Game Notes: Week 2 vs. Holy Cross
September 03, 2018 | Football
BC looks to start 2-0 for the first time since 2015
The Game
• One of the great traditional rivalries of the New England college football season will be renewed Saturday as Jesuit opponents Boston College and Holy Cross meet again for the first time in 32 years.
• Boston College and the College of the Holy Cross, who met 82 times on the gridiron between 1896 and 1986, resume their series at Alumni Stadium.
• The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra at 1 p.m. Robert Lee provides play-by-play commentary while Matt Chatham has the color commentary.
• Coverage on the Boston College IMG Sports Network begins at 12:30 p.m. with Jon Meterparel, Pete Cronan and Scott Mutryn. Fans can listen to the game locally on WEEI 850 AM, nationally on TuneIn and on XM channel 384 and Sirius/XM internet channel 972.
• BC opened the 2018 season with a 55-21 victory over UMass last Saturday at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles rolled up 598 of total offense in the win.
The Series
• The 2018 meeting will mark the first football meeting between the Eagles and Crusaders since a 56-26 BC victory on Nov. 22, 1986 in Worcester, Mass.Â
• BC faced Holy Cross 82 times from 1896-1986, its most games against one opponent. BC leads the all-time series between the two institutions, 48-31-3.
• For many years, the Boston College-Holy Cross rivalry was played at the end of the regular season, providing a "cap" for the New England college football schedule.
• The Holy Cross Club of Boston will present the Eddie O'Melia Trophy to the game's MVP following the game on Saturday.
• BC is 36-21-1 all-time against Holy Cross at home. The last time the two schools met at Alumni Stadium was a 38-7 BC win in 1985.
1st and 10
• Boston College looks to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015 with a win Saturday versus Holy Cross.
• Boston College has eight straight wins in the series vs. Holy Cross. The last time the Crusaders defeated the Eagles was a 30-29 decision in 1978.
• BC has started 2-0 twice under Steve Addazio - both in 2013 and 2015.
• Addazio is in his sixth season at the Heights (32-33) and is 5-1 in season openers.Â
• Under Addazio, BC is 11-10 in the month of September, including a 10-6 mark in September home games.
• Boston College scored 50 or more points in a season-opener for the first time since 2009 in last week's 55-21 win over UMass. Prior to last week, the last time BC scored 50+ in an opener was the 54-0 win vs. Northeastern (9/5/09). The 55 points against UMass was the most points scored in a season-opener since a 78-0 win over St. Anselm (9/20/41).
Offensive Fireworks in 2018 Opener
• Boston College opened the 2018 season with a 55-21 win against UMass at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 1.
• Boston College scored 50 or more points in a season-opener for the first time since 2009, in a 54-0 win vs. Northeastern (9/5/09). It was the most points scored in a season-opener since a 78-0 win over St. Anselm (9/20/41).
• Boston College finished with 598 yards of total offense, the most in a single-game under head coach Steve Addazio.Â
• The 55 points scored was the third-highest total in 120 seasons of Boston College Football in an opening game.
Most Points Scored in a Season-Opener
1. 9/20/1941 vs. St. Anselm W, 78-0
2. 9/24/1938 vs. Canisius W, 63-12
3. 9/1/2018 vs. UMass W, 55-21
4. 9/5/2009 vs. Northeastern W, 54-0
4. 9/27/1930 vs. Catholic W, 54-7
500 Club
• Boston College rolled up 598 yards of total offense in the 55-21 victory against UMass on Sept. 1.
• It marked the best day of total offense for the Eagles since rolling up 578 yards of total offense at NC State on Oct. 4, 2008.
• BC went over 500 yards of total offense for the seventh time under head coach Steve Addazio in the victory vs. UMass.Â
• Over the last eight games, BC has eclipsed the 500-yard mark in total offense four times.
500+ Yards of Total Offense During Addazio Era
1. 598 UMass (9/1/18)
2. 581 at Syracuse (11/25/17)
3. 555 at Louisville (10/14/17)
4. 550 at New Mexico State (11/9/13)
5. 523 Army (10/5/13)
6. 512 at Virginia (10/21/17)
7. 511 UMass (8/30/14)
8. 506 No. 9 Southern California (9/13/14)
What Can Brown Do for You?
• Anthony Brown finished with the best single-game passer rating (245.9) by a BC QB dating back to the 1996 season with his performance against UMass in the season-opener. He finished 15-of-21 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns. The yards and TD passes were career-highs for the New Jersey native.
• In 2017, Brown was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the first time in his career following the UVA victory and also was one of eight quarterbacks nationally recognized by The Manning Award as its "Stars of the Week."
• He was the first Boston College player with three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in a conference game since Quinton Porter in 2003 in the 41-10 victory at UVA.
• It marked the third-best single-game passer rating by a BC quarterback since 1996.
• Brown was the second freshman in BC history to start a season opener under center in the Sept. 1, 2017 win at Northern Illinois. He is the only freshman quarterback in school history who started to win a season opener on the road.
• Brown was 26-for-42 with 191 passing yards and two touchdowns in the NIU win. He threw one interception.Â
Single-Game Passer Rating Leaders (since 1996)
Player Passer Rating
1. Anthony Brown (9/1/18) vs. UMass 245.9
15-of-21, 279 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
2. Quinton Porter (10/11/03) vs. Temple 224.1
18-of-24, 308 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
3. Anthony Brown (10/21/17) vs. Virginia 216.7
19-of-24, 275 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
4. Tim Hasselbeck (9/9/00) vs. Army 216.2
14-of-21, 256 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
5. Brian St. Pierre (9/22/01) vs. Navy 211.8
19-of-25, 247 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Airing it Out
• For the first time under head coach Steve Addazio, the Eagles eclipsed the 300-yard mark passing in the 55-21 win over UMass to start the season.
• BC finished with 326 yards passing against the Minutemen, including 279 yards in the first half by Anthony Brown.
• Prior to UMass, the most yards passing in a game by BC under Addazio was 285 vs. Villanova (8/31/13).
Noting the UMass Win
• BC is 22-5 all-time against the Minutemen, including a 13-3 mark at home. The Eagles have won 10 straight in the series against UMass. The last time UMass defeated BC was in 1978.
• All-time, BC is 70-48-2 in season openers, including a 14-5 mark since 2000.
• BC is 5-1 in season openers under head coach Steve Addazio.
• AJ Dillon's first career reception was for 15 yards and a touchdown on BC's first drive of the year. The Eagles covered 80 yards on 10 plays for the score.Â
• It was the first opening drive of the season to end in a touchdown for BC since August 31, 2013 in a 24-14 win over Villanova.
• BC's 14 first-quarter points were the most for the Eagles in an opening game since scoring 14 versus Miami on Sept. 1, 2012.
• Brown set new career-highs with 279 passing yards and four touchdown passes in the first half. It was the first time in his career he has thrown three touchdowns to three different receivers in a game. His previous career-high came last year at Virginia (10/21/17), throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns.
• Sophomore wide receiver Kobay White set a new career-high with two touchdown receptions. He finished the game with three receptions for 86 yards.
• BC's seven first half touchdowns marked the first time the Eagles registered five or more TD's in a half since scoring five against Northeastern (9/5/09).
• BC's 48 points in the first half were the most in a season opener since tallying 62 in the first half at home vs. Howard (9/12/15)
• Lukas Denis' pick-six to end the first half was the first returned for a score in his career and the first by a BC player since Taj-Amir Torres vs. Connecticut (11/18/17) at Fenway Park.
• The interception was the ninth of Denis' career.
• The 55 points scored in the season opener were the most by a Steve Addazio team at Boston College.
• Junior tight end Ray Marten set career-highs in receptions (3) and receiving yards (69). His 33-yard touchdown reception was also a career-best.Â
• Sophomore quarterback EJ Perry finished with the first three completions of his career, going 3-of-4 passing for 30 yards. Redshirt freshman Matt McDonald played in his first career game and finished 2-of-2 passing for 11 yards.
• Senior nose tackle Ray Smith finished with six tackles and his first career interception.
Notes to Remember
• Boston College finished the 2017 regular season winning five of its last seven games as the Eagles closed out a 7-6 season and 4-4 mark in the ACC.Â
• Boston College was one of 21 teams nationally - and just one of 13 teams from Power Five conferences - to win at least five of the final six games of the regular season.
• Boston College was just one of two bowl teams nationally to play 10 teams who qualified for a bowl in 2017.
• Only Clemson (6-0) and Boston College (5-1) won at least five of their last six in the regular season among ACC schools.
• Head coach Steve Addazio has led the Eagles to four bowls in his first five years, the first head coach in BC history to do so.
• The Eagles return ACC Rookie of the Year AJ Dillon, the nation's second-leading rusher among freshmen and the country's No. 7 overall rusher with 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns.
• Dillon was BC's first ACC Rookie of the Year. He had 1,099 rushing yards over the last six regular season games, the most of any player in the country.
• Dillon's 1,589 rushing yards were the second-most by any ACC freshman in conference history.
• Dillon tied for the most All-ACC votes with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. Dillon had four games of 190+ yards of rushing in 2017.
• Boston College had nine players earn All-ACC honors, tied for the most in school history. Seven of the nine All-ACC selections return in 2018.
• Over the last six regular season games, BC averaged 36 points per game and outscored the opposition by 19 points per contest including wins over Florida State (35-3), at Louisville (45-42) and at Virginia
(41-10).
• Boston College was third nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2017.
• Boston College was 12th nationally in interceptions (18) in 2017.
• BC scored 35+ points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2002.
• BC scored 40+ points in consecutive conference games once in school history in the BIG EAST and ACC (this season).
• 500+ yards of total offense in consecutive games against Louisville and Virginia was also a first in ACC history for BC.
• Boston College's rushing offense was the most improved unit of any Power 5 school in yards per carry (96th to 25th).
• Boston College was 12th nationally and was second in the ACC in sacks allowed in 2017.
• Boston College was 18th nationally in total plays in 2017. In 2016, the Eagles ranked 94th nationally in total plays.
• Lukas Denis was tied for second nationally with seven interceptions in 2017.
Famous Bloodlines
• Boston College has several players with famous bloodlines on the 2018 roster:
Javian Dayne Son of Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne
AJ Dillon Grandson of CFB Hall of Fame WR Thom Gatewood​​​​​​​
Tate Haynes Son of NFL Hall of Fame DB Mike Haynes
Tito Pasqualoni Son of Lions DC Paul Pasqualoni​​​​​​​
Wyatt Ray Grandson of Nat King Cole
John Tessitore Son of ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore​​​​​​​
Tyler Vrabel Son of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel
First and Goal to Go
• Boston College had 18 total goal-to-go drives last year and scored a touchdown on 17 of them. The lone other drive ended with a field goal on the other, making them one of 12 teams in the country with at least 15 goal-to-go drives that scored 100% of the time.
Goal to Go TD Rates vs. FBS Opponents
1. Army 95.8%
2. Boston College 94.4%
3. Colorado 93.8%
4. Tulsa 91.3%
Arkansas 91.3%
FBS Average 75.3%
Scouting the Crusaders
• Bob Chesney is in his first year as the head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in 2018. The 28th head coach in the history of the program, he has posted a winning record in each of his eight seasons as a collegiate head coach. A two-time Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year, Chesney's career record stands at 67-25 (.728 winning percentage), including five seasons at Assumption College (44-16, 2013-2017) and three years at Salve Regina University (23-9, 2010-2012).Â
• The Holy Cross defense allowed just 75 yards of total offense and no points in the second half, but the Crusaders were edged by Colgate 24-17 in their season opener at Andy Kerr Stadium.Â
• Colgate finished the day with just 91 rushing yards, their lowest total against a Patriot League opponent since 2013.
• On the offensive side of the ball, Holy Cross returns three starters off last year's team which averaged 397.5 yards of total offense, 23.1 points and 21.1 first downs per game. Fifth-year senior wide receiver Blaise Bell, who totaled 46 catches for 601 yards and eight touchdowns while earning second team All-Patriot League honors in 2017, looks to lead an experienced group of receivers. Senior wide out Martin Dorsey totaled 43 receptions for 590 yards and two scores last season, while senior wide receiver Richie DeNicola has caught 83 career passes for 854 yards and four touchdowns.
• On the defensive side of the ball, the Crusaders have six starters back on a unit with the potential to develop into one of the top defenses in the conference. Holy Cross gave up 367.9 yards and 25.4 points per game in 2017, and will look to improve upon those numbers this fall. Senior linebacker Ryan Brady looks to lead the way after receiving preseason third team All-America honors. Brady ranked third in the Patriot League with 110 tackles last year, including 86 solo stops, four quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Senior defensive lineman Teddy Capsis is also back, after totaling 33 tackles, six sacks and nine tackles for loss while earning second team All-Patriot League honors in 2017.
