Written by Brett Korpi
On 1st and 10 from the University of Massachusetts 46-yard line, Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles found wide receiver Jeff Smith deep down the middle of the field for a touchdown. The very next time the Eagles had the ball on their hands on the ball Towles linked up with Smith again, this time from 36 yards out.
Those two plays at the end of the first half changed the game for the Boston College Eagles (1-1, 0-1 ACC) as it gave them a lead they would never relinquish. The suffocating defense would hold up it’s end of the bargain in the 26-7 victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
After the game, Towles - who was 12-22 for 191 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT- believes the passing attack gives the Eagles opponents more to worry about, "(Throwing on first down) does so much for an offense. Sometimes it can really push the offense instead of having it being really predictable. If we can continue to throw the ball on first down it will help us down the schedule because people don't expect those shots on first down, especially from us.”
Smith, the former quarterback, who caught 5 passes for 98 yards and 2 TD’s, talked about those two plays. "It helped a lot. Being down, that was a real surprise, but I think scoring those two touchdowns quick really helped the defensive line as well. It really gave us confidence in the second half to come and keep competing."
The defense, despite giving up a 60 – yard touchdown pass on a blown coverage, continued their reign of terror over opposing offenses. They limited the Minutemen (0-2) to -23 yards rushing, tied a school record with eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss and forced three turnovers.
Junior linebacker Connor Strachan, who played with a shoulder injury, picked up where he left off last week, adding six tackles and 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
"Anytime we can create turnovers it's huge for our offense. A lot of times we end up playing a field position game and really flip the field for them. On defense, you don't really get a chance to score, but if you can set up scores, it's just as good." Strachan said following the game.
The key turnover came when junior cornerback Isaac Yiadom forced the fumble that Strachan late in the second quarter. That play led to the Towles 2 touchdown throws.
"They are absolutely incredible. I sometimes have a fan mentality when I am watching them on the sideline. “Towles would continue to gush about his defense. “Just how close they are, how they pull for each other and how they always make plays on the football. From the back end to upfront they are so much fun to play with and they make it a lot easier to play too."
Boston College travels down to Blacksburg, Virginia next Saturday to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a ACC match up
Those two plays at the end of the first half changed the game for the Boston College Eagles (1-1, 0-1 ACC) as it gave them a lead they would never relinquish. The suffocating defense would hold up it’s end of the bargain in the 26-7 victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
After the game, Towles - who was 12-22 for 191 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT- believes the passing attack gives the Eagles opponents more to worry about, "(Throwing on first down) does so much for an offense. Sometimes it can really push the offense instead of having it being really predictable. If we can continue to throw the ball on first down it will help us down the schedule because people don't expect those shots on first down, especially from us.”
Smith, the former quarterback, who caught 5 passes for 98 yards and 2 TD’s, talked about those two plays. "It helped a lot. Being down, that was a real surprise, but I think scoring those two touchdowns quick really helped the defensive line as well. It really gave us confidence in the second half to come and keep competing."
The defense, despite giving up a 60 – yard touchdown pass on a blown coverage, continued their reign of terror over opposing offenses. They limited the Minutemen (0-2) to -23 yards rushing, tied a school record with eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss and forced three turnovers.
Junior linebacker Connor Strachan, who played with a shoulder injury, picked up where he left off last week, adding six tackles and 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
"Anytime we can create turnovers it's huge for our offense. A lot of times we end up playing a field position game and really flip the field for them. On defense, you don't really get a chance to score, but if you can set up scores, it's just as good." Strachan said following the game.
The key turnover came when junior cornerback Isaac Yiadom forced the fumble that Strachan late in the second quarter. That play led to the Towles 2 touchdown throws.
"They are absolutely incredible. I sometimes have a fan mentality when I am watching them on the sideline. “Towles would continue to gush about his defense. “Just how close they are, how they pull for each other and how they always make plays on the football. From the back end to upfront they are so much fun to play with and they make it a lot easier to play too."
Boston College travels down to Blacksburg, Virginia next Saturday to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a ACC match up