Using a combination of a dominant performance from their defensive line and an uncharacteristic first half offensive explosion, The Boston College Eagles (7-6) would hold on for a 36-30 victory over the University of Maryland (6-7), in a wild Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
The Eagles jumped out to 6-0 first quarter lead when running back John Hilliman (79 yards, 1 TD) punched one in at the goal line. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked. Boston College would ride that lead into the second quarter thanks to its defense which held the Terrapins to 1 total yard of offense in the first quarter.
Eagles’ tight end Tommy Sweeney would start off the scoring early in the second quarter when he brought in quarterback Patrick Towles (151 passing yards, 2 TD) two-yard pass across the goal line.
The defense would once again stop the Maryland offense on the next drive when defensive end Kevin Kavalec recorded a strip sack, forcing his second fumble on the season and bringing his sack total to 4.5 for the year. The ball was recovered by senior defensive tackle Truman Gutapfel, who carried the ball back to the Terps’ 10-yard line. It was Gutapfel’s second recovery of the season.
Boston College would settle for a Mike Knoll 22-yard field goal bringing the game to 16-0 mid-way through the second quarter.
Maryland’s offense suddenly woke up on the next drive when running back Ty Johnson (159 yards, 2 TD) broke one for a 62-yard touchdown, putting the Terrapins on the board trailing 16-7.
The Eagles would respond with some trickery on the next series. Just inside the red zone Towles would pitch it to receiver Mike Walker on a reverse who would pitch it to Jeff Smith and he would find Towles wide open for a 20-yard score to make it 23-7. With the touchdown reception Towles would become the first ACC to have at least 1 touchdown pass and 1 receiving touchdown in a bowl game since Florida State’s Anquan Boldin in the 2003 Sugar Bowl.
Maryland head coach DJ Durkin would dial up some more explosive play in response. Kick returner Teldrick Morgan would take the kick off 55 yards, setting up Johnson’s second touchdown on a 30-yard scamper that saw him go untouched. After a failed two-point conversion, the Terrapins would trail 23-13.
Boston College wasn’t done yet though, with 35 seconds left in the first half Towles would connect with Walker for a 49-yard score. Knoll’s second missed extra-point would leave the score 29-13 heading into the half.
Preparation heading into the bowl game set up the Eagles to score the 29 points that would be Boston College’s most points scored in a half, against a Power 5 school, since scoring 24 against N.C. State in 2009.
“We worked hard in our bowl prep. It was like a spring ball for us. We had 16 or 17 opportunities, whatever we had. We went to a no huddle system.” Boston College head coach Steve Addazzio said after the game.
The Eagles couldn’t get anything going to start the second half. But, after a Knoll punt, Safety John Johnson, who had a game high 12 tackles, would hit the Terrapins returner for a 5-yard loss. On the next play, Gutapfel would be the one for a strip sack quarterback Perry Hills and his buddy Kevalec would be able to scoop it up for the score to make it 36-13.
However, Hills and Terrapins would respond fast and furious, as the quarterback would connect with Morgan, and Laverne Jacobs on touchdowns of 62 and 53 yards, to bring the score to 36-27.
After that Boston College and Maryland would trade punts. Which would lead to wacky sequence with nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
The Terrapins would drive down to Eagles two-yard line for a first and goal. However, after penalties and a sack by Harold Landry, Maryland would be looking at a third and goal from the 27-yard line. Hills would be sacked by Zach Allen, but a face mask penalty would give the Terps new life. After a DJ Moore 12-yard run that brought Maryland back to the one yard line for a first and goal. Hills would fumble Boston College line back Matt Milano would be there to pick it up.
The strangeness was not over as on the next sequence Hilliman would fumble at the five-yard line giving Maryland yes another chance at the end-zone still trailing 36-27.
Hills would attempt three passes that would fall incomplete and the Terrapins would settle for field goal bringing the score to 36-30.
Addazzio, would get conservative in protecting the lead and the Eagles would go three and out giving the ball back to Maryland with 1:48 remaining.
But the Eagles defensive line would put on a clinic in the game’s final sequence, as Hills would be hit on all 4 pass attempts, getting hit by Kavalec, Landry, and Allen. Setting up a fourth down where Landry and Milano would team up for a sack that would seal the Quick Lane Bowl victory for Boston College.
After the game the Eagles’ defensive lineman were named Quick Lane Bowl MVP as a group. Landry, Kavalec, Guptafel, Allen, Noa Merrit, and Ray Smith would combine for 15 tackles, 10 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, 5 batted passes, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception. Landry’s 1.5 sacks would add to his national leading total and Boston College record of 16.5.
Addazzio praised the group after the game, “I thought our whole defensive front played great. I saw so many guys making so many plays out there. It was really impressive.”
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“it's a good group of guys right there. I think defensive line coach (Paul) Pasqualoni has done as good a job as I've ever seen in terms of the development of a position group.” He would add.
The Quick Lane Bowl victory gives the Eagles their first bowl win since their 2007 against Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.
The Eagles jumped out to 6-0 first quarter lead when running back John Hilliman (79 yards, 1 TD) punched one in at the goal line. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked. Boston College would ride that lead into the second quarter thanks to its defense which held the Terrapins to 1 total yard of offense in the first quarter.
Eagles’ tight end Tommy Sweeney would start off the scoring early in the second quarter when he brought in quarterback Patrick Towles (151 passing yards, 2 TD) two-yard pass across the goal line.
The defense would once again stop the Maryland offense on the next drive when defensive end Kevin Kavalec recorded a strip sack, forcing his second fumble on the season and bringing his sack total to 4.5 for the year. The ball was recovered by senior defensive tackle Truman Gutapfel, who carried the ball back to the Terps’ 10-yard line. It was Gutapfel’s second recovery of the season.
Boston College would settle for a Mike Knoll 22-yard field goal bringing the game to 16-0 mid-way through the second quarter.
Maryland’s offense suddenly woke up on the next drive when running back Ty Johnson (159 yards, 2 TD) broke one for a 62-yard touchdown, putting the Terrapins on the board trailing 16-7.
The Eagles would respond with some trickery on the next series. Just inside the red zone Towles would pitch it to receiver Mike Walker on a reverse who would pitch it to Jeff Smith and he would find Towles wide open for a 20-yard score to make it 23-7. With the touchdown reception Towles would become the first ACC to have at least 1 touchdown pass and 1 receiving touchdown in a bowl game since Florida State’s Anquan Boldin in the 2003 Sugar Bowl.
Maryland head coach DJ Durkin would dial up some more explosive play in response. Kick returner Teldrick Morgan would take the kick off 55 yards, setting up Johnson’s second touchdown on a 30-yard scamper that saw him go untouched. After a failed two-point conversion, the Terrapins would trail 23-13.
Boston College wasn’t done yet though, with 35 seconds left in the first half Towles would connect with Walker for a 49-yard score. Knoll’s second missed extra-point would leave the score 29-13 heading into the half.
Preparation heading into the bowl game set up the Eagles to score the 29 points that would be Boston College’s most points scored in a half, against a Power 5 school, since scoring 24 against N.C. State in 2009.
“We worked hard in our bowl prep. It was like a spring ball for us. We had 16 or 17 opportunities, whatever we had. We went to a no huddle system.” Boston College head coach Steve Addazzio said after the game.
The Eagles couldn’t get anything going to start the second half. But, after a Knoll punt, Safety John Johnson, who had a game high 12 tackles, would hit the Terrapins returner for a 5-yard loss. On the next play, Gutapfel would be the one for a strip sack quarterback Perry Hills and his buddy Kevalec would be able to scoop it up for the score to make it 36-13.
However, Hills and Terrapins would respond fast and furious, as the quarterback would connect with Morgan, and Laverne Jacobs on touchdowns of 62 and 53 yards, to bring the score to 36-27.
After that Boston College and Maryland would trade punts. Which would lead to wacky sequence with nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
The Terrapins would drive down to Eagles two-yard line for a first and goal. However, after penalties and a sack by Harold Landry, Maryland would be looking at a third and goal from the 27-yard line. Hills would be sacked by Zach Allen, but a face mask penalty would give the Terps new life. After a DJ Moore 12-yard run that brought Maryland back to the one yard line for a first and goal. Hills would fumble Boston College line back Matt Milano would be there to pick it up.
The strangeness was not over as on the next sequence Hilliman would fumble at the five-yard line giving Maryland yes another chance at the end-zone still trailing 36-27.
Hills would attempt three passes that would fall incomplete and the Terrapins would settle for field goal bringing the score to 36-30.
Addazzio, would get conservative in protecting the lead and the Eagles would go three and out giving the ball back to Maryland with 1:48 remaining.
But the Eagles defensive line would put on a clinic in the game’s final sequence, as Hills would be hit on all 4 pass attempts, getting hit by Kavalec, Landry, and Allen. Setting up a fourth down where Landry and Milano would team up for a sack that would seal the Quick Lane Bowl victory for Boston College.
After the game the Eagles’ defensive lineman were named Quick Lane Bowl MVP as a group. Landry, Kavalec, Guptafel, Allen, Noa Merrit, and Ray Smith would combine for 15 tackles, 10 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, 5 batted passes, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception. Landry’s 1.5 sacks would add to his national leading total and Boston College record of 16.5.
Addazzio praised the group after the game, “I thought our whole defensive front played great. I saw so many guys making so many plays out there. It was really impressive.”
.
“it's a good group of guys right there. I think defensive line coach (Paul) Pasqualoni has done as good a job as I've ever seen in terms of the development of a position group.” He would add.
The Quick Lane Bowl victory gives the Eagles their first bowl win since their 2007 against Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.