Boston College Athletics
W2WF: Wake Forest
September 12, 2018 | Football, #ForBoston Files
ACC play opens up in Winston-Salem on Thursday evening
The first two weeks of the college football season brought the best of times to the Boston College football program. The Eagles steamrolled their first two games and continued to create believers among the national fan base. It felt like the expected, but it also felt better to watch the home team roll through a game's phases. An average of 600 yards on offense contrasted a nasty, dominant defense, and BC emerged undefeated with a 2-0 record.
That all sits in the past, however. The team's stated goal is always to become 1-0 for the week by beating its next opponent. The past wins were great, but this week marks the start of conference football play when the Eagles head to Tobacco Road to play Wake Forest.
"Both programs are in a foot race to climb the scale of the ACC," head coach Steve Addazio said. "There are some similarities with both places. Academically, size - there are some similarities there. So I think that's where you draw upon those things. Both programs have done well. It's a good contest."
The matchup is familiar with close results. BC lost to the Deacs in 2003 and 2004 as a non-conference opponent by a combined seven points but ripped off five wins in six years after moving into the ACC. Wake Forest rebounded for wins in 2011 and 2012, but the Addazio era reclaimed victory for BC in 2013 and 2014. Wake has since won two out of three, including last year's 34-10 decision.
The 2017 iteration, though, is the only game decided by more than two scores since the matchup's earliest days. BC blew out Wake Forest in their first two meetings back in the early 1940s as part of a 5-3-2 run between 1941-1952, but those are the only three games where the score wasn't in doubt in the late stages.
"This will be quite a competitive game, as it is every year," Addazio said. "We know it will probably come down to the very last drive of the fourth quarter."
This year, the game plays itself out against the backdrop of national television as BC returns to ESPN's Thursday featured game for the first time since 2011. It's the 12th time the Eagles will appear on the midweek game, but it's the first time on the road since 2007's magical win over Virginia Tech. In total, the Eagles are 5-6 against six different opponents.
*****
Weekly Storylines
Rain, rain go away.
The most public talking point of the week didn't actually have anything to do with football after Hurricane Florence's weather track became apparent. Early reports had the storm bearing down on the North Carolina coastline, leading to early speculation of the game's possible cancellation. In the end, kickoff shifted from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wake Forest University is expected to remain open during that time through regular hours, but classes and offices will shut down on Friday through the weekend.
"We're concerned about a lot of people in the Carolinas and Georgia and the Southeast through the hurricane," Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson said. "Obviously that played a factor this week in the scheduling of our game. There was a lot of conference calls involving the ACC and BC and Wake Forest. The decision was made to move the game up and play it. We're optimistic that we're going to have good conditions and be able to play the football game."
Winston-Salem is over 200 miles from the North Carolina shore, but the safety of all participants remained a priority in communication between the conference and university administrations.
"We appreciate all the cooperation through the conference (and) the schools for all the hard work and everything they've done to keep this game going," Steve Addazio said.
New Year, New Me
Last year's game against Wake Forest sticks out for a number of reasons. The Eagles committed four turnovers that led to Demon Deacon points, ultimately driving the score away from a close result. But BC entered that game with an inexperienced quarterback making his second start and a center in his first career snaps at the position at any level.
The Eagles enter Saturday as a very different team. AJ Dillon became the starting running for the Louisville game last year. Since then, BC is 7-2 with over 475 yards of total offense per game and over 39 points per game. The rushing game is hovering over 280 yards per game, and the passing game improved dramatically.
"Every year, BC is one of the most physical offensive lines we play," Dave Clawson said. "They are big, strong and move people off the ball. AJ Dillon might be the best running back we face all year. Their tight end, (Tommy) Sweeney, might be the best in the conference.
"At receiver, they are very improved," he said. "Their quarterback is really improved. We played them last year in one of his first starts. They have done a great job with him. He is a more accurate quarterback and knows the offense better."
Zone Out
Boston College's offense is built around a concept of stretching a field. There's a host of plays designed for vertical and horizontal movement, and each area of the field is considered its own sector. An up-tempo style establishes flow, which in turn creates a rhythm of diversification.
"You need plays that get to the perimeter, plays that are off tackle and plays that are inside plays," Steve Addazio said. "You got your zones and you got your gaps. We're a pretty complete run game. So I think that we're set up to attack the width of the field with every different variety and style. It's the same philosophy in the throw game."
Having AJ Dillon in the backfield keeps teams honest about BC's running game, but Anthony Brown went 16-of-20 for 314 yards on first and second down in the first two games. He threw for approximately the same amount - over 470 yards - on first, second and third down individually last season. So preparation for an opposing defense can be incredibly hard to boil down based on personnel groupings or situational predictions.
"The amount of tight end sets, unbalanced sets, speed sweeps and their play action game - they've gotten very creative but just with heavier groups," Dave Clawson said. "I think their offensive coordinator, Scot Loeffler, is just really one of the more underrated coaches in the conference. I think he does a great job utilizing his personnel."
*****
They Said It
"We know we're going to get four quarters here. We've talked about it all week long, that this is going to be one of those title fights that's got to go the distance." -Steve Addazio
"John (Wolford) was a fourth-year senior starter last year when we played BC. Some of those decisions that John made as a freshman and as a sophomore, he was able to learn and grow from. Sam is going to be starting his third game." -Dave Clawson
"I'm not worried (about the weather). I've played in heat, snow, rain; at the Pinstripe Bowl, it was a freezing ice rink...if we could play in the mud, that'd be fine with me." -AJ Dillon
"It's a challenge on the short week, but it's a challenge for both teams. Obviously a little bit more for a team that has to travel, but I feel good about where we are right now." -Addazio
*****
Meteorology 101
Ordinarily, this section would be used to check local area forecasts to set the stage for the game. It goes without saying that Hurricane Florence is going to be a large-scale storm with some potentially devastating conditions. If and how it impacts the game on Thursday is dependent on the storm track and speed. Because those can change hourly, it's best to consult all available resources across local and national news for any information regarding the storm.
*****
Scoreboard Watching
Hurricane Florence forced a number of schedule changes throughout the eastern college football world, including a bulk of ACC games.
The BC-Wake Forest game moved up two hours to a 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, but the storm canceled three games at ACC venues. No. 13 Virginia Tech won't play East Carolina, and NC State and North Carolina likewise will not play No. 14 West Virginia and No. 18 Central Florida, respectively.
On Saturday, No. 2 Clemson's game against Georgia Southern moved from a 3:30 p.m. start to noon.
A number of other games will go on as planned on Saturday, including two other conference matchups - Florida State at Syracuse and Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh. Duke heads to Baylor for a mid-afternoon start, while Virginia and Louisville host Ohio and Western Kentucky, respectively.
BC's next opponent, Purdue, is still searching for its first win after losing a 20-19 heartbreaker to Eastern Michigan last week. The Boilermakers host Missouri at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
*****
Pregame Quote & Prediction
When you come to a fork in the road, take it. -Yogi Berra
Preseason predictions cast Boston College as a potential threat to the power structure of the ACC Atlantic Division. Thursday represents the first time for the Eagles to live up to those expectations after handling in-state business in the season's first two weeks. Wake Forest, meanwhile, is on a similar trajectory after beating Tulane and Towson, meaning Thursday's game is an opportunity for a team to insert its name into the conversation for real.
Beating the Deacons will take a whole team effort. The BC offense will need to use a multifaceted approach to control the clock and beat the Wake defense. The BC defense will need to take away or limit Greg Dortch and put quarterback Sam Hartman under pressure. Running back Cade Carney is a potential X-factor after rushing for 130 yards and a touchdown last week. The Eagles will need, at various points in this game, to stop them all, both individually and collectively. Execute when called upon, and becoming 1-0 for this week is a very real possibility.
Boston College and Wake Forest will kick off at 5:30 p.m. from BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. The game can be seen on national television on ESPN and via WatchESPN online. The game can also be heard via the BC IMG Sports Network and on SiriusXM Channel 84. Streaming audio is available via the TuneIn app.
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That all sits in the past, however. The team's stated goal is always to become 1-0 for the week by beating its next opponent. The past wins were great, but this week marks the start of conference football play when the Eagles head to Tobacco Road to play Wake Forest.
"Both programs are in a foot race to climb the scale of the ACC," head coach Steve Addazio said. "There are some similarities with both places. Academically, size - there are some similarities there. So I think that's where you draw upon those things. Both programs have done well. It's a good contest."
The matchup is familiar with close results. BC lost to the Deacs in 2003 and 2004 as a non-conference opponent by a combined seven points but ripped off five wins in six years after moving into the ACC. Wake Forest rebounded for wins in 2011 and 2012, but the Addazio era reclaimed victory for BC in 2013 and 2014. Wake has since won two out of three, including last year's 34-10 decision.
The 2017 iteration, though, is the only game decided by more than two scores since the matchup's earliest days. BC blew out Wake Forest in their first two meetings back in the early 1940s as part of a 5-3-2 run between 1941-1952, but those are the only three games where the score wasn't in doubt in the late stages.
"This will be quite a competitive game, as it is every year," Addazio said. "We know it will probably come down to the very last drive of the fourth quarter."
This year, the game plays itself out against the backdrop of national television as BC returns to ESPN's Thursday featured game for the first time since 2011. It's the 12th time the Eagles will appear on the midweek game, but it's the first time on the road since 2007's magical win over Virginia Tech. In total, the Eagles are 5-6 against six different opponents.
*****
Weekly Storylines
Rain, rain go away.
The most public talking point of the week didn't actually have anything to do with football after Hurricane Florence's weather track became apparent. Early reports had the storm bearing down on the North Carolina coastline, leading to early speculation of the game's possible cancellation. In the end, kickoff shifted from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wake Forest University is expected to remain open during that time through regular hours, but classes and offices will shut down on Friday through the weekend.
"We're concerned about a lot of people in the Carolinas and Georgia and the Southeast through the hurricane," Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson said. "Obviously that played a factor this week in the scheduling of our game. There was a lot of conference calls involving the ACC and BC and Wake Forest. The decision was made to move the game up and play it. We're optimistic that we're going to have good conditions and be able to play the football game."
Winston-Salem is over 200 miles from the North Carolina shore, but the safety of all participants remained a priority in communication between the conference and university administrations.
"We appreciate all the cooperation through the conference (and) the schools for all the hard work and everything they've done to keep this game going," Steve Addazio said.
New Year, New Me
Last year's game against Wake Forest sticks out for a number of reasons. The Eagles committed four turnovers that led to Demon Deacon points, ultimately driving the score away from a close result. But BC entered that game with an inexperienced quarterback making his second start and a center in his first career snaps at the position at any level.
The Eagles enter Saturday as a very different team. AJ Dillon became the starting running for the Louisville game last year. Since then, BC is 7-2 with over 475 yards of total offense per game and over 39 points per game. The rushing game is hovering over 280 yards per game, and the passing game improved dramatically.
"Every year, BC is one of the most physical offensive lines we play," Dave Clawson said. "They are big, strong and move people off the ball. AJ Dillon might be the best running back we face all year. Their tight end, (Tommy) Sweeney, might be the best in the conference.
"At receiver, they are very improved," he said. "Their quarterback is really improved. We played them last year in one of his first starts. They have done a great job with him. He is a more accurate quarterback and knows the offense better."
Zone Out
Boston College's offense is built around a concept of stretching a field. There's a host of plays designed for vertical and horizontal movement, and each area of the field is considered its own sector. An up-tempo style establishes flow, which in turn creates a rhythm of diversification.
"You need plays that get to the perimeter, plays that are off tackle and plays that are inside plays," Steve Addazio said. "You got your zones and you got your gaps. We're a pretty complete run game. So I think that we're set up to attack the width of the field with every different variety and style. It's the same philosophy in the throw game."
Having AJ Dillon in the backfield keeps teams honest about BC's running game, but Anthony Brown went 16-of-20 for 314 yards on first and second down in the first two games. He threw for approximately the same amount - over 470 yards - on first, second and third down individually last season. So preparation for an opposing defense can be incredibly hard to boil down based on personnel groupings or situational predictions.
"The amount of tight end sets, unbalanced sets, speed sweeps and their play action game - they've gotten very creative but just with heavier groups," Dave Clawson said. "I think their offensive coordinator, Scot Loeffler, is just really one of the more underrated coaches in the conference. I think he does a great job utilizing his personnel."
*****
They Said It
"We know we're going to get four quarters here. We've talked about it all week long, that this is going to be one of those title fights that's got to go the distance." -Steve Addazio
"John (Wolford) was a fourth-year senior starter last year when we played BC. Some of those decisions that John made as a freshman and as a sophomore, he was able to learn and grow from. Sam is going to be starting his third game." -Dave Clawson
"I'm not worried (about the weather). I've played in heat, snow, rain; at the Pinstripe Bowl, it was a freezing ice rink...if we could play in the mud, that'd be fine with me." -AJ Dillon
"It's a challenge on the short week, but it's a challenge for both teams. Obviously a little bit more for a team that has to travel, but I feel good about where we are right now." -Addazio
*****
Meteorology 101
Ordinarily, this section would be used to check local area forecasts to set the stage for the game. It goes without saying that Hurricane Florence is going to be a large-scale storm with some potentially devastating conditions. If and how it impacts the game on Thursday is dependent on the storm track and speed. Because those can change hourly, it's best to consult all available resources across local and national news for any information regarding the storm.
*****
Scoreboard Watching
Hurricane Florence forced a number of schedule changes throughout the eastern college football world, including a bulk of ACC games.
The BC-Wake Forest game moved up two hours to a 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, but the storm canceled three games at ACC venues. No. 13 Virginia Tech won't play East Carolina, and NC State and North Carolina likewise will not play No. 14 West Virginia and No. 18 Central Florida, respectively.
On Saturday, No. 2 Clemson's game against Georgia Southern moved from a 3:30 p.m. start to noon.
A number of other games will go on as planned on Saturday, including two other conference matchups - Florida State at Syracuse and Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh. Duke heads to Baylor for a mid-afternoon start, while Virginia and Louisville host Ohio and Western Kentucky, respectively.
BC's next opponent, Purdue, is still searching for its first win after losing a 20-19 heartbreaker to Eastern Michigan last week. The Boilermakers host Missouri at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
*****
Pregame Quote & Prediction
When you come to a fork in the road, take it. -Yogi Berra
Preseason predictions cast Boston College as a potential threat to the power structure of the ACC Atlantic Division. Thursday represents the first time for the Eagles to live up to those expectations after handling in-state business in the season's first two weeks. Wake Forest, meanwhile, is on a similar trajectory after beating Tulane and Towson, meaning Thursday's game is an opportunity for a team to insert its name into the conversation for real.
Beating the Deacons will take a whole team effort. The BC offense will need to use a multifaceted approach to control the clock and beat the Wake defense. The BC defense will need to take away or limit Greg Dortch and put quarterback Sam Hartman under pressure. Running back Cade Carney is a potential X-factor after rushing for 130 yards and a touchdown last week. The Eagles will need, at various points in this game, to stop them all, both individually and collectively. Execute when called upon, and becoming 1-0 for this week is a very real possibility.
Boston College and Wake Forest will kick off at 5:30 p.m. from BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. The game can be seen on national television on ESPN and via WatchESPN online. The game can also be heard via the BC IMG Sports Network and on SiriusXM Channel 84. Streaming audio is available via the TuneIn app.
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