Missed It cover art
Missed It

College football ยท Friday, September 11

Rutgers at Boston College

Read the Scarlet Knights side (the whole game, score included)

Rutgers at Boston College

This is Missed It. Rutgers at Boston College, Friday, September 11, 70 and clear at Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, MA), with the Scarlet Knights. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's Rutgers Scarlet Knights against Boston College Eagles, and we've got the ball first. The Scarlet Knights are on the road, looking to make a statement. We're oh and one on the season, and Boston College is one and oh. The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing, and our offense is taking the field to start this one. We need to come out sharp, we need to come out hungry, and we need to show these Eagles what Scarlet Knights football is all about.

Q1

We start with the ball, and we're moving. Five plays in, and we're at our own 34. It's fourth down, and we decide to go for it. Surace takes the snap, rushes up the middle, and he's stopped for no gain. Turnover on downs. We gave it right back to them, and the defense has to go to work. Boston College takes over, and they're driving. McKenzie drops back, throws short left to Green, caught at our 19, good for 8 yards and a first down. They're knocking on the door. Then Dickens takes the handoff, rushes right, and he's gone. 19 yards to the end zone. Touchdown, Boston College. They convert the extra point, and just like that, we're down 7 to 0. That one stings. We get the ball back, and we're trying to answer. Seven plays, but we can't get anything going. We turn it over, and Boston College has it again. They're not wasting any time. McKenzie drops back, throws deep middle to Wright, caught at our 15, a 53-yard gain down to our 13. Our guy Munn is down on the field, and that's a scary moment. But the play stands, and they're in business. Then McKenzie keeps it himself, rushes right for 10 yards, and he's in for the touchdown. Extra point is good. It's 14 to 0, and we're in trouble. We need a response. Six plays, but we can't sustain a drive, and we punt it away. Boston College takes over with about two and a half minutes left in the quarter. They're methodical, they're chewing up clock, and they're moving the ball. Twelve plays, and they drive all the way down to our end. They settle for a field goal as the quarter ends. It's 17 to 0, and we've got a mountain to climb.

Q2

We start the second quarter with the ball, down 17. Five plays, and we're punting again. This is not the start we needed. Boston College gets it back, but our defense finally stands up. Four plays, and they're punting right back. Now we've got a chance to build some momentum. We take over with about ten minutes left, and we start to move. Sixteen plays. We're grinding, we're fighting, we're keeping the chains moving. Surace drops back, throws short left to Duff, caught at the Boston College 20, 9 yards to the 18, and it's a first down. We're in the red zone. Then Surace drops back again, throws short middle to Raymond, caught at the goal line, 4 yards, and it's a touchdown. We're on the board. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's 17 to 7. We've got life. But Boston College gets the ball back with under two minutes left, and they're not done. They're driving, they're moving. With 15 seconds left, we get called for offside, a 5-yard penalty that gives them a first down. Then McKenzie throws short right to Green, caught at our 32, 8 yards, out of bounds at our 28. They're in field goal range. As time expires, Lombardo lines up and drills a 46-yard field goal. It's 20 to 7 at the half, and we've got work to do.

Halftime

So here we are at the break, down 20 to 7. The play that turned this half was that first touchdown, Dickens' 19-yard run right up the gut. We had stopped them on downs, we had a chance to set the tone, and then we gave it right back. That run opened the floodgates, and they never let up. But we showed something at the end of the half. That 16-play drive, that touchdown, that's who we are. We need to come out in the second half and keep that fight. We need to get a stop, we need to get a score, and we need to make this a game.

Q3

We start the second half on defense, and we get the stop we needed. Five plays, and Boston College is punting. Now we've got the ball, down 13, and we're moving. Eleven plays, we're driving, we're getting close. Then Surace drops back, and he's under pressure. He throws, and it's intercepted by Davis at the Boston College 15. He returns it 4 yards to the 19. Turnover. We had all the momentum, and we gave it right back. But our defense is not backing down. Boston College gets the ball, and on the third play, Dickens takes the handoff, rushes middle for 11 yards, and he fumbles. Jones forces it, Humes recovers at our 48. We've got the ball back, and we're in business. Seven plays. We're driving, we're fighting. Surace drops back, throws short left to Duff, caught at the Boston College 2, 4 yards, and it's a touchdown. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's 20 to 14. We're right back in this thing. Boston College gets the ball back, and on the second play, McKenzie drops back, and he's hit as he throws. Walker intercepts it at the Boston College 26, returns it 8 yards to the 18. We've got the ball, we're in the red zone, and we have a chance to take the lead. Four plays. We're knocking on the door. Then Surace tries to rush it in, and he's stopped for a 2-yard loss. Turnover on downs. We had them, and we let them off the hook. Boston College takes over, runs six plays, and punts. We've got the ball back with the quarter ending, down 20 to 14.

The Sequence

This is where the game is decided. We've got the ball, down 20 to 14, and we're driving. Surace drops back, throws deep right to Thevenin, and it's incomplete. Then Raymond takes the handoff, rushes right for 16 yards to the Boston College 38, and it's a first down. We're moving. Then Surace drops back again, and he's under pressure. He throws, and it's intercepted by Palano at the Boston College 10. He returns it 6 yards, but there's a flag. Illegal block in the back on Boston College, 8 yards. They'll start at their own 8. But we turned it over, and that's a killer. Boston College takes over, and they're pinned deep. But McKenzie drops back, throws deep right to Pough, caught at the 50, and he's gone. 78 yards for the touchdown. They go for two, and they get it. It's 28 to 14, and we're reeling. But we don't quit. We get the ball back, and Surace drops back, throws deep left to Duff, caught at the Boston College 16, 60 yards, and it's a touchdown. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's 28 to 21. We're right back in it. Boston College gets the ball, and our defense holds. Seven plays, and they turn it over. We've got the ball with under three minutes left, down 7. Six plays, and we turn it over. Boston College takes over, runs out the clock, and that's the game.

Wrap-up

Final score, Rutgers 21, Boston College 28. We fought, we clawed, we gave ourselves chances, but it wasn't enough. That 78-yard touchdown after our interception, that was the dagger. We had our chances, and we couldn't cash in. But this team doesn't quit. We'll be back.

By the Numbers

The Scarlet Knights by the numbers. Final score, Rutgers 21, Boston College 28. 384 yards of offense to their 402, 230 through the air and 154 on the ground. 19 first downs. 4 of 12 on third down. 4 turnovers for us, 3 for them. We held the ball for just under 35 minutes.

Outro

That was Rutgers at Boston College, from the Scarlet Knights side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Read the Eagles side (the whole game, score included)

Rutgers at Boston College

This is Missed It. Rutgers at Boston College, Friday, September 11, 70 and clear at Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, MA), with the Eagles. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

Alright Eagles fans, welcome in. It's Rutgers Scarlet Knights visiting Boston College Eagles, and Rutgers has the ball first. We're at zero-zero, the stands are filling up, and there's that electric buzz you only get on game day. The Scarlet Knights are looking to spoil our afternoon, but we've got other plans. Let's see what we're made of.

Q1

Rutgers starts with the ball, and they're trying to establish something early. They move it a little, but then they stall. Fourth down comes up quick, and they decide to go for it. Surace takes the snap, tries to run it up the middle, and Palano and Upton meet him right there. No gain. Turnover on downs. Our defense just said no, and the crowd erupts. That's how you start a game. Now we've got the ball, and we don't waste any time. McKenzie drops back, fires short left to Green, and he picks up eight yards to the Rutgers 19. First down. We're knocking on the door. Then Dickens takes the handoff, bounces it right, and he's gone. Nineteen yards to the end zone. Touchdown, Boston College. Lombardo adds the extra point, and just like that, it's seven-nothing Eagles. The place is rocking. Rutgers gets the ball back, and they try to answer. They move it a bit, but our defense holds firm, and Surace's pass finds the wrong hands. Turnover. We take over with momentum and we're not letting go. McKenzie drops back, scans the field, and lets it fly deep middle. Wright hauls it in at the Rutgers 15, a 53-yard strike that puts us right back in business. Munn goes down on the play, and you hate to see that, but the offense keeps rolling. McKenzie keeps it himself, rushes right, and he's in. Ten yards, touchdown. Lombardo's kick is good, and it's fourteen-nothing. We are rolling. Rutgers tries to steady themselves, but they can't get anything going. They punt it away, and we take over with a chance to put this thing away early. We grind it out, methodical, eating clock, moving the chains. We get down to field goal range, and Lombardo lines up. He drills it, and we head to the second quarter with a seventeen-point lead. This is exactly how we wanted to start.

Q2

Rutgers gets the ball to start the quarter, but they can't sustain anything. Punt. We get it back, but we can't move it either, and we give it right back. Then Rutgers starts to find something. They put together a long, grinding drive, chewing up the clock. Surace hits Duff short left, and he picks up nine to the Boston College 18. First down. They're knocking on the door now. Then Surace finds Raymond short middle, and he's in from four yards out. Touchdown, Rutgers. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's seventeen-seven. They're back in this thing. We get the ball back with under two minutes, and we need an answer. McKenzie starts moving us. Then Rutgers jumps offside, and we get a free five yards and a first down. McKenzie hits Green short right, and he gets eight yards out of bounds. We're in field goal range. Lombardo steps up and drills a 46-yarder as time expires. Seventeen becomes twenty. We take a twenty-seven lead into the locker room. That's how you answer.

Halftime

Alright, let's take a breath. Twenty-seven at the half, and we're feeling good. The play that turned this one was Dickens' 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. That broke the seal, got the crowd into it, and we never looked back. Rutgers fought back in the second, but we answered right before the break. We need to keep our foot on the gas. We can't let them hang around. We've got the lead, we've got the momentum, and we've got the crowd. Let's close this out.

Q3

We get the ball to start the half, but we can't get anything going. Punt. Rutgers takes over, and they're driving. They're moving the chains, eating clock, and they get into our territory. But then Surace drops back, and Davis steps in front of it. Interception at the Boston College 15. Upton got the pressure, and Davis makes the play. Huge turnover. We take over, and we're looking to add to the lead. But then it all goes wrong. Dickens takes the handoff, rushes middle, and he's got a head of steam. He picks up eleven yards, but the ball comes loose. Jones forces it, Humes recovers for Rutgers at the RU 48. Fumble. Just like that, the momentum shifts. Rutgers takes over, and they capitalize. Surace hits Duff short left, and he's in from four yards out. Touchdown, Rutgers. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's twenty-fourteen. They're within six, and the place goes quiet. We need an answer. But McKenzie drops back, and Walker steps in front of it. Interception at the Boston College 26, and he returns it to the Boston College 18. Rutgers is right there. But our defense stands tall. They get four plays, and on fourth down, Surace tries to run it, and Palano drops him for a two-yard loss. Turnover on downs. We take over, and we manage to punt it away, but the damage is done. It's a one-score game heading into the fourth.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. Rutgers has the ball, down six, and they're driving. Surace throws incomplete deep right, and then Raymond rips off a 16-yard run to the Boston College 38. First down. They're moving. But then Surace drops back again, and Palano steps in front of it. Interception at the Boston College 10. Price got the pressure, and Palano makes the play. He returns it six yards, but there's a flag. Illegal block in the back on Amedee, and we get pushed back to the Boston College 8. It doesn't matter. We've got the ball, and we've got a chance to put this thing away. McKenzie drops back, and he lets it fly deep right. Pough is streaking down the sideline, and he hauls it in at the 50. He's gone. Seventy-eight yards. Touchdown, Boston College. McKenzie finds Montague Jr. for the two-point conversion, and it's twenty-eight-fourteen. The place erupts. That's the dagger. But Rutgers isn't done. They get the ball back, and Surace hits Duff deep left. He catches it at the Boston College 16, and he's in. Sixty yards, touchdown. Pizzaro's kick is good, and it's twenty-eight-twenty-one. One-score game again, with over six minutes left. We get the ball, and we need to run the clock. But we can't hold onto it. Turnover. Rutgers gets it back with under three minutes, and they're driving for the tie. But our defense holds. They get six plays, and then Surace's pass is picked off. We take over with 1:34 left, and we run out the clock. That's the game.

Wrap-up

Final score: Rutgers 21, Boston College 28. We held on. We fought through the mistakes, the fumbles, the interceptions, and we found a way. That 78-yard strike from McKenzie to Pough was the play of the game, and our defense came up huge when it mattered most. It wasn't pretty, but it's a win. And that's all that matters. We're 1 to 0. Let's enjoy this one, Eagles. We earned it.

By the Numbers

The Eagles by the numbers. Final score, Boston College 28, Rutgers 21. 402 yards of offense to their 384, 252 through the air and 150 on the ground. 18 first downs. 4 of 12 on third down. 3 turnovers for us, 4 for them. We held the ball for just over 25 minutes.

Outro

That was Rutgers at Boston College, from the Eagles side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

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