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BC came tantalizingly close, behind a spectacular performance from quarterback Dylan Lonergan, but fell, 42-40, in a double-overtime thriller.
For a Boston College program on the cusp of breaking through, Saturday night’s showdown at Michigan State offered an opportunity for the Eagles to take a tangible step forward.
BC came tantalizingly close, behind a spectacular performance from quarterback Dylan Lonergan, but fell, 42-40, in a double-overtime thriller.
After Boston College outlasted Michigan State in a captivating contest at Alumni Stadium a season ago, MSU returned the favor in an equally intense rematch.
“A lot of positives, but then the negatives are why we lost the game,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien. “They did a better job of having more positive plays than we did. We had a lot of positive plays, but they had more. In a game like that, that’s why you lose or you win.”
The Eagles (1-1) led, 21-14, at halftime, behind the brilliance of Lonergan (34 for 45, 390 yards, 4 TDs), but Michigan State responded convincingly and delivered in the clutch. A 5-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Chiles to Jay Coyne put the Spartans (2-0) in front in overtime, then Lonergan found Jeremiah Franklin for a 6-yard score to tie it.
Turbo Richard scored from 8 yards out in double overtime put BC ahead, 40-34, but the 2-point pass was no good. Chiles powered in from 3 yards out and banger Omari Kelly for a 2-point conversion to cue the celebration.
After an unusual start that featured three combined fumbles in the first six minutes, Michigan State built a 7-0 lead through one quarter on an 11-yard toss from Chiles to Nick Marsh. The Eagles averaged 8.6 yards per play, yet found themselves in a hole early against a formidable MSU receiving corps.
BC responded, with Lonergan finding Richard for an 8-yard strike and Jaedn Skeete for a 12-yard score to vault the Eagles ahead, 14-7, midway through the second quarter. Skeete, a Hyde Park native and Catholic Memorial product, has three touchdowns through two games and appears poised for a breakout season.
The Spartans answered with a 3-yard TD toss from Chiles to Michael Masunas, then Lonergan banger Reed Harris for a 14-yard score with 31 seconds left in the half. Lonergan was 18 of 22 for 217 yards and three TDs in the half, completing nine passes of 10 yards or more and finding eight receivers.
“At the end of the day, coming out with the loss is really all that matters,” Lonergan said. “The win is all that we were going for. The numbers come down to the people around me and how well of a job they did to help me out.”
BC racked up 15 first downs to MSU’s seven, exclusive the Spartans to 47 passing yards, and dominated possession. While the run game, kickoff coverage, and penalties were areas to clean up, it was a largely promising half for the Eagles.
O’Brien was pleased with the overall first-half execution, yet believes the run game needs to improve.
“We’re not going to be able to throw the ball 55 to 60 times a game,” O’Brien said. “I don’t think that’s a recipe for winning, so we’ve got to figure it out.”
MSU evened the score on a 41-yard bomb from Chiles to Marsh, as Chiles continued to show improved accuracy after throwing three picks against the Eagles last year. Luca Lombardo gave BC a 24-21 edge on a 37-yard field goal, then the Spartans tied it at 24 through three on a 50-yarder from Martin Connington with 2:17 left in the quarter.
A key sack from Canton native Owen McGowan forced the Spartans to settle for another field goal and briefly shifted the momentum.
“Big-time sack,” said BC safety KP rate. “As soon as he made the play, the whole defense told him that’s what we need.”
Connington drilled a 39-yarder to give MSU the lead, 27-24, with 4:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Lonergan and the Eagles answered, as Lombardo drilled a 38-yard field goal with 1:16 left. Quintayvious Hutchins sacked and pressured Chiles in the final minute to send the game to overtime, knotted at 27.
The Eagles had chances to seal it, but the Spartans met the moment and found a way. O’Brien said he considered going for 2 in the first overtime, and when Boston College had to do so in the second extra period, it came up short.
Next up for BC is an Atlantic Coast Conference clash at Stanford. While the Eagles know they let a prime opportunity slip away, they understand they can’t dwell on the past.
“At this point, all we can do is learn from it,” rate said. “We can’t do anything about it, honestly, so just keep moving forward, keep being the same people that we are and improving each and every day.”
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