Virginia Tech at Boston College: Game Central Rundown, Live Updates, Analysis
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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Boston College (2-1) football opens its ACC slate with a home game against the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles are riding a two-game win streak into the matchup. After suffering a 34-15 loss to Cincinnati in its season opener, Boston College has won its last two against Rutgers 28-21 and Maine 22-16.
As for the Hokies, Virginia Tech is undefeated on the season with victories over VMI 73-3, Old Dominion 44-21, and Maryland 35-26.
Virginia Tech at Boston College Scoring, Breakdown
Fourth Quarter
Final Score: Virginia Tech 21, Boston College 14
Two minute timeout comes ahead of a second and eight, Boston College at most will have 40 seconds if Virginia Tech run it twice.
Hokies leaning on Overton trying to put this one away, six yard run to open the drive followed by a two yard run on second down and just enough to move the chains on third and one. Eagles use their second timeout with 2:27 remaining, still have the two minute timeout as well. If Boston College force a punt, they'd have about a minute to drive for a tie.
Drive stalls out and Bill O'Brien opts to punt on 4th and 9 from the Boston College 39. Virginia Tech need to kill 3:25 to secure the win, Boston College have all three timeouts left.
Mason McKenzie trying to will Boston College to a comeback as he sets his career high with 138 rush yards after a 14 yard scramble.
Virginia Tech 21, Boston College 14: Jeffrey Overton races 76 yards on the first play of the drive to give the Hokies the lead. The one benifit of the quick touchdown conceded, Boston College have plenty of time to respond as they will start at the 25 with 4:58 remaining.
Boston College forced to punt back to Virginia Tech with 5:10 remaining, the 34 yard punt starts the Hokies at the 24 yard line.
After being backed up by a hold against MacCormack, Boston College gets bailed out after a scramble by McKenzie as Virginia Tech's Kaleb Spencer is flagged for targeting. The senior is ejected with 6:45 remaining in regulation, Boston College at their own 37.
Virginia Tech 14, Boston College 14: Virginia Tech's Marlion Jackson hauls in a 14 yard touchdown as Comella stumbled trying to keep up with him in the end zone. Jeffrey Overton Jr. walks into the end zone untouched to tie the game on the two point conversion. Boston College set to recieve the kick with just over eight minutes left.
Appeared Boston College were able to get off the field on fourth down but a defensive holding on Marcus Upton gifts a first down to the Hokies. Virginia Tech drive currently at the 30 with nine minutes left.
After review the call is overturned, no targeting bringing up third and five for Virginia Tech. Cunningham stays in the ballgame.
Ashton Cunningham flagged for targeting. Play is under review, if it stands he is ejected from the remainder of the contest.
Boston College 14, Virginia Tech 6: Boston College put together their most complete drive of the day. The drive spanned just over five minutes as the Eagles scored in 9 plays, with McKenzie being involved in all but one play as he carried the ball four times and completed four passes. He connected with Dawson Pough on a twenty yard pass to put the ball on the two before running it in on the following play. Still a one score game but the Hokies will need a touchdown and two point conversion in the final eleven minutes to pull level.
Third Quarter
Boston College able to get a fourth down stop to end a Kokies drive that reached the 34. Boston College have an oppurtunity to work the clock with 1:13 remaining in the third.
After recovering the field goal, Boston College go backwards before LaFollette sends the punt into the endzone. It was the fourth drive ending with negative yardage for Boston College and the sixth between the two teams.
Boston College with all the momentum as Max Tucker forces and recovers a fumble, returning it all the way to the 22 yard line. Chance for Boston College to add to a one point lead.
Boston College 7, Virginia Tech 6: Mason McKenzie looking more than ok as he immediately follows up the long scramble with a five yard TD on a designed run. Eagles lead for the first time today.
McKenzie returns after sitting out the mandatory one snap and on his first play back breaks off a 45 yard scramble down to the five. The run pushed McKenzie over 100 yards for the game and 2,000 in his collegiate career.
Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie slow to get up after a three yard run. Trainers checking on the redshirt junior's right shoulder after Javarius Green was drvien back into it trying to block on the perimeter.
Virginia Tech 6, Boston College 0: Boston College defense steps up to hold Virginia Tech to just a field goal. Eagles hanging around with 11:58 to go in the third period.
Sophomore defensive lineman Micah Amedee helped off the field after making a tackle to force third and goal from the two. He's the second defensive lineman to exit the game for Boston College.
Eagles lose ten yards on the first drive of the second half, forced to punt from their own 15. On the punt, Que'Sean Brown nearly housed it to make it a two score game but punter Bryce LaFollette was able to make a tackle at the six yard line to prevent the score.
Boston College will recieve the football to start the second half, trailing 3-0.
Second Quarter
Virginia Tech 3, Boston College Virginia Tech open the scoring with 16 seconds left in the first half as John Love puts through a 45 yarder with ease despite the rain.
Marcus Upton shaken up after making a tackle. Walked off under his own power but was immediatley ushered into medical tent. Upton is the starting saftey for Boston College, alongside Carter Davis.
Nine punts and two turnover on downs between the two teams, still scoreless as the Eagles take over in the final minutes of the first half.
Freshman defensive lineman Cameron McGee helped off the field midway through the second quarter. He was Boston College's starting defensive tackle.
Boston College get a fourth down stop just outside the red zone. Marcellous Hawkins Jr. tried to leap for the first down on fourth and short but was met by Charlie Comella. Eagles will look to open the scoring, both sides have had one long drive end on fourth.
First Quarter
As the first quarter ends, Boston College's drive approaches midfield before an illegal block by Bo MacCormack pushes the Eagles back 15. 3rd and 21 to start the second quarter at the Boston College 34.
Virginia Tech go backwards on the drive as Boston College record two tack for losses, including one from Antony Palano ranging towards the sideline. Totten once again pins Boston College inside the ten yard line. Hokies winning the battle for field position in a scoreless first quarter.
Boston College forced to punt after one first down, McKenzie was hit as he threw on third and ten from the Eagles' twelve yard line. He completed back to back passes, including a nine yard competion to move the sticks. Virginia take over in plus territory at the Boston College 46.
After the Boston College defense forces a second punt, Nathan Totten pins the Eagles back as his punt is downed at the two yard line. Boston College moved the ball well on the ground on the first drive, will need a positive play on the first snap to buy some breathing room.
Boston College keep Luca Lombardo off the field on 4th and 8 but turn it over after McKenzie is brought down a yard short of the first down marker. Would have been a 45 yard field goal with the wind at Lombardo's back. Drive was moving well before a pair of incompletions set up the fourth down, they were the first passes of the game for the Eagles.
Eagles offensive line is getting a push up front and being aided by perimeter blocking from wide recievers including Jonathan Montague Jr.
Mason McKenzie avoids disaster after a misscomunication on a handoff with running back Evan Dickens, falling on top of the fumble. The following play, he uses his legs for a 13 yard scramble to set up fourth and inches. McKenzie is going to need to drive the offense with his legs as the weather will limit downfield passing.
Three and out for Virginia Tech after back to back incompletions. Punt traveled just 28 yards as Boston College takeover near midfield.
Boston College kickoff to start the contest as Andy Quinn's kick finds the endzone for a touchback. Boston College needed a player to hold the kick, expect weather to play a signifigant factor as signifigant wind and rain is expected throughout the game.
Latest Injury News from Virginia Tech at Boston College
This section will be updated with the latest injury news as it becomes available.
Here is the final injury report before the game:
Virginia Tech at Boston College Game Information
Who: Boston College Eagles and Virginia Tech Hokies
When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon ET
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Weather: Rain and wind. 60 degrees.
Game Captains: Boston College: Mason McKenzie, Michael Crounse, Zeke Moore, KP Price, Anthony Palano. Virginia Tech: George Ballance, Tyson Flowers, Benji Gosnell, Ethan Grunkemeyer, John Love, Kaleb Spencer.
Series: Virginia Tech leads 22-11
Current streak: Virginia Tech won three
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2024, in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech won 42-21
How to Watch Virginia Tech at Boston College
TV: ACC Network
Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM
SiriusXM: 123
Keys to the Game: Virginia Tech at Boston College
- What does Boston College have to do to beat Virginia Tech? Boston College Eagles On SI's Tyler Crum breaks it down here.
- Check out what Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien said about his shotgun heavy offense earlier in the week.
- Boston College Eagles On SI's Graham Dietz scouted Virginia Tech earlier in the week. Give it a look ahead of the matchup.
Depth Chart: Virginia Tech at Boston College
Offense
QB: Mason McKenzie, Grayson Wilson, Femi Babalola
RB: Evan Dickens, Bo MacCormack III, Nolan Ray, Mekhi Dodd
WR: Johnathan Montague Jr., Reed Swanson or Landon Wright
WR: Javarius Green, Jackson Wade
WR: Dawson Pough, Jaedn Skeete, Nedrick Boldin Jr.
TE: Zeke Moore, Brady Clough or Danny Edgehille, Bryce Lewis
LT: Veguer “JuJu” Jean-Jumeau or Trevon Humphrey, Pape Abdoulaye Sy
LG: Robert Smith IV, Owen Snively
C: DJ Williams, Amir Johnson
RG: Judah Pruitt, Amir Johnson
RT: Kristian Phillips or Reggie Jackson
Defense
DE: Kris Jones, E’Lla Boykin, Israel Oladipupo
DT: Cameron McGee, KJ Sampson, Josiah Griffin, Gavin Neil
DT: Micah Amedee, Christian Hudson, Chuck Nnaeto
DE: Demetrius Ballard, Onye Nwosisi, Favor Bate, Demeterius Thompson
LB: Anthony Palano, Justin Medlock
LB: Zacari Thomas or Kemori Dixon, Griffin Collins
NB: KP Price, Charlie Comella, Cameron Martinez
CB: Ashton Cunningham or Syair Torrence, Njita Sinkala
CB: Charlie Comella or Max Tucker, Marcelous Townsend or Michael Mankaka
S: Marcus Upton, TJ Green
S: Carter Davis, Da’Jon Green or Kameron Howard
Special Teams
LS: Cooper Crook or John Owens
P: Bryce LaFollette, Andy Quinn
K: Luca Lombardo, Jonathan Hewitt
H: Bryce LaFollette
P Return: Cameron Martinez or Charlie Comella, Javarius Green
KO Return: T.J. Green or Bo MacCormack III or Johnathan Montague Jr.
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Kim Rankin is the lead writer for Boston College On SI. The 2020 graduate of the University of Alabama. She joined Alabama Crimson Tide On SI in February 2024 covering baseball, softball, football, men’s basketball, and more for BamaCentral, but has also contributed to Missouri Tigers On SI. She previously worked as the brand manager at Tide 100.9 FM in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She has covered a wide variety of events including SEC Championships, NCAA Regionals, and bowl games.
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Chris Vogel has spent the last five years in sports media; including as a play-by-play broadcaster for ACC Network Extra and Hockey East on ESPN. He’s a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and in his final year as a graduate student at Boston College, where he serves as the radio voice of Boston College Women’s Hockey on WZBC 90.3; the flagship radio network of Boston College Women’s Athletics. He’s the host of the “All Things Hockey” podcast, and cover women’s college hockey for College Hockey On SI.
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