his effort. On the goal line, he stopped and re-surged and got the ball over for a touchdown. He stepped up and played one heck of a football game when we really needed it."
Brown, meanwhile, got his passing going by hitting secondary targets that were left entirely too wide open. Korab Idrizi didn't have a defender within two to five yards of him on his 22-yard touchdown catch because the defense sold out on the jet sweep option. It marked his first career touchdown catch, just as Levy's runs marked his first two rushing scores.
"Obviously in the first half we missed some opportunities," Addazio said. "That happens; we were in a tough environment. But I thought in the second half, he played with great poise and confidence and really played fantastic. He was a really good field-general leader out there."
*****
Second Down: Ping Pong Pick
Speaking of first career highlights, the Idrizi touchdown might never have happened if not for freshman Brandon Sebastian. His interception three plays prior set up a short field for the Eagles and ultimately served as the crossroads play that tipped momentum and the game to Boston College.
Sebastian's play was the prime example of a player making a big time play during an incredibly short window. Quarterback Ryan Willis looked at a wide-open Damon Hazelton on a designed roll out play, but the receiver bobbled the pigskin when it hit him right in the numbers. It created a split-second window for linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who bobbled the ball in his own right.
Sebastian trailed that play, but exploded to the ball when Hazelton muffed the pass. McDuffie left the ball right inside the sideline, and his missile defensive back somehow managed to catch it on a tightrope. The play gave BC a first down deep in Virginia Tech territory after a short review confirmed the play.
"It was instinct," Sebastian said. "I saw the ball tipped up in the air, and I just tried to grab it and stay in bounds to make a play. I was up there like this (eyes wide), seeing if it was a catch but luckily I got my foot down and shortened the field for the offense to make a score. It was a big play. We needed that after halftime, where we were down. We had a momentum shift, and that was a big shift. It got the second half going for us."
BC originally recruited the redshirt freshman as a safety but converted him last season to cornerback. Sebastian in turn worked himself into a starter's role this year, and though he's had some growing pains, he is now an integral part of the No Fly Zone defense.
"At corner, you're going to get beat there sometimes," he said. "You have to have short memories, and go out and compete on the next rep. Our d-line up front is one of the best D-lines in the country. They get after the QB and it makes my job easier and the safety's job easier. When we play with technique, anything can happen."
*****
Halftime Hits
-The ACC Network's pregame montage got my competitive juices in so many different ways. I've always been a big Thirty Seconds to Mars fan, so the use of "Hail to the Victor" augmented the images of the 14-team conference in ways I couldn't imagine.
-The Virginia Tech loss opened the Coastal Division door for Pittsburgh, a team nobody had on the radar to start the season. The Panthers beat No. 23 Virginia and leapfrogged both the Cavaliers and the Hokies. I know I tweeted that Pittsburgh fans were ready to jump on the BC bandwagon for yesterday's game, and in turn BC fans should be appreciative for the Panther victory over Syracuse earlier this season.
-BC has now defeated both Miami and Virginia Tech in the same season for the first time since 2007. It was just the second time in the last 16 seasons that the Eagles defeated both teams.
-I believe the Eagles should crack inside the Top 20 after beating Virginia Tech on Saturday. That would mark the first time BC ranked that high since they were No. 17 entering the 2008 ACC Championship Game.
-The win marked BC's first win as a ranked team since it beat Maryland as the No. 20 team, 28-21, on November 29, 2008.
*****
Third Down: Virginia Tech
Saturday was something of a crossroads for both Boston College and Virginia Tech. The Hokies entered the game with three overall losses but still controlled the Coastal Division because only one was inside the ACC. Because Virginia played Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech had to win in order to continue setting the pace among the three teams.
"Play-calling has nothing to do with (this loss)," head coach Justin Fuente said. "Play execution has 100 percent to do with it. That's not taking it from the coaches to the players. It's the coaches to get the players and teach the players to execute."
The loss hurts the Hokies but at least keeps the door open for a bid to the ACC Championship Game. Virginia Tech plays Pittsburgh next week in a game that's become must-win; a loss effectively would create a two-game cushion with two games remaining, effectively ending its hopes of advancing.
A win next week would tie the Hokies with the Panthers atop the division with two games remaining. They would then host Miami, which just lost its third straight game this weekend when it lost to Duke, before playing Virginia with the division title potentially on the line.
*****
Fourth Down: The Boston College Eagles
Head coach Steve Addazio is in his sixth year at Boston College. He inherited a program coming off of a 2-10 season, and his immediate seven-win records made him a coaching commodity. That cooled following the 2015 season, but his rebuild of the Eagles is now reaching its first true apex.
"We're 7-2," Addazio said. "We are playing in a very tough side of this conference right now. We have handled our business, and now we have the opportunity to play the No. 2 team in the country, who is playing lights-out football."
It's been a long-term project, but BC succeeded largely because of all those who came before this year's team. This year's team is the direct result of last year's success, and the 2017 Eagles spring boarded out of 2016's return to bowl eligibility. This year's senior class had to play in 2015 as undersized freshmen, and the student-athletes underwent a trial-by-combat on the field.
Being able to host College GameDay is a victory for everyone who ever wore the Maroon and Gold. This program is built on its history, meaning every player, fan and supporter helped build it to a point where ESPN returns to Chestnut Hill.
That's what being a part of Boston College is all about. Builds and rebuilds have their own highs and lows throughout big wins and disappointing losses, but the goal is always to leave the program better than the present state. That's how success is built, and that's why Lee Corso will hopefully don Baldwin on Saturday afternoon.
"To go back home to Chestnut Hill, to play a big-time game, I hope our fan base is as energized as our team right now," Addazio said. "We're very grateful and fortunate that we're in a position to make it a big-time game."
*****
Point After: Clemson
Boston College might be celebrating on Sunday, but Clemson is a looming shadow for next week's game. The Tigers are absolutely rolling through their schedule, and this past weekend's game against Louisville turned into a virtual exhibition game.
Clemson scored two touchdowns in the game's first three minutes, adding 21 second-quarter points as part of a 35-3 halftime lead. They physically beat up the Cardinals with 28 additional points in the third quarter, scoring a season-high 77 in a 77-16 win at Memorial Stadium.
Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon and Tavien Feaster all ran for 100 yards as the Tigers scored four rushing touchdowns, and Kendall Joseph recorded 10 tackles as part of a six-sack performance by the defense. Clemson added two interceptions, including Isaiah Simmons' touchdown that came after a near-fumble and a delay of game penalty against the Louisville offense.
Louisville is struggling this year, and the loss rendered the Cardinals as bowl-ineligible, but it creates an imposing look from Clemson. So, while the pomp and hype will be incredible and fun this week, there's still a game waiting, under the lights, against arguably the biggest and most destructive wagon in college football.
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