Quotables and Notables: Clemson Game
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)Publisher
Boston College scored its fewest points in a Red Bandana Game since it was shut out, 14-0, against then-No. 9 Florida State in 2015, a season in which the Eagles went winless in ACC play and didn’t qualify for a bowl, despite having the top-ranked total defense in the FBS.
The Eagles aren’t anywhere close to having the best defense in the country this season, but the unit has been good enough to win games and, in the first half Saturday night against No. 5 Clemson, BC was on its A-game on that side of the ball.
Defensive coordinator Tem Lukabu’s group allowed 131 total yards and just one third-down conversion in the opening two quarters. Except, a poor special teams effort and a BC offense that could move the ball but not finish drives spoiled an impressive defensive performance.
The 31-3 loss doesn’t reflect how well the Eagles defended Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and Co. It does, however, reflect how beat up and rudimentary the Eagles are in the other two phases of the game right now.
QUOTABLES
BC was missing a horde of players this past weekend. The Eagles were down three running backs, including true freshman Alex Broome, who jolted BC's run game against Louisville. Plus, the Eagles were without Notre Dame grad transfer tight end George Takacs, who was second on the team with 17 receptions through five games. What's more, BC was banged up in the secondary, which was missing underclassmen cornerbacks CJ Burton and Jalen Cheek.The Eagles had to lean heavily on running backs Pat Garwo III and Xavier Coleman. Those two combined for 52 rushing yards on 22 carries. Tight end featured a committee of Eagles, most notably redshirt junior Spencer Witter and true freshman Jeremiah Franklin. At corner, true freshman Amari Jackson got the start.
But it's clear that BC—already seriously depleted on the offensive line—was hurting. After the game, head coach Jeff Hafley was asked if the Eagles' bye week came at the appropriate time. Here's what the third-year BC coach said:
"I think it's about a week too late," Hafley said. "We're really banged up, really banged up. And we're kind of hanging on by a thread at a lot of positions. So we need to get healthy. Very badly."
The injuries forced players to step up, and Jackson did just that. Before Saturday night, the Eagle's Landing product had played a total of 29 snaps this season. He nearly doubled that against Clemson, a top-five team and the ACC frontrunner. Jackson helped prevent a touchdown on the Tigers' opening drive and, later in the first half, disrupted another pass to Beaux Collins, this time jumping the route for the PBU. Graduate free safety Jason Maitre—who had to play nickel when Elijah Jones went down versus Clemson—praised the play of Jackson postgame.
"I told him after the game I'm proud of him," Maitre said. "He plays hard. He practices hard. He's gonna be a great player. He is a great player. And he played hard today."
Hafley was complimentary of defensive backs coach/associate head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and how he managed BC's secondary amid the injury chaos. Hafley also praised his defense in general for its performance. The only touchdown the Eagles allowed in the first half was the byproduct of great Clemson field position, made possible by a 20-yard Antonio Williams punt return that landed the Tigers on BC's 28-yard line.
"The defense was put in some tough positions," Hafley said. "I thought the defense played really well. And the score doesn't show that. So I get it. The defense played hard. They did. ... They kept us in the game."
A week removed from putting up 34 points in a win over Louisville, BC's offense took a significant step back versus Clemson. Granted, the Tigers have one of the best front sevens in college football, and the Eagles were ravaged with injuries on offense, but their inability to finish drives Saturday was the source of frustration. BC got to the Clemson 36-yard line or closer five times and ended up with three points. The Eagles were 1-of-3 on field goals: a 35-yard Connor Lytton attempt was wide, and his 39-yarder in the second half was blocked. Garwo discussed BC's offensive shortcomings postgame.
"We got to the red zone, I think five trips, and we just didn't execute," Garwo said. "So, at the end of the day, we just got to look internally and buck up when we come up on these next couple of games after our bye week. We gotta get better and just hone in on our stuff and take the next step."
BC had several chances to stake itself to a lead in the first half. Nickelback Josh DeBerry picked off Uiagalelei in the opening quarter to set up the Eagles on Clemson's 18-yard line. Because of Lytton's missed field goal, BC scored zero points off that Tigers turnover. Clemson punt returner Will Taylor muffed a pair of punts, both of which the Eagles could have recovered deep in Tigers territory. BC couldn't get to either of them. Hafley called those fumbles that the Eagles couldn't recover "game changers."
"We had opportunities," Hafley said. "We did, and we kept the game really tight in that first half. We could have took advantage of it more. And that's what I said to the guys. There were too many mistakes."
BC dropped to 4-5 in Red Bandana Games. But, regardless of the outcome, the honorary event always inspires. In part thanks to a well-traveling Clemson crowd, Alumni Stadium hosted 42,138 fans Saturday night. The primetime game was broadcast on ABC. And, for the ninth straight year, the story of Welles Crowther's 9/11 sacrifice was shared.
"From the time we walked in, to the "Eagle Walk", to the fans, the students—I appreciate it," Hafley said. "I wish we could have given you a fight for four quarters. But it was awesome. They were great."
Maitre added: "This game is bigger than anything more than anybody knows. It ain't just about the ... people see the jerseys and the red bandana, but people don't know what really is behind this game, and I think we really take it personal, and I appreciate the fans, appreciate BC for the whole week."
Now, BC finds itself at 2-4, including 1-3 in ACC play. The Eagles are 0-8 against AP-ranked opponents under Hafley and haven't beaten an AP-ranked opponent since 2014 (then-No. 9 USC). BC has a 24-game losing streak to such opponents. Wake Forest is currently in that category, and the Eagles will get the Demon Deacons after BC's bye week. Junior linebacker Kam Arnold emphasized that, with the bye, the Eagles need to hit the reset button.
"Just put the past six games behind us," Arnold said. "It's a new season. We've still got the whole season ahead of us, and I think we're a special team."
NOTABLES
— BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec was pressured on 27 of his 45 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Jurkovec finished 19-of-40 for 188 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.— The Eagles netted just 34 rushing yards on 30 attempts versus the Tigers. After BC achieved offensive balance against Louisville the previous week, its ground game woes reappeared.
— Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas recorded two sacks, and defensive tackle Tyler Davis posted three solo tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
— BC place kicker Connor Lytton is now 5-of-10 on field goals this season. He came into Saturday night 3-of-5 on kicks within 40 yards and missed two more: one from 35 and one from 39. His one make was from 30 yards out. Lytton was a preseason Lou Groza watch list honoree after converting 11-of-12 attempts last season.
— Eagles linebacker Kam Arnold registered a team-high eight total tackles. Six of those were solos, and one was a sack.
— BC's secondary played its heart out against Clemson. In addition to logging his first interception of the season, DeBerry logged five solo tackles and another PBU. Free safety Jason Maitre had a pair of TFLs, including a sack.
.— Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei ended up with 289 total yards (220 pass, 69 rush). He threw three touchdowns yet completed only 18-of-32 pass attempts.
— BC wide receiver Zay Flowers added eight receptions and 75 receiving yards to his 2022 totals. Flowers still leads the ACC with 42 catches, and his 93.5 receiving yards per game are tops in the league.
— The Eagles actually outgained Clemson in total yards, 168-131, in the first half. But, in the latter portion of play, BC recorded 86 yards of offense, and just two of the Eagles' drives ended in Clemson's half in the final two quarters.
