Boston College
0-1 , 0-0
Northern Illinois
1-0 , 0-0
BC's Fourth Quarter Comeback Comes Up Short in OT, 27-24
September 02, 2023 | Football
Eagles erase 14-point deficit with 9:24 to play in regulation
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College's furious fourth quarter comeback fell short in overtime, 27-24, on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
The Eagles, trailing 21-7 with 9:24 left in regulation, erased a 14-point deficit to force the extra frame. In overtime, BC connected on a 39-yard field goal to take a 24-21 lead. But NIU would find the end zone from one-yard out to take the victory.
Neither team gained a ton of traction through the first 20 minutes of play. Northern Illinois got on the scoreboard first, capping an eight-play, 60-yard drive with a touchdown with 2:44 remaining in the half. The Huskies took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, NIU struck again, driving 75 yards on its first possession, capped by a two-yard TD run, making it 14-0 with 10:33 left in the third.
The Eagles' defense changed the energy with 6:53 left in the third quarter. After NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi fumbled in the backfield, Neto Okpala and Khris Banks secured the loose ball, giving BC the ball deep in Huskies' territory. Five plays later, BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos found Lewis Bond on an 11-yard touchdown strike. It was the transfer from UCF's first collegiate touchdown pass.
NIU chewed up seven minutes on the clock, adding a rushing touchdown from one-yard out with 9:24 to play, making it 21-7. But BC's Castellanos would manufacture another scoring drive - 10 plays, 59 yards - finding the end zone on a keeper from two yards out with 5:59 left, making it 21-14.
BC regained possession with 3:23 to go and Castellanos was the engine that made the game-tying, six-play, 83-yard drive go. After a QB rush for 16 yards, Castellanos found Pat Garwo on a five-yard pass. Another first down run by the quarterback, Castellanos set up a 22-yard strike on the right side to Ryan O'Keefe. With 1:44 left, he connected with Jaden Williams from 30 yards out. Liam Connor's PAT kick was good. The score at the end of regulation was 21-21.
Castellanos finished 13-of-28 for 138 yards and two touchdowns passing. He rushed nine times for 67 yards and a score. Lewis Bond (four catches/40 yards) and Jaden Williams (two catches/35 yards) each hauled in a touchdown. Ryan O'Keefe was targeted five times and registered five catches for 38 yards.
Defensively, Vinny DePalma led BC with 11 tackles (five solo), while Donovan Ezeiruaku made eight tackles (four solo). John Pupel, Jaylen Blackwell, and Cole Batson each logged seven stops. Elijah Jones and Jalen Cheek each registered two pass breakups.
Boston College returns to action at home next week - Saturday, Sept. 9 - when Holy Cross heads to the Heights for a noon kickoff. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra (link).
Team Stats
NIU 7, BOS 0
NIU - Brown,Antario 7 yd pass from Lynch,Justin (Seibert,Jake kick) 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:14
NIU 14, BOS 0
NIU - Brown,Antario 2 yd run (Seibert,Jake kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:27
NIU 14, BOS 7
BOS - Bond,Lewis 11 yd pass from Castellanos,Thomas (Connor,Liam kick) 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 01:55
NIU 21, BOS 7
NIU - Lampe,Brock 1 yd run (Seibert,Jake kick), 12 plays, 55 yards, TOP 07:04
NIU 21, BOS 14
BOS - Castellanos,Thomas 2 yd run (Connor,Liam kick), 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:24
NIU 21, BOS 21
BOS - Williams,Jaden 30 yd pass from Castellanos,Thomas (Connor,Liam kick) 6 plays, 83 yards, TOP 01:39
NIU 21, BOS 24
BOS - Connor,Liam 39 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:00
NIU 27, BOS 24
NIU - Lombardi,Rocky 1 yd run (), 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
