If you’re the type of person who enjoys every sign of hope in a football game, you don’t want to be a Boston College fan on Saturday night. The Eagles were unable to generate any offense all night, and in a nightmare first quarter, B.C.
While both teams entered Saturday’s game with one loss each, BC (0–2, 0–1 Atlantic Coast) failed to put the pieces together in week two, falling to Virginia Tech (1–1, 1–0) 27–10. With the loss, the Eagles started the season 0–2 for the first time since 2011, putting Jeff Hafley on the hot seat.
BC’s lack of offense started on the first drive. After Pat Gareau’s third-down rush went for naught, quarterback Phil Jurkovec threw the ball into tight coverage on the second snap of the game. As Jurkovic raced down the right sideline for Jaden Williams and fired an Intending pass, the ball bounced off the hands of Virginia Tech’s Armani Chatman and intercepted the pass.
With the Hokies in prime scoring position after Jurkovec threw an interception, Virginia Tech turned to a running game by Connor Blumrick and Wells for a four-yard gain on two plays, but the offense went scoreless on a five-yard completion. Keshawn King.
On fourth-and-one, Jayden Woodbey made a costly mistake by planting his hands in the neutral zone and was called offside, giving the Hokies a first-and-goal. But after three more failed attempts in the red zone, the Hokies still couldn’t convert.
Then came the domino effect. With Phil’s interception and Woodbay’s error, the Eagles went into a down offensive drive. On fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, senior running back Jalen Holston dived into the end zone behind a stacked linebacker to put the Hokies up 7–0.
BC’s defense started to heat up from there. Despite a three-and-out on the next offensive drive for the Eagles, Bryce Steele returned to the field after recording a sack of Jurkovic and company on the defensive series. Steele put pressure on Wells as he rose through the middle, forcing it into the turf, but his effort was again unmatched.
Three drives later, Jurkovec was 2-for-6 for five yards and an interception. Even when he had a clean pocket, Jurkovec read his deep shots and the game looked tougher than it should have been. Zay Flowers, who broke 2,000 yards receiving at BC last week, had zero targets until the second quarter.
BC’s offensive line struggles continued from week one. The Hokies’ defense combined for five sacks and 10 total tackles in a loss against an inexperienced Eagles O-line.
Wells finished the game 16-of-25 for 140 yards and a touchdown. The Hokies have done a great job of “highway” to wide receiver Stephen Gosnell. On one play, Gosnell beat Eagles linebacker Elijah Jones in deep coverage as he struggled to pace the receiver.
In the third quarter, Jones was flat-footed in red zone coverage against Caleb Williams, who completed a touchdown pass to seal the game, 24–10.
