Boston College
2-3 , 1-2
Virginia
0-5 , 0-2
Strong Second Half Propels BC to 27-24 Victory over Virginia
September 30, 2023 | Football
Lewis Bond posted career-highs with seven receptions and 104 yards
The field goal - Connor's second 40-plus yarder on the day - capped an 11-play, 55-yard drive late in the fourth for the go-ahead score. BC outscored Virginia, 20-3, over the final two quarters of play to engineer its biggest halftime comeback in 27 years.
For the day, Thomas Castellanos was 16-of-26 for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 16 times for 78 yards on the day. During the second half comeback, Castellanos was 7-for-10 for 94 yards passing while gaining 43 yards on the ground.
Lewis Bond set new single-game highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (104), hauling in the touchdown that gave BC its first lead of the contest. Joseph Griffin added three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Â
Ryan O'Keefe made three catches for 21 yards. In the fourth quarter, O'Keefe collided helmet-to-helmet with a Virginia player and suffered a neck injury. He was immobilized and transported to Mass General Hospital.Â
Virginia opened the game with a 75-yard scoring drive and added another touchdown early in the second quarter before a Garwo goal line rush cut it to 14-7 with less than a minute to play in the opening half. Garwo's first rushing TD of the season came from two yards out. Garwo would carry the ball 23 times for 87 yards on the day. The Cavaliers would end the first half on a 39-yard pass into the end zone as the clock hit zero, taking a 21-7 lead into the halftime break.
In the third quarter, Connor drilled a career-long 42-yard field goal with just under 10 minutes left in the period, cutting the deficit to 21-10. After the BC defense forced a UVA punt, the Eagles engineered another scoring drive. A 33-yard rush by Alex Broome led to a defensive pass interference call in the end zone, as Griffin was held trying to make the catch.. One play later, Castellanos found Griffin from four yards out, making it 21-17 with 6:09 left.
The Eagles took their first lead of the day - 24-21 - on a 33-yard screen pass from Castellanos to Bond with 1:04 to go in the third quarter, capping a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive. With 7:10 to go, UVA tied it up on a 44-yard field goal. But BC regained the lead for good five minutes later off the foot of Connor, drilling his second field goal of 40-plus yard on the day. Â
Boston College registered four sacks, as George Rooks (1.5 sacks), Donovan Ezeiruaku (1.0), and Khari Johnson (0.5) got to Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett all afternoon. Elijah Jones hauled in an interception. Vinny DePalma led BC with six tackles, while Ezeiruaku, Rooks and Jalen Cheek each made five stops.
With the win, Boston College improves to 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in ACC play. The Eagles head to West Point next week to take on Army at noon at Michie Stadium. The game will kickoff at noon and will air live on CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
UVA 7, BOS 0
UVA - Hollins,Mike 5 yd pass from Muskett,Tony (Bettridge,Will kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:35
UVA 14, BOS 0
UVA - Washington,Malik 18 yd pass from Muskett,Tony (Bettridge,Will kick) 5 plays, 37 yards, TOP 02:06
UVA 14, BOS 7
BOS - Garwo,Patrick 2 yd run (Connor,Liam kick), 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:45
UVA 21, BOS 7
UVA - Fields,Malachi 39 yd pass from Muskett,Tony (Bettridge,Will kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:41
UVA 21, BOS 10
BOS - Connor,Liam 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 05:13
UVA 21, BOS 17
BOS - Griffin,Joe 4 yd pass from Castellanos,Thomas (Connor,Liam kick) 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 01:32
UVA 21, BOS 24
BOS - Bond,Lewis 33 yd pass from Castellanos,Thomas (Connor,Liam kick) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:00
UVA 24, BOS 24
UVA - Bettridge,Will 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 12 yards, TOP 01:27
UVA 24, BOS 27
BOS - Connor,Liam 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 51 yards, TOP 04:59
