Field Level Media
Sep 26, 2020
Aaron Boumerhi kicked a game-winning 36-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to lift Boston College to a 24-21 victory against Texas State in the Eagles' home opener at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Saturday.
Quarterback Phil Jurkovec helped the Eagles (2-0) overcome a 21-14 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Jurkovec was 26-for-38 for 210 yards with a touchdown and interception while rushing for a team-best 37 yards and two scores on eight carries.
Brady McBride passed for 229 yards with two touchdowns and an interception -- with both touchdowns to Marcell Barbee -- to help the Bobcats (1-3) keep things close.
BC tied the game on a 5-yard scoring pass from Jurkovec to Hunter Long with 1:11 to play, capping an eight-play, 48-yard drive that included a roughing-the-passer call that turned what would have been fourth-and-5 at the Texas State 16 into first-and-goal at the 8.
Texas State outgained BC 357-297 behind a varied rushing attack and an efficient game from McBride. McBride was expected to split snaps Saturday with Tyler Vitt, who started the previous two games under center with McBride in COVID-19 protocol. However, Vitt didn't travel with the team as he moved into COVID-19 protocol himself, according to a report from the Austin Statesman.
Texas State took a 21-7 lead on a 9-yard touchdown pass from McBride to Barbee with 6:49 to go in the third quarter. BC drew to within 21-14 on Jurkovec's second rushing touchdown of the game, this one from 3 yards out, with 12 seconds to go in the third.
BC advanced 47 yards on its opening possession, but the drive stalled when the Bobcats' Zion Childress blocked a 47-yard field-goal attempt off the foot of Boumerhi. The Bobcats then went 70 yards on nine plays, Calvin Hill scoring from a yard out for the first score of the game.
After a BC punt, Mike Palmer picked McBride off at the Eagles' 24-yard line and returned it 70 yards to the Texas State 6. Again, a penalty extended the brief drive as a pass interference call on Jarron Morris turned a fourth-and-goal from the 5 into a first-and-goal from the 2. Two plays later, Jurkovec ran it in from 2 yards out to tie it at 7-7 with 13:28 to go in the second quarter.
On the next drive, Eagles defensive back Jahmin Muse was ejected for targeting early in the second quarter for a hit on Drue Jackson following a 24-yard reception from McBride. Morris was ejected for targeting on a punt in the fourth quarter.
Hill rushed 12 times for 49 yards and a touchdown for Texas State. Long had nine receptions for 81 yards for BC.
Texas State has faced a Power 5 opponent in 10 consecutive seasons, but Saturday marked just the second matchup against an Atlantic Coast Conference school in program history.
--Field Level Media