Boston College vs. NC State Final: Eagles Tame Wolfpack With 30-14 Win

Boston College vs. NC State Final Score: On Saturday evening at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Boston College Eagles defeated the NC State Wolfpack, 30-14.

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With the win, Boston College improves to 4-2 (1-1) on the season, getting just their second win in Raleigh since joining the ACC in 2005. NC State falls to 4-3 (0-3); the Wolfpack have lost three in a row and are 0-11 in the conference under head coach Dave Doeren.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
Defense Optional

In the first five offensive possessions of the game, the team with the football scored a touchdown.

Boston College received the opening kickoff and went on an eight play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 10-yard run by Jonathan Hilliman to give the Eagles the lead.

Jacoby Brissett and NC State would answer with a 65-yard touchdown drive of their own; Alex Howell sent the squib kickoff out of bounds, and the Wolfpack scored following a 13-play drive.

Trading blows, Boston College answered the Pack, going 75 yards again, but this time in six plays as Tyler Murphy took it 47 yards to the house by himself.

Once more, the Eagles defense did not hold, with NC State converting several third downs to cap a 45-yard scoring drive. Ironically, it was Myles Willis who made a touchdown-saving tackle on the kickoff return.

The third Eagles touchdown came after yet another 75-yard drive, scored by Sherman Alston after a 24-yard reverse fooled the Wolfpack defense. Boston College took a 21-14 lead two and a half minutes into the second quarter.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
Defenses Reassert

Following this Eagles score, the defenses got back into control of the game and neither team would score again in the half. Boston College had a prime opportunity as halftime approached, but needless penalties, poor clock management, and an inaccurate field goal attempt kept the Eagles off the scoreboard.

Earlier in the game, BC’s defense had failed at blitzing, giving Brissett more than enough time to throw while creating greater exposures in the secondary. It was not until later in the second quarter that the pressure on Brissett began affecting the Wolfpack offense.

To start the third, just before a one-hour lightning delay, the blitzes paid off: Brissett got rid of the football under duress, and defensive end Brian Mihalik intercepted the pass, returning it to within the Wolfpack red zone. Mike Knoll would then make his first-career field goal to push BC ahead, 24-14.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
Quiet Second Half

Most of the game’s points were scored in the first five possessions of the game. North Carolina State was shut out across the second, third, and fourth quarters by the Boston College defense. The Eagles would ultimately sack Brissett four times, including the last offensive play he ran late in the fourth quarter.

Boston College scored the only nine points following halftime.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
The Stats

The Eagles outgained NC State, 411 to 217 yards. Boston College rushed for 310 yards as a team, despite the run game losing its first fumble of the season.

NC State rushed for only 43 yards in the contest.

Tyler Murphy was 12-for-19 with 101 yards passing and 132 yards rushing on 15 carries, with two touchdowns. Brissett was 14-for-30 passing for 174 yards, including a touchdown and interception.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
The Bottom Line

What was originally looking like it might be a track meet turned into a game with solid defense for the Eagles. Boston College’s offense resorted to a more creative approach that was missing against Colorado State, featuring some nice reverses and the Eagles taking advantage of porous pass defense by the Wolfpack. It was not always perfect (e.g. Josh Bordner dropping a walk-in touchdown pass before halftime) but they were more than good enough to win.

This victory is going to be very encouraging for Boston College, who are only two wins away from becoming bowl-eligible while demonstrating that they can make helpful adjustments. The offensive gameplan was much better and Don Brown and his players figured out ways to make their aggressive blitzing work.

The second half was mostly boring, but the game rarely felt in danger with the defense looking improved.

Boston College is back to being in good shape with regards to making a bowl this season, with winnable games against Wake Forest and Syracuse still ahead.

Boston College vs. NC State Final:
Next Game

The Eagles return to Alumni Stadium next week for a big ACC Atlantic game against the Clemson Tigers. The visitors look like they will be without Deshaun Watson, who broke his finger in their game against Louisville on Saturday.