Written by Brett Korpi
Chestnut Hill, MA - On a day where optimism flowed through the Boston College community, excited for a new season of college football. Wake Forest came into Alumni Stadium and put a dark cloud over it. Overwhelming the Eagles in a 34-10 ACC blow out.
Demon Deacons (2-0,1-0) quarterback John Wolford delivered a consistent performance with both his arms and legs, throwing 13-for-19 for 151 yards, and one touchdown. And, running for another 92 yards, and one more score.
Meanwhile, the Wake Forest defense took advantage of numerous BC offensive miscues. The Deacons returned an interception for a touchdown. And, set them up to score after a fumble and another interception. In total, the Deacons forced four turnovers.
The scoring started a with 1:28 left to play in the first quarter. When after a defensive stand still between the two teams, Wake Forest forced a Jon Hilliman fumble on the Eagles 26-yard line. Wolford would follow that up with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Greg Dortch.
The Eagles could not respond as Brown threw the first of his interceptions three plays later. The two offenses couldn't get much going again, until Wolford would break out for a 29-yard touchdown run, to give the Deacons the 14-0 lead.
Boston College would show a little life two possessions driving 57 yards in eight plays. Brown connected with running back Hilliman for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it a 14-7 with 3:13 remaining in the first half.
The Eagles defense gave the offense a chance to tie it going into the half as they forced Wake to punt just before the 2-minute warning.
But, Essang Bassey had other ideas taking a 30-yard interception to the house to give the Deacons a 21-7 lead at the half.
Coming out in the second half things looked promising for the Eagles. The defense was able to force a Wake punt. However, after driving into Deacons territory, Brown was unable to connect with wide receiver Jeff Smith in the end zone. BC would settle for a Colton Lichtenberg 30-yard field goal to make it 21-10 game.
The Deacons in response putting together a lengthy 12 play drive into the red zone, coming away with a field goal of their own by Mike Weaver to increase their lead back to two scores at 24-10.
The following drive is where things began to get off the rails for the Eagles. Brown would throw his third interception of the day, and Jessie Bates would return it 37-yards to the Eagle two-yard line. Where running back Cade Carney would punch it in for to widen the Demon Deacons lead to 31-10.
Boston College head coach Steve Addazio decided to make a change at this time replacing Brown, with junior quarterback Darius Wade. The veteran wasn’t able to get any momentum going as to offense continued to struggle.
“Well, it's a matter of you get a young guy (Brown) where it's rolling down on him a little bit, you got to give him breath,” Addazio said of his decision to make the switch.
Weaver would add another three points for Wake connecting with a 27-yard attempt to finish off the scoring at 34-10.
After the game, Addazio would lament that it was the turnovers that did them in.
“It was pretty close, pretty even numbers. But we turned the ball over, and you can't turn the ball over.” Addazio would continue. “That can't happen so I've got to do a good job in making sure that we get rid of the turnovers and go about our business so we can give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
The Eagles (1-1, 0-1) did not live up to expectations, as the reason for those hopes the youth that is on the offensive side of the ball is what did them in. When you start young contributors in critical roles, bad days will happen. But, to live up to expectations, those young players will have to grow into their roles fast.
Their next test will come against an even tougher when arch-rival Notre Dame comes to Chestnut Hill on Saturday, September 16th, at Noon EST.
Demon Deacons (2-0,1-0) quarterback John Wolford delivered a consistent performance with both his arms and legs, throwing 13-for-19 for 151 yards, and one touchdown. And, running for another 92 yards, and one more score.
Meanwhile, the Wake Forest defense took advantage of numerous BC offensive miscues. The Deacons returned an interception for a touchdown. And, set them up to score after a fumble and another interception. In total, the Deacons forced four turnovers.
The scoring started a with 1:28 left to play in the first quarter. When after a defensive stand still between the two teams, Wake Forest forced a Jon Hilliman fumble on the Eagles 26-yard line. Wolford would follow that up with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Greg Dortch.
The Eagles could not respond as Brown threw the first of his interceptions three plays later. The two offenses couldn't get much going again, until Wolford would break out for a 29-yard touchdown run, to give the Deacons the 14-0 lead.
Boston College would show a little life two possessions driving 57 yards in eight plays. Brown connected with running back Hilliman for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it a 14-7 with 3:13 remaining in the first half.
The Eagles defense gave the offense a chance to tie it going into the half as they forced Wake to punt just before the 2-minute warning.
But, Essang Bassey had other ideas taking a 30-yard interception to the house to give the Deacons a 21-7 lead at the half.
Coming out in the second half things looked promising for the Eagles. The defense was able to force a Wake punt. However, after driving into Deacons territory, Brown was unable to connect with wide receiver Jeff Smith in the end zone. BC would settle for a Colton Lichtenberg 30-yard field goal to make it 21-10 game.
The Deacons in response putting together a lengthy 12 play drive into the red zone, coming away with a field goal of their own by Mike Weaver to increase their lead back to two scores at 24-10.
The following drive is where things began to get off the rails for the Eagles. Brown would throw his third interception of the day, and Jessie Bates would return it 37-yards to the Eagle two-yard line. Where running back Cade Carney would punch it in for to widen the Demon Deacons lead to 31-10.
Boston College head coach Steve Addazio decided to make a change at this time replacing Brown, with junior quarterback Darius Wade. The veteran wasn’t able to get any momentum going as to offense continued to struggle.
“Well, it's a matter of you get a young guy (Brown) where it's rolling down on him a little bit, you got to give him breath,” Addazio said of his decision to make the switch.
Weaver would add another three points for Wake connecting with a 27-yard attempt to finish off the scoring at 34-10.
After the game, Addazio would lament that it was the turnovers that did them in.
“It was pretty close, pretty even numbers. But we turned the ball over, and you can't turn the ball over.” Addazio would continue. “That can't happen so I've got to do a good job in making sure that we get rid of the turnovers and go about our business so we can give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
The Eagles (1-1, 0-1) did not live up to expectations, as the reason for those hopes the youth that is on the offensive side of the ball is what did them in. When you start young contributors in critical roles, bad days will happen. But, to live up to expectations, those young players will have to grow into their roles fast.
Their next test will come against an even tougher when arch-rival Notre Dame comes to Chestnut Hill on Saturday, September 16th, at Noon EST.