Week 8 Notes: The Clemson Game

Boston College is set for an ACC primetime showdown with No. 2/4 Clemson for the second consecutive year Saturday night in Death Valley. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on ACC Network. Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), former BC quarterback Tim Hasselbeck (color) and Katie George (sideline reporter) have the call. Coverage on the Boston College Learfield IMG Sports Network begins at 7 p.m. with Jon Meterparel, Pete Cronan and Scott Mutryn. Fans can listen to the game locally on WEEI 93.7 FM, nationally on TuneIn and on Sirius channel 135, XM channel 194 and online via SiriusXM channel 956.

Boston College put together its best performance of the season with a dominant 45-24 victory over NC State last Saturday at Alumni Stadium. Clemson extended its school-record win streak to 22 games on Saturday afternoon, defeating Louisville 45-10 at Cardinal Stadium.

The Series
In a series that began in 1940, Boston College and Clemson meet for the 29th time Saturday. The Tigers lead the series 17-9-2 and have won eight consecutive games against the Eagles. BC's longest winning streak in the series is four games. The most points scored in the series for BC were 40 in 1949 while the largest margin of victory for the Eagles was a 15-point win in 1983 (31-16). The current eight-game winning streak is the longest in the series for Clemson. The Tigers' highest point total was 56 in 2016 in Chestnut Hill and it also set the largest margin of victory (46 points) in series history.

For the 12th time, Boston College and Clemson will play for a trophy. The BC Gridiron Club established the O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy in 2008. The trophy features a leather helmet replica of those used by Charlie O'Rourke of Boston College and Banks McFadden of Clemson, when they competed against each other in the 1940 Cotton Bowl. The Boston College Gridiron Club also presents a replica leather helmet to the MVP of the winning school.

1st and 10
• Since BC joined the ACC in 2005, six of the 14 games have been decided by seven points or less. Clemson is 10-4 in ACC play against BC.
• The series began in the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1940. The Tigers defeated the 11th-ranked Eagles 6-3 as Charlie Timmons rushed for 115 yards.
• The 1983 win by BC featured 28 unanswered points as Doug Flutie threw for 223 yards and two TDs to hand Clemson its only loss of the year (9-1-1).
• Last season's game marked just the third time in Boston College history that two teams ranked in the AP Top 20 squared off at home as the No. 17/14 Eagles hosted No. 2/2 Clemson
• Clemson won the ABC televised contest 27-7. Earlier in the day, ESPN's College GameDay aired live from BC for the third time in program history.

The Sauce...
• AJ Dillon is second nationally in rushing yards (968) and rushing yards per game (138.3) in 2019.
• Dillon is also fourth nationally with 158.0 yards per game from scrimmage in 2019.
• Dillon needs just 75 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in Boston College history.
• With two more rushing touchdowns, Dillon will become the all-time leader in BC history.
• Dillon is currently 18th in ACC history with 3,665 rushing yards. Looking ahead, Dillon needs 294 rushing yards this season to move into the top 10 in ACC history in rushing yards.
• With two more 100-yard rushing games, Dillon would move into the top 10 in ACC history in career 100-yard rushing games.
• Dillon was dominant in the 45-24 win over NC State. It marked his fifth straight 100-yard game, his third career 200-yard performance and his fourth-career three-touchdown game.

Touchdown Dillon
• Junior running back AJ Dillon totaled his 19th career game with at least one rushing touchdown when he found the end zone three times in the 45-24 win over NC State on Oct. 19. BC is 14-5 when Dillon rushes for at least one TD.

Boston College Career Rushing TD Leaders
Player (Years) - Rushing TDs
1. Keith Barnette (1973-75) - 34
2. William Green (1999-01) - 33
AJ Dillon (2017-present) - 33
4. Andre Williams (2010-13) - 28

Boston College Career Rushing Leaders
Player (Years) - Yards
1. Andre Williams (2010-13) - 3,739
2. Montel Harris (2008-11) - 3,735
3. Derrick Knight (2000-03) - 3,725
4. AJ Dillon (2017-present) - 3,665
5. Mike Cloud (1995-98) - 3,597

Closer Look at AJ Dillon in the Starting Lineup
• In 26 games since AJ Dillon was named the starter at running back on Oct. 14, 2017 at Louisville, Boston College has averaged:

33.2 points per game
235.9 rushing yards per game
202.8 passing yards per game
438.7 total offense yards per game
3,332 rushing yards by Dillon
138.8 rushing yards per game by Dillon
31 rushing touchdowns by Dillon
16 100-yard rushing games by Dillon

• Dillon missed the games at No. 23 NC State and vs. Louisville with an ankle injury in 2018.
• Since Oct. 14, 2017, Dillon is second nationally with 138.8 rushing yards per game and 3,332 rushing yards. Only Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor has averaged more rushing yards per game during that time span (150.4 rushing yards per game).
• Dillon became the first player in 120 seasons of Boston College football to begin his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Dillon went over the 1,000-yard mark on his four-yard touchdown run at Florida State in 2018.
• Dillon is just the fourth player in BC history with two seasons of 1,000+ yards rushing. He joined Derrick Knight, Montel Harris and William Green with two years of 1,000 or more rushing yards.

Among the Nation's Best
• AJ Dillon is fourth nationally and leads the ACC with 3,665 career rushing yards. Among the top 10 active career rushing leaders, Dillon has played in the fewest amount of games.

NCAA Active Career Rushing Leaders
Player, School - Yards (Games Played)
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin - 5,128 (34)
2. Walter Fletcher, Ball State - 4,144 (39)
3. Rodney Smith, Minnesota - 3,745 (46)
4. AJ Dillon, Boston College - 3,665 (30)

NCAA Active Career Rushing Yards Per Game Leaders
Player, School - Yards Per Game
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin - 150.8
2. AJ Dillon, Boston College - 122.2

100-yard Games Piling Up
• In 24 career starts, AJ Dillon has 17 career 100-yard games at Boston College in 30 games played.
• He is tied for fourth in BC history with 17 career 100-yard games.
• BC is 11-6 when Dillon rushes for 100+ yards in a game.
• Dillon posted his third straight 150-yard rushing performance against Wake. The last BC player to have three straight games with 150+ yards on the ground was Dillon in 2017 as a freshman - 196 yards vs. NC State on Nov. 11, 2017 yards vs. UConn on Nov. 18, and 193 yards vs. Syracuse on Nov. 25.
• It was the 11th career game with 150+ rushing yards for the junior running back, which currently ranks second among active NCAA players.

Most 100-Yard Rushing Games Since 2017 (Active Players)
Player, School - 100-yard games
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin - 27
2. AJ Dillon, Boston College - 17

The Buffalo Boys
• Boston College features two of the most physical running backs in the country - 250-pound AJ Dillon and 240-pound David Bailey. The "Buffalo Boys" are second nationally with 1,478 combined rushing yards in 2019. Only Oklahoma State's duo of Chuba Hubbard and Spencer Sanders (1,722) have more rushing yards.
• Dillon and Bailey became the first two running backs in school history to run for 180+ yards in the same game in BC's 45-24 victory over NC State. Dillon finished with 223 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Bailey added 181 yards rushing and two scores against the Wolfpack.
• The Buffalo Boys were the first BC teammates to rush for over 100 yards in the same game since Bailey (102) and Ben Glines (107) did so vs. Louisville on Oct. 13, 2018.
• The last time two Boston College running backs gained at least 150 yards on the ground in the same game: Oct. 18, 1997 in a 45-44 home loss to Miami. Omari Walker (185) and Mike Cloud (157).

1-2 Punch
• Sophomore running back David Bailey has given BC one of the best 1-2 running back tandems in the country in 2019. The Maryland native is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns in 2019. He has also one touchdown reception and he threw a 16-yard touchdown pass against No. 24 Wake Forest.

O-Line U
• Most college football pundits predicted it would be a rebuilding year on the Boston College offensive line after losing a first-round pick in Chris Lindstrom along with multi-year starters in left tackle Aaron Monteiro and center Jon Baker.
• Despite the graduation of that trio of full-time starters along with co-starter Sam Schmal, the Eagles have been strong up front in 2019 with new starters at left tackle (Tyler Vrabel), left guard (Zion Johnson) and center (Alec Lindstrom).
• BC leads the nation with 0.43 sacks allowed per game in 2019. The Eagles are sixth nationally in rushing with 278.3 rushing yards per game.

Protecting the Blind Side
• Redshirt freshman left tackle Tyler Vrabel currently owns the top overall grade (74.2) among OTs in the ACC according to Pro Football Focus.
• Vrabel has yet to allow a sack or QB hit on 100 pass blocks this season. Including his 28 offensive snaps last year, Vrabel has yet to allow a sack or QB hit in his career.
• In 2019, Vrabel has allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits and just three hurries. His pass block efficiency figure of 98.9 ranks third among OTs in the ACC.
• Vrabel has an all-around game as his run block grade of 75.8 ranks second in the conference among OTs. On runs aimed off the left tackle this season, BC has gained 156 yards on just 17 attempts (9.2 ypc). BC's 9.2 ypc on left tackle runs this year is the sixth-best average in the FBS (min 10 attempts) and leads the ACC.

Top Five Opponent
• Boston College has not defeated an opponent ranked in the top five since a 14-7 win at No. 4 Notre Dame on Nov. 2, 2002.
• A win Saturday at No. 2/4 Clemson would be against the highest-ranked opponent since a 41-39 win at No. 1 Notre Dame on Nov. 20, 1993.
• Boston College is 2-30 all-time against teams ranked in the top five, including an 0-13 mark at home against opponents ranked within the top five.
• BC is 31-109-1 all-time against ranked competition.

BC vs. Opponents Ranked in the Top Five
Nov. 10, 2018: vs. No. 2 Clemson - L, 27-7
Sept. 23, 2017: at No. 2 Clemson - L, 34-7
Nov. 5, 2016: vs. No. 5 Louisville - L, 52-7
Oct. 7, 2016: vs. No. 3 Clemson - L, 56-10
Nov. 21, 2015: vs. No. 4 Notre Dame - L, 19-16
Oct. 17, 2015: at No. 5 Clemson - L, 34-17
Nov. 22, 2014: at No. 1 Florida State - L, 20-17
Oct. 12, 2013: at No. 3 Clemson - L, 24-14
Oct. 10, 2009: at No. 5 Virginia Tech - L, 48-14
Oct. 27, 2005: at No. 3 Virginia Tech - L, 30-10
Sept. 20, 2003: No. 2 Miami - L, 33-14
Nov. 4, 2002: at No. 4 Notre Dame - W, 14-7
Oct. 10, 2002: No. 4 Virginia Tech - L, 28-23
Sept. 21, 2002: at No. 1 Miami - L, 38-6
Nov. 10, 2001: No. 1 Miami - L, 18-7
Nov. 25, 2000: at No. 2 Miami - L, 52-6
Sept. 30, 2000: No. 4 Virginia Tech - L, 48-34
Nov. 26, 1999: at No. 2 Virginia Tech - L, 38-14
Nov. 26, 1994: at No. 5 Miami - L, 23-7
Sept. 3, 1994: at No. 5 Michigan - L, 34-26
Nov. 26, 1993: No. 5 West Virginia - L, 17-14
Nov. 20, 1993: at No. 1 Notre Dame - W, 41-39
Sept. 4, 1993: No. 5 Miami - L, 52-7
Nov. 23, 1991: No. 1 Miami - L, 19-14
Sept. 7, 1991: No. 2 Michigan - L, 35-13
Nov. 2, 1985: at No. 3 Penn State - L, 16-11
Oct. 31, 1981: No. 2 Pitt - L, 29-24
Oct. 10, 1981: at No. 2 Penn State - L, 38-7
Sept. 13, 1980: at No.3 Pitt - L, 14-6
Nov. 1, 1969: at No. 5 Penn State - L, 38-16
Oct. 26, 1968: No. 4 Penn State - L, 29-0
Oct. 3, 1953: at No. 3 LSU - L, 42-6

First Half Fireworks
• Boston College has been explosive in the first half in 2019 on offense. BC has totaled 167 points in the first half over the first seven games of the year, an average of 23.8 per game in the first 30 minutes of play.
• BC has totaled 2,188 yards of total offense in the first half in 2019. The Eagles are averaging 312.6 yards per game in 2019.
• The Eagles have scored touchdowns on their first possession in three games this season (Richmond, Kansas, Rutgers).

Max Effort
• Max Richardson leads the ACC and ranks 10th nationally with 10.4 tackles per game in 2019. He leads BC with 73 total tackles, 47 solo stops and 11.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
• Richardson is fourth nationally with 47 solo tackles this season. The 47 solo stops are third nationally among Power 5 players.
• The Georgia native is 10th nationally with 11.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2019.

NCAA Solo Tackles Leaders
1. Evan Weaver, California - 59
2. Nate Landman, Colorado - 55
3. David Woodward, Utah State - 49
4. Max Richardson, Boston College - 47

Big Game Hunter
• Redshirt sophomore tight end Hunter Long is quietly developing into one of the best tight ends in the ACC. Long leads the Eagles in receptions (18), receiving yards (361) and leads the team averaging 20.1 yards per reception.
• He is part of a talented tight end room for Boston College that features three of the team's leading five receivers.

NCAA Tight End Receiving Yards Leaders (Power 5 schools)
1. Hunter Bryant, Washington - 452
2. Brevin Jordan, Miami - 438
3. Jacob Breeland, Oregon - 405
4. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State - 398
5. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue - 396
6. Kyle Pitts, Florida - 391
7. Hunter Long, Boston College - 361

Big-Play Passing Offense
• Boston College is tied for eighth nationally with six pass plays of 50+ yards in 2019.
• In 2018, BC had just three pass plays of 50 yards or more the entire season.
• Going back to 2014, the Eagles have just five total passing plays covering more than 50 yards.
• Steve Addazio's first season marked the largest total of 50-yard pass plays as BC connected on eight passes of 50 yards or more.

Chunk Plays
• Boston College is second in the ACC with 22 plays of 30+ yards in 2019. Louisville leads the conference with 23 plays of 30+ yards.
• The Eagles are tied for 12th nationally with 22 plays covering 30 yards or more.

No Fly Zone
• Since the start of the 2017 season, Boston College is second in the country with 45 interceptions. The opportunistic defense started the season right where they left off in 2018 with three picks in the Virginia Tech win on August 31 and two in the win over Richmond.
• BC is 11th nationally in 2019 with nine interceptions.
• BC has picked off at least one pass in 14 of the last 15 games.

NCAA Interceptions Leaders (Since 2017)
1. Iowa - 46
2. Boston College - 45
3. Oregon - 44
4. Wisconsin - 42

Going on the Offensive
• Boston College averaged 32.0 points per game last season, the fifth-best single-game average in school history. In 2019, the Eagles are scoring 34.6 points per game.
• Since the start of 2017, Boston College has 10 games with 500+ yards of total offense. BC ripped off a season-high 563 yards of total offense at Louisville on Oct. 5.

500+ Yards of Total Offense During Addazio Era
1. 610 - Holy Cross (9/8/18)
2. 598 - UMass (9/1/18)
3. 581 - at Syracuse (11/25/17)
4. 563 - at Louisville (10/5/19)
5. 555 - at Louisville (10/14/17)
6. 550 - at New Mexico State (11/9/13)
7. 549 - Maine (9/20/14)
8. 533 - No. 24 Wake Forest (9/28/19)
9. 532 - NC State (10/19/19)
10. 524 - at Wake Forest (9/13/18)
11. 523 - Army (10/5/13)
12. 518 - Richmond (9/7/19)
13. 512 - at Virginia (10/21/17)
14. 511 - UMass (8/30/14)
15. 506 - No. 9 Southern California (9/13/14)

300+ Yards Rushing During Addazio Era
1. No. 9 Southern California (9/13/14) - 452
2. NC State (10/19/19) - 429
3. NC State (11/16/13) - 420
4. Maine (9/20/14) - 413
5. Holy Cross (9/8/18) - 365
6. Louisville (10/14/17) - 364
7. Howard (9/12/15) - 347
8. Richmond (9/7/19) - 346
9. UMass (8/30/14) - 338
10. Syracuse (11/25/17) - 333
11. UConn (11/18/17) - 330
12. New Mexico State (11/9/13) - 320
13. Army (10/5/13) - 320
14. NC State (10/11/14) - 310
15. Wagner (9/24/16) - 300

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Players Mentioned

David Bailey

Jon Baker

AJ Dillon

Ben Glines

Zion Johnson

Alec Lindstrom

Chris Lindstrom

Hunter Long

Aaron Monteiro

Max Richardson

Sam Schmal

Tyler Vrabel

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