After a disappointing 25-23 loss to Central Florida last weekend, NC State
must regroup and face a talented Boston College squad fresh off a solid 38-28
victory over reigning ACC champ Wake Forest. Pack Pride breaks down the
Eagles
Overall Record: 1-0
Conference Record: 1-0
Boston College national statistical rankings:
Passing offense...3
Rushing offense...91
Total offense...31
Passing defense...110
Rushing defense...3
Total defense...69
Recap of last week’s game with Wake Forest from
CollegeFootballNews.com
Boston College 38 ... Wake Forest 28
Matt Ryan threw five touchdown passes
and DeJuan Tribble picked off three passes as Boston College survived a
firefight with Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons scored the first 14 points of the
game on a 22-yard interception return for a score from Alphonso Smith and a
five-yard touchdown catch from Kenneth Moore, and held a 21-14 lead after a
40-yard fumble return for a score from Chip Vaughn, and then BC caught fire
scoring 21 straight points on three Ryan touchdown passes. Wake pulled within
seven on a 12-yard Kevin Harris touchdown grab, but BC was finally able to pull
away in the final minutes on a 28-yard Steve Aponavicius field
goal.
Player of the game ... Boston College QB Matt Ryan went 32-of-52
for 408 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Stat Leaders: Wake
Forest- Passing: Riley Skinner, 28-37, 236 yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Rushing:
Kevin Harris, 4-10 Receiving: Kenny Moore, 15-126, 1 TD
Boston College
- Passing: Matt Ryan, 32-52, 408 yds, 5 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Andre Callender,
14-49 Receiving: Brandon Robinson, 9-127, 1 TD
Even without B.J. Raji on the
inside, BC showed the run defense is going to be among the best in the ACC after
holding Wake Forest to just two net yards. While the Eagle running game didn't
exactly take off, it didn't need to with Matt Ryan coming up with a fantastic
performance, spreading the ball around well and, for the most part, making great
decisions. Under the pressure of a surprisingly effective Demon Deacon passing
game, the secondary held up when it had to. It won't get pushed by NC State's
passing game next week, so it needs to use the game as a tune-up for the
showdown with Georgia Tech.
Notes From The Wake Forest Game
..The win extended the Eagles’ home win streak to 12 games.
..Senior quarterback Matt Ryan’s five touchdowns marked the first
five-or-more touchdown game for a BC quarterback since 9/22/84, when Doug Flutie threw six against North Carolina
in a 52-20 BC victory. Ryan is only the third player in BC history to complete at least five touchdowns
in a game. His five touchdowns increased his career total to 30. He moved up on Boston College’s career
touchdowns list to tie Shawn Halloran for fifth. He threw 408 yards on the day, setting a new career high.
He passed the 5,000-yard passing mark, the fifth BC quarterback to do so. He now has 5,212 total
passing yards in his career. His 408 yards ranks eighth on BC’s single-game all-time list.
..DeJuan Tribble’s three interceptions brings his career total to 14. Tribble
tied his career high and recordedhis second mul tiple-interception game. He also had three interceptions on
Nov. 23, 2006, in the 17-14 loss to Miami.
..Senior running back Andre Callender passed the 2,000-yard rushing mark,
moving up on the all-time rushing list to 13th, surpassing Mike Holovak, with 2,027 yards. Callender and senior
running back L.V.Whitworth are the first pair of Boston College 2,000-yard rushers to play at
the same time.
..Junior wide receiver Brandon Robinson set a new career single-game mark
with nine receptions. He recorded his second career 100-yard game. His third-quarter touchdown was the
third in his career.
..Sophomore wide receiver Justin Jarvis made his first career reception on a
23-yard pass from Matt Ryan.
..Redshirt freshman wide receiver Billy Flutie made his first career
reception on a nine-yard pass from Ryan.
..Sophomore wide receiver Clarence Megwa caught his first career touchdown on
a 22-yard pass from Ryan in the second quarter.
..Senior linebacker Tyronne Pruitt made his first career interception at the
end of the fourth quarter.
..Freshman Anthony Castonzo recorded his first career start at offensive
right tackle.
..Sophomore Matt Tennant recorded his first career start at center.
..Redshirt freshman James McCluskey recorded his first career start at
fullback.
..Junior Clif Ramsey recorded his first career start at right guard.
..Senior receiver Kevin Challenger’s first-quarter touchdown marked the
eighth of his collegiate career.
..Sophomore wide receiver Rich Gunnell recorded his first career touchdown on
a 38-yard pass from Ryan in the second quarter. It also marked his first multiple-touchdown
game.
Raji Status Still Unknown
The status of starting defensive tackle B.J. Raji is still unknown. BC
declared Raji ineligible to participate in
last Saturday’s game vs. Wake Forest due to an academics matter.
Boston College Depth Chart for NC State
Offense
WR 84 Kevin Challenger . . . . . . . . .5-8 . . . . . .180 . . . . .
.Sr.
82 Justin Jarvis . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 . . . . . .195 . . . . .
.So.
LT 77 Gosder Cherilus . . . . . . . . .6-7 . . . . . .319 . . . . .
.Sr.
66 Rich Lapham . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-8 . . . . . .324 . . . . .
.R-Fr.
LG 72 Ryan Poles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .290 . . . . .
.Sr.
78 Ty Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .290 . . . . .
.Sr.
C 65 Matt Tennant . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .285 . . . . .
.So.
61 Kevin Sheridan . . . . . . . . . . .6-3 . . . . . .284 . . . . .
.Sr.
RG 73 Clif Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-6 . . . . . .302 . . . . .
.Jr.
67 Tom Anevski . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .282 . . . . .
.Sr.
RT 74 Anthony Castonzo . . . . . . . .6-7 . . . . . .262 . . . . .
.Fr.
76 Pat Sheil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-6 . . . . . .283 . . . . .
.So.
TE 80 Ryan Purvis . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .258 . . . . .
.Jr.
89 Jon Loyte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 . . . . . .254 . . . . .
.Sr.
WR 2 Brandon Robinson . . . . . . .5-10 . . . . .194 . . . . . .Jr.
18 Rich Gunnell . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11 . . . . .206 . . . . .
.So.
QB 12 Matt Ryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 . . . . . .220 . . . . .
.Sr.
10 Chris Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .236 . . . . .
.Jr.
FB 36 James McCluskey . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .231 . . . . .
.R-Fr.
47 Brad Newman . . . . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .250 . . . . .
.Fr.
TB 32 Andre Callender . . . . . . . . .5-11 . . . . .204 . . . . .
.Sr.
30 L.V. Whitworth . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11 . . . . .219 . . . . .
.Sr.
Defense
LE 98 Alex Albright . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 . . . . . .235 . . . . .
.So.
86 Jim Ramella . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .247 . . . . .
.So.
LT 60 Ron Brace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-3 . . . . . .325 . . . . .
.Jr.
55 Damik Scafe . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-3 . . . . . .305 . . . . .
.R-Fr.
or 99 Jerry Willette . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 . . . . . .282 . . . . .
.Jr.
RT 97 Brady Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .284 . . . . .
.So.
91 Thomas Claiborne . . . . . . . . .6-3 . . . . . .330 . . . . .
.R-Fr.
RE 57 Nick Larkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .241 . . . . .
.Sr.
52 Austin Giles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-3 . . . . . .291 . . . . .
.So.
LB 48 Tyronne Pruitt . . . . . . . . . . .5-11 . . . . .226 . . . . .
.Sr.
7 Kevin Akins . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .220 . . . . .
.Jr.
LB 40 Jolonn Dunbar . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .238 . . . . .
.Sr.
34 Mike McLaughlin . . . . . . . . . .6-0 . . . . . .250 . . . . .
.So.
LB 94 Mark Herzlich . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4 . . . . . .238 . . . . .
.So.
53 Mike Morrissey . . . . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .210 . . . . .
.R-Fr.
SS 19 Paul Anderson . . . . . . . . . . .6-1 . . . . . .208 . . . . .
.Jr.
8 Marcellus Bowman . . . . . . . .6-2 . . . . . .214 . . . . . .So.
FS 44 Jamie Silva . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11 . . . . .210 . . . . .
.Sr.
45 Wes Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-1 . . . . . .215 . . . . .
.So.
CB 27 DeJuan Tribble . . . . . . . . . .5-9 . . . . . .190 . . . . .
.Sr.
21 Razzie Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-10 . . . . .186 . . . . .
.So.
CB 29 Taji Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9 . . . . . .189 . . . . .
.Sr.
20 Roderick Rollins . . . . . . . . . .6-0 . . . . . .178 . . . . .
.So.
BC Quick Facts
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chestnut Hill, MA
Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,500
Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1863
Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eagles
Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Maroon (202) & Gold (873)
President . . . . . . . . . . . .Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.
Athletics Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gene DeFilippo
Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Atlantic Coast
Stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alumni Stadium (44,500)
Football Staff
Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeff Jagodzinski
Asst. HC/O-Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Bicknell Jr.
Offensive Coord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Logan
Defensive Coord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Spaziani
Linebackers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill McGovern
D-Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeff Comissiong
Running Backs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ben Sirmans
Rec. Coord/D-Backs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Siravo
Boston College Notes
Scoring Streak
Boston College has not been held scoreless since a 17-0 loss to Virginia Tech
in 1998 - 116 games without
a shutout.
No Place Like Home
Boston College has won 12 consecutive home games, including a 30-10 win over
NC State in 2005. The
last time BC lost a home game was on September 17, 2005, 28-17 to Florida
State in the Eagles’ first-ever
game as members of the ACC.
17 Degrees
Boston College has 17 football players who will have earned their
undergraduate degrees as of August 31 -the most of any football program in the country.
Pass It On
After one week of college football, the Eagles rank third in the nation in
passing offense behind Hawaii and future opponent Bowling Green.
Matt’s The Man
Matt Ryan’s 408-yard, five-touchdown performance vs. Wake Forest was the
second-best in all of college football’s opening weekend, behind only Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, who threw six
touchdown passes.
BC Statistical Leaders
Rushing Net Avg/G TD Long
Callender 49 49.0 0 9
Brooks 18 18.0 0 9
Passing Cmp-Att-Int Pct. Yds TD
Ryan 32-52-2 61.5 408 5
Receiving No. Yds Avg. TD
Robinson 9 127 14.1 1
Challenger 5 59 11.8 1
Gunnell 4 54 13.5 2
Tackles Solo Asst Total
Silva 7 4 11
Herzlich 6 4 10
Dunbar 6 3 9
The Starting Line
A look at BC’s starters, position-by-position
Offense
WR Brandon Robinson...The junior had a career-best 9 catches for 127
yards and a touchdown last week vs. Wake Forest
T Gosder Cherilus...The talented lineman had 37 starts under his belt at
right tackle but makes the switch to the left side this season
LG Ryan Poles...Registered a spectacular block that led to a 38-yard Matt
Ryan touchdown throw vs. Wake Forest
C Matt Tennant...Kevin Sheridan started 10 games last season at this
spot, but Tennant is looking for his second career start
RG Clif Ramsey...The junior from Ohio for his first career start this
past weekend vs. Wake Forest
RT Anthony Castonzo...The first true freshman to start on the Eagles’
offensive line since Paul Zukauskus in 1997
TE Ryan Purvis...Had four catches for 50 yards in the season opener vs.
Wake Forest, including a 22-yarder
WR Kevin Challenger...BC’s leading receiver; looks to make his 14th
career start; missed spring practice after injuring his esophagus
QB Matt Ryan...ACC Preseason Player of the Year; had career-best day vs.
Wake, 32-52 for 408 yards and 5 touchdowns
FB James McCluskey...McCluskey looks for his second start; earned Boston
Globe and Herald All-Scholastic honors in high school
TB Andre Callender..Both he and Whitworth faced nagging injuries in
preseason camp; Callender gets the start for the second week
PK Steve Aponavicius...The former walk-on, known as "Sid Vicious", has
now earned a scholarship; gained 10 pounds in the off-season
Defense
LE Alex Albright...Albright and Mark Herzlich asserted themselves as true
freshmen last season; looks for his third start
LT Ron Brace...Brace played and started 11 games last season at defensive
tackle; has lost 10 pounds in the off-season
RT Brady Smith...Smith started at defensive end last season but was
called up to start at tackle in place of B.J. Raji
RE Nick Larkin...Has started 27 career games and 26 in a row; a leader
off the field as well, in the classroom and community
LB Tyronne Pruitt...The senior started 12 games last year; only missed
the Duke game (due to an injury)
LB Jolonn Dunbar...Team captain, along with Ryan, Cherilus and Larkin; on
the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list for 2007
LB Mark Herzlich...The true sophomore has put on 8 pounds since last
season; collegefootballnews.com freshman All-America team
SS Paul Anderson...The junior played in all 13 games last season and
started the first four at strong safety
FS Jamie Silva...Finished the 2006 season as the team’s career leader in
tackles with 185 (including 117 solos)
CB DeJuan Tribble...National Defensive Player of the Week after tying a
career high with three interceptions vs. Wake Forest
CB Taji Morris...The New Jersey native looks for a strong senior season
after missing several games due to injury last year
P Johnny Ayers...Starred at QB, free safety, punter and place-kicker in
high school and plays baseball for BC
Non-Starters To Watch
C Kevin Sheridan...Started 10 games last season at this position and
jockeyed for the spot in spring and preseason camp
RB A.J. Brooks...The speedy running back has played sparingly but
impressed coaches in preseason camp
RB Jeff Smith...played last year as a true freshman; at one point the
speedster led the nation in kickoff return yardage
Radio coverage at the stadium...680 AM