Boston College Golden Eagles

Tigers tame Eagles offense in rainy Clemson

September 19, 2009

Game Report Posted: October 14, 2009 01:46  

Boston, MA --

What had been a potent offense was bogged down by a stingy defense and inclement weather.

Freshman QB David Shinskie had yet to throw an interception in his young career. However, Saturday, he threw three, including a game-sealing pick six that smashed any hope of a late comeback.

Raining heavily for nearly one hour before the game, the weather never relented through the course of the entire game, and the Golden Eagles sloppiness showed in the second half.

An uneventful first quarter for both teams was only broken when the Eagles finally got within range for a 41 yard field goal courtesy of Steve Aponavicius.

In the second quarter, BC did very little until the final minute. After two Clemson field goals (one of which was set up by Shinskie's first career interception throw), BC finally woke up, and their young QB led a quick drive that culminated in a 30 yard strike to Justin Jarvis, who was able to stay ahead of double coverage on a deep slant.

Clemson's defense took over after that.

DaQuan Bowers sacked Shinskie twice in the second half, and pressured him into his second interception later in the third quarter.

Fellow freshman QB Kyle Parker was solid and effective. Making a couple mistakes, but none too devastating to overcome, Parker completed 65% of his passes for 214 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. However, while Shinskie's best moments came in the first half, Parker's came in the second. Rarely facing a third down, the young QB kept Clemson's offense humming just enough to win.

C.J. Spiller was solid, but unspectacular, going for over 100 yards of total offense, but scoring zero touchdowns.

In the third quarter, with a 13-10 lead, Clemson pulled out the trickery on a key fourth down. Lining up in a punt formation, the snap went directly to upback Jamie Harper. A fake handoff to another Clemson player got the defense moving one way, and 52 yards later, Harper was in the end zone. Clemson's sideline was going crazy. Boston College's sideline was stunned

On Boston College's final drive, Shinskie seemed to finally get things moving again, as he had in at the end of the first half. Using their own version of the Wildcat - dubbed the "Screaming Eagle" by head coach Seanzie Creed - BC was able to get the ball inside Clemson's 10 yard line with less than a minute to go. After one Screaming Eagle play on first down, RB Montell Harris brought the ball to the 4, only to have a holding call move the Eagles back 15 yards.

The offense never got a chance to recover, as Shisnkie threw one incomplete pass before throwing his third INT to Cam Chancellor, who returned it 94 yards for the game sealing touchdown.

The loss marks the first for Boston College this year, and immediately gives them ground to make up in the race for the ACC title. The Golden Eagles are now 2-1, 0-1 in conference play, and will take on Wake Forest, who is 1-2.

The victory for Clemson sees the squad move up one spot to #24 in the rankings, and improves the team's record to 3-0, 2-0 in conference play. Next week, they take on TCU (1-1), who is unranked in the coaches poll, but is ranked #25 in the media poll.

BC pitches no-hitter in season opener

September 5, 2009

Game Report Posted: October 13, 2009 21:02  

Boston, MA --

With a thunderous running game, a dangerous passing game, and a stout defense, the Boston College Eagles welcomed in the new season by decimating the FCS East team.

Holding the hapless FCS-E squad to 131 yards of total offense, and a paltry 18% conversion rate on third downs, BC overcame a somewhat slow start to eventually crush their opponents 63-0.

Freshman quarterback David Shinskie eventually got it rolling, throwing for 333 yards and 5 TDs without in interception.

Once the passing game had been established, BC decided to run it down their opponent's throat, racking up 255 yards on the ground on 35 carries.

Eventually, late in the third quarter, the second team was in, and the team could relish in the win.

The game was over before it had even started.

"This is the way you want to start a season," new coach Seanzie Creed said. "To go out there and dominate another team like we did feels good, and I know our men are happy with our performance."

Boston College fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief after what turned out to be a tumultuous off-season, highlighted by star LBs Mark Herzlich's cancer diagnosis, and the unceremonious firing of popular head coach Jeff Jagodzinski. Jagz (as he was affectionately known by fans and players alike) was fired for taking an interview with the NFL's New York Jets regarding their vacant position. The university warned of his impending termination if he decided to go through with said interview, but Jagodzinski did anyways. This opened the door for Creeds.

Creeds had served as the team's lead offensive assistant for the past three years, and was a former head coach at FCS Northwest Missouri State, and had previously served as QB Coach at South Florida and Florida Atlantic.

With a 1-0 start, things are going well... for now.

"I understand the pressure that comes with being the head coach of Boston College. And I want that pressure. I want the responsibility. This university means a lot to me," said Creeds upon taking the job in June.

"Coach Creeds is a guy we all believe in," said senior WR Rich Gunnel in the post game press conference. "I know we can win with him. I love (former head coach) Jagz, but Creeds is our guy now."

FINAL SCORE
Boston College Eagles: 63
FCS East Rhinos: 0

STAR PERFORMERS
QB David Shinskie
16-25, 333 Yds, 5 TDs

RB Josh Haden
8 carries, 81 yards, 2 catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs

WR Carl Larmond Jr.
5 catches, 164 yards, 2 TDs

DE Alex Albright
5 tackles, 2 sacks

Eagles survive tough Kent State team

September 12, 2009

Game Report Posted: October 13, 2009 23:21  

Boston MA --

The Boston College Eagles thought they were going to have just as an easy of a time against the Kent State Golden Flashes as they did last weak against a FCS pushover.

They were wrong.

The Eagles struck quickly, as DT Kaleb Ramsey recovered a Giorgio Morgan fumble for a 21 yard TD on the first play from scrimmage. After forcing Kent State to punt, the Eagles drove down the field and got 3 more points on a 34 yard Steve Aponavicius field goal.

From then on out, it was a dog fight.

Kent QB Morgan proceeded to throw a 52 yard TD a mere 24 seconds after the field goal. On the receiving end was Tyson Goode, who had a massive day, eating the BC secondary alive.

Neither team had much luck running the ball, with BC holding Kent to -8 yards net rushing. Kent did an admirable job of their own, holding BC to 78 yards on 32 carries.

However, both teams had their passing games come alive. Morgan ended up throwing for 408 yards and 4 TDs, all of which had Goode on the other end.

BC QB David Shinskie had a respectable game of his own, throwing for 329 yards and 4 TDs without an interception. This marks quite a feat, as Shinskie has thrown for over 300 yards and 4 TDs in each of his first two starts. He also has yet to throw a pick.

Kent State played much better than expected, holding a 24-17 advantage going into the half. A stunned Boston College team knew they had to respond.

"When the other team comes out and is slugging it out with you, and won't go away - that's when you really have to come out and make big plays," said Shinskie.

Shinskie proceeded to throw a 26-yard TD on BC's first drive of the half to WR Justin Jarvis on a nice, over-the-shoulder corner route.

"It was just a really good throw," said Jarvis later.

However Kent State came right back, with Morgan hooking up with Goode on a 14-yard pass for the duo's third TD of the game, retaking the advantage 31-24.

Shinskie responded, throwing a 14 yard TD of his own on the very next drive to senior wideout Richard Gunnell, knotting the game back up at 31 all.

On the next drive, BC's defense finally stopped Kent's vaunted passing attack, when junior safety Wes Davis stepped in front of a deep post pattern, picked it off and ran it back 32 yards for the defense's second score of the game.

"They had really been tearing us apart up to that point... It was just like a sigh of relief when Wes was able to make that play," said BC coach Seanzie Creed.

BC maintained a lead the rest of the way, although Morgan later hooked up again with Goode on a 70 yard TD pass to come within 7. However, BC recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, and ran the clock out.

Boston College improved to 2-0, and will open their ACC schedule next week against #25 Clemson (2-0, 1-0).

Kent State fell to 1-1, and will face Iowa State (1-1).