Birmingham Bowl: Open Thread And Live Blog

It's bowl time for the Boston College Eagles as they head to the Iron Bowl to face off with the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Birmingham Bowl.

Gametime: 3:00 pm

Television: ESPN

Listen: BC Learfield IMG Sports Network

Spread: Cincinnati (-7.5)

Weather: Showers, chance of thunderstorm, high of 55

Good afternoon from a dreary and rainy Legion Field, where Cincinnati and Boston College are set to play in the TicketSmarter @Birmingham_Bowl at 2pm. pic.twitter.com/UFuh11r8kB
— Kyle Parmley 🥎 (@KyleParmley) January 2, 2020

Boston College Depth Chart

Fourth Quarter

Ridder is now out of the game.

Desmond Ridder has been unstoppable on the ground, on 4th and 2 he easily scoots for a first. Have to be impressed with his play, especially on the ground. Two plays later Ridder scrambles out on the option and makes it look easy on a long touchdown run 31-6 Cincy

Third Quarter

Cincy moves down the field but has the field goal blocked by Mike Palmer, Brandon Sebastian returns it for a touchdown! Grosel tries for the two point conversion on a pass to Ben Glines but fails. 24-6 Cincy

Cincinnati starts the quarter off by marching all the way down the field in a, and scores on a Desmond Ridder touchdown. 24-0 Cincy.

Second Quarter

Nolan Borgersen is back? That's odd, they took away his helmet after a concussion scare. Don't see that often.

After an offsides call against TJ Rayam, Desmond Ridder runs in easily, BC's defense can't make a stop. 17-0 Cincy.

Ethan Tucky comes in and knocks the ball out of Grosel's hand, originally called an incompletion but after review it was called a fumble. David Bailey had every opportunity to recover that but he gave up on the play. Cincy with great field position.

BC's poor rushing defense has really started to emerge as the Bearcats are running all over the Eagles. Michael Warren II looks physical pushing around the Eagles and breaking tackles, and Ridder is moving the ball nicely with some passes mixed in. On a huge 3rd and 12 deep in BC territory, Ridder runs it for 22 yards, but the Bearcats stall in the red zone on a nice sack by freshman Mike Ciaffoni. 10- 0 Bearcats.

Aaron Boumerhi has kick blocked from 40 yard line. Looked like Cincinnati was offsides but no flag called, Richie Gunnell does not look very happy about the noncall.

Nolan Borgersen is out for the rest of the game after going into concussion protocol.

First Quarter... Again

Travis Levy with a strong kickoff return, brings the ball to about the 40. Dennis Grosel throws a dime to Hunter Long for a 41 yard gain. Quarter ends on an awkward throw to Danny Dalton, third down on the Cincy 20.

Cincinnati really starts to rely on the power running of Michael Warren, along with some short passes and designed runs from Desmond Ridder. Ridder runs it in on a 13 yard run, 10 play 79 yard drive for the Bearcats. Boston College's defense struggling again like it has so many times this year. Cincinnati 7 Boston College 0

Safety Mehdi El Attrach goes down with an injury, looks like a lower leg or ankle.

David Bailey comes out with a nice 11 yard run after play resumes. Quickly grabs another first down before drive stalls and the Eagles have to punt.

Lightning Delay:

Play will resume at 4:55 ET. Halftime has been reduced to ten minutes

Been delayed for almost an hour now.

The Boston College band returned to the stands and then left again. https://t.co/xtxt0OK89E
— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) January 2, 2020

1st Quarter

Lightning strike, game is delayed. Won't be able to start again for at least a half hour.

Both teams are not doing much on offense, so far the highlight has been a wildcat formation with Ben Glines at quarterback. BC's defense has been stout so far, limiting Cincy through the first quarter.

Loads of injuries today, Max Richardson is out with a hamstring injury, John Phillips is questionable and Josh DeBerry is out.

Pregame: Field has to be cleared due to lightning in the area. No, this isn't a joke.

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Join us as we live-blog and discuss the Boston College Eagles and the Cincinnati Bearcats here in our Gameday Open Thread, Birmingham Bowl Edition.

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