Despite holding Boston College (3-7, 2-5 ACC) to 190 yards of total offense and just 10 first downs, N.C . State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) lost 14-10 Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Ma. With the defeat, the Wolfpack will now be forced to win its final two games of the season in order to qualify for a postseason bowl.
In a game largely void of explosive plays, the Eagles opened the scoring just 2:03 into the first quarter after a 41-yard hook up between Chase Rettig and Alex Amidon brought BC down inside State’s 10 yard-line. Two plays after the back shoulder bomb down the left sideline, Josh Bordner scampered into the end zone virtually untouched to cap off the five-play scoring drive.
Although the game began with fireworks, the rest of the afternoon painted a much different picture. Apart from Rettig’s long passing play on the first drive, Boston College only managed 77 yards through the air. The away team’s offense could empathize with a lack of production following a hopeful start.
Much like the Eagles, NCSU moved the ball well during its first possession. A steady, 14-play, 61-yard drive stalled out in the Boston College red zone before freshman placekicker Niklas Sade chipped in a 32-yard field goal. Redshirt junior quarterback Mike Glennon completed seven of his eight passes on the Pack’s opening drive.
BC’s second and final touchdown of the day came on a 59-yard scoring drive in the dying moments of the first half. Rettig notched his second touchdown pass of the day by finding wide receiver Colin Larmond breaking into the middle of the field on a seam route. The Eagles offensive production essentially ended on its second scoring drive, as Boston College could only generate two yards of total offense in the second half.
They wouldn’t need anything more.
State’s only other score of the afternoon came early in the third quarter when junior running back James Washington pushed his way over the goal line on a three-yard rush. The key play of the series came on a third-and-four play from the BC 38-yard line when Glennon hit Quinton Payton for a 32-yard pass play.
The Pack had two more opportunities to mount a comeback, but fell short inside the Boston College 30 yard-line on both occasions. The first came to a close after Glennon threw an interception in the end zone on a first-and-ten play on the Eagles’ 23, and the other was the final dagger for State – an incompletion tipped at the line that came on a fourth-and-five as the clock approached one minute remaining.
The Wolfpack now moves on to a homecoming contest again No. 7 Clemson (9-1, 6-1 ACC). Start time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m ., and the game will be televised regionally on ABC.
