Boston College Leads NC State 24-3 at Half With Big Day on Ground

The Boston College running game has combined for 240 yards with two touchdowns to give the Eagles a three-possession lead at the half.

Boston College put up 24 first-half points with determination out of their bye week to take a 24-3 lead into halftime. With a chance to end their two-game losing streak at home against NC State, their dual-threat backfield of running backs AJ Dillon and David Bailey surged for a combined over 240 rushing yards with two touchdowns by Bailey.

Dennis Groesel, in his first career start, went 4-12 for 70 yards with 51 of those yards credited to a single pass to tight end Hunter Long on a first half bomb.

The defense only gave up 3 points, facing three different passers for NC State in quarterbacks Devin Leary and Baily Hockman, and wide receiver Thaylor Thomas. It combined to hold the Wolfpack to 104 combined passing yards and one interception.

They’ve held the four-man NC State backfield to five total yards on the ground. The only Wolfpack points have come via kicker Christopher Dunn off a 30-yard first-half field goal.

A critical half for the Eagles’ season awaits after the break. They will need to preserve their halftime lead at home in order to keep their Bowl game aspirations alive. With a win they will go back over .500 and move up in the conference standings. A loss would put them under .500 for the first time since September of 2017.

Can Grosel lead the Boston College to a season-saving second half in his first career start?