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BC Comeback Fails, Clemson Seizes Leather Helmet

In the inaugural Battle for the Leather Helmet, BC blew a brief fourth quarter lead and lost the game to the division rival Tigers.  BC was 3-0 entering the game in the ACC series against Clemson, taking each of the first three games by no more than four points each time.

Due to the budding rivalry and the fellowship that Clemson showed to the Eagles when they joined the conference, the BC Gridiron Club came up with the trophy idea, which hearkens back to the beginning of the BC-Clemson series, January 1, 1940 in the Cotton Bowl (a 6-3 Clemson win).  The schools continued to battle in the 1940s and 1950s and after this game, the all time series is knotted at 8-8-2, with Clemson earning their first win over BC since 1958.  The competitive nature of the series and history between the programs should make this a great trophy game going forward.

As for the game itself, Clemson built a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter.  BC aided the Tigers with two missed field goals, a fumble, and two three-and-outs among their first half possessions.  Clemson was either feast or famine during the first half: they had two 70-yard drives (TD, FG) and an 80-yard touchdown drive, but their other three consisted of two drives of negative yardage and an interception, allowing BC to hang in the game at the half.

The Eagles were able to put three scoring drives (if they can be called that) together in the second half.  Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper threw his second interception of the game to Mike McLaughlin, who returned it 24 yards to the seven.  It took BC three plays and a Clemson pass interference penalty to score the touchdown, but Josh Haden finally did on a one yard run.

In the fourth quarter, BC blocked a Clemson punt and Roderick Rollins returned it 20 yards for the score to get BC to within three.  On the first play of the ensuing drive, Harper threw his third interception, this one to Wes Davis, again for 24 yards, down to the 21.  This is where the game took one of the oddest turns you will see.  On 4th and 4 from the 15 yard line with BC down three, Coach Jeff Jagodzinski elected to go for it…

Chris Crane was flushed left out of the pocket due to pressure and escaped one near sack.  He then stood up, fired a bullet to Brandon Robinson on the left sideline in the endzone for the score, despite pass interference, and the lead.  That is three touchdowns with a combined 28 yards of offense.  Unfortunately for the BC faithful, many of whom had left in the fourth, down 17-0, the Eagles could not hold the lead.

C. J. Spiller returned the ensuing kickoff for 64 yards to the 15.  Clemson got 13 on the next play with a pass down the middle to Michael Palmer.  After a sack and an incomplete pass, Harper hit Aaron Kelly for a four yard score to take a 24-21 lead.  On the following drive, BC started to move the ball, but Clarence Megwa fumbled a catch after being blindsided by a huge (and legal) hit.  He writhed in pain on the field and had to be carted off after being placed on a backboard, but gave the ‘thumbs up.’

Clemson capitalized on the short field and kicked a field goal to force the Eagles to score a touchdown with about two minutes and no timeouts remaining.  Crane threw a ball at the feet of his receiver, then two consecutive short gains (2, 4) on swing passes.  On fourth down, James McCluskey was standing at the sideline wide open, but Crane threw the pass a bit too high and the fullback came down with the ball, but out of bounds to end the game.

This was one of the most frustrating games for a fan because even though they had the lead, it did not feel like the Eagles were in the game since they had no offensive flow all day.  However, to have such a big and quick comeback and then give the lead back again so quickly was tough to take.  The Tigers outgained the Eagles 334-229, including 237-120 passing and 119-97 rushing.

Crane was an awful 17-39 (43.6%) for 120 yards (a measley 3.1 yards per attempt) with the touchdown and no turnovers.  Crane also did have a great first down scamper to keep a drive alive as a pass play broke down and a seam opened up for him. Josh Haden paced the rushing attack with a 15-71 performance.  The defense’s big takeaways not only stopped Clemson, but set up the offense and was the only reason BC was in the game.  The score could just as easily been 45-0 had Clemson not turned it over.

Outlook

My preseason pick had this as a loss as I thought Clemson was going to be a lot better than they are now.  Spiller, James Davis, and Harper showed flashes of the offensive attack I thought they would have.  So, that puts my predictions at 6-2 against the 5-3 BC is at now.  I had next week’s Norte Dame game as a loss, so we can get back to par with a BC win next weekend.  ND played the Eagles tough last season, really causing some problems for Matt Ryan.  With the downgrade on BC’s side and the improvement ND was showing, this looked like a vulnerable game for BC.  However, with the Irish’s loss to Pittsburgh, they still have not beaten a team with a winning record and do have their own questions.

ACC Rewind

• Miami needed overtime to beat Virginia 24-17
• Wake Forest outlasted Duke 33-30 in a back and forth contest, also in overtime
• Georgia Tech beat #16 Florida State in a shootout 31-28
• Maryland, the only team with one conference loss, leads the Atlantic at 3-1; Wake Forest and Florida State are half a game back.
• Georgia Tech, the only four-win team in conference play, leads the Coastal at 4-2; Miami and Virginia are half a game back.
• The ACC now has five bowl eligible teams: Florida State, Georgia Tech, #25 Maryland, Miami, #21 North Carolina.  BC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest each need one more win to gain eligibility.  Clemson, which seems poised to get to six wins, sits two short now, as does Duke.
• The ACC has nine tie-ins, so a tenth team would have to look for an at-large spot vacated by a conference which could not fill its slots.  All teams with better records must go first in at-large placement, so a 6-6 ACC team would likely stay home if ten make it.  BC, which does not travel well, would head this dubious list, so seven wins is imperative.

ACC Fast Forward

• Maryland visits Virginia Tech in a hostile Thursday night environment; look for VT to win
• Clemson travels to Florida State in the first non-Bowden Bowl and the Seminoles should take it
• North Carolina should muddle the Coastal some more with a win over Georgia Tech
• Wake Forest should continue its rise with a win over Virginia
• Duke should beat fellow division cellar dweller N. C. State

Top 10

1. Alabama: no trouble with FCS Arkansas State as epxected should get them to #1
2. Penn State: idle
3. Texas Tech: beat #1 Texas on final play to control Big 12 destiny
4. Florida: huge second half leads to win over #8 Georgia and should mean SEC Championship berth
5. USC: steamrolled still winless Washington, who are now without a coach as well
6. Texas: lost final test of four straight top 11 teams on final play to #6 Texas Tech
7. Oklahoma: 35 first quarter points paced victory over Nebraska
8. Oklahoma State: bounces back from Texas loss with rout of Iowa State
9. Utah: survives New Mexico
10. Boise State: beat New Mexico State 49-0 to keep BCS hopes alive

UMass Update

The #15 Minutemen’s offense was rolling for the second consecutive week as they went to Rhode Island and won convincingly, 49-0.  The rolled up 383 yards of offense: 286 in the air and 97 via ground.  Liam Coen was a remarkable 15/17 for 241 yards with three scores and no picks.  Victor Cruz was the favored target, catching seven for 129 and two touchdowns.  Chris Zardas caught Coen’s other scoring pass. 

Tony Nelson rushed 12 times and accrued 65 yards and two touchdowns.  Korrey Davis was 8-27 with the other rushing TD.  The defense was great as well, highlighted by Josh Jennings’ interception returned for a touchdown, but they also allowed only 212 yards of offense.  They allowed a modest 193 passing yards and a notable 19 yards on the ground, though the Rams had to get away from the ground game with the big deficit.  The win moves UMass to 6-3 and 3-2 in conference.  UMass tangles with Maine next weekend, who at 3-2 in conference, are one of the teams UMass needs to pass.

Tags: Boston College, UMass