Crane off and running
When he woke up yesterday morning, sophomore quarterback Chris Crane was not about to bemoan his fate. Crane knew his first career start for Boston College in yesterday's nonconference home game against the University at Buffalo would come in what he described as "monsoon-like conditions" that earned junior Matt Ryan a well-deserved day off.
And yet, the 6-foot-4-inch, 232-pounder from Mechanicsburg, Pa., retained a sunny disposition. Nothing could put a damper on it, especially after Crane led the 18th-ranked Eagles to a 41-0 shutout by passing for 142 yards and an 8-yard touchdown and rushing for scores of 4 and 8 yards.
"Just being able to get the start, I was excited," said Crane, whose previous experience was limited to mop-up duty in shutouts over Ball State (38-0) last year and Maine (22-0) Sept. 30. "But knowing that the weather was going to be a little bit difficult, I knew I had to be all that more prepared and ready to play. We were able to win and so I was happy about that."
His only blemish came when he overthrew Kevin Challenger and was intercepted by Buffalo defensive back Kendric Hawkins on the first play of BC's fifth possession.
"I think he did a great job considering the circumstances," said BC coach Tom O'Brien. "It's extremely hard to come in and play anyway, but to come in and play under those circumstances, where you can't hold onto the ball and have trouble throwing. He did a nice job managing the game."
The conditions caused Crane trouble from the outset as he fumbled a snap (that L.V. Whitworth recovered) on BC's third play from scrimmage. Crane followed with a 15-yard keeper to convert a third-and-13 for a first down at the Buffalo 22. On BC's next series, Crane dropped back, planted his feet, and lost the handle as he tried to toss the ball to wide-open fullback Mark Palmer in the flat.
Crane, though, recovered nicely from that bobble when he scooped up the ball and ran for a 4-yard touchdown, the first TD of his career. Officials ruled Crane had gone out of bounds at the 1, but replay officials overturned the call and ruled the BC quarterback had hit the pylon as he lunged for the end zone.
"First half, that rain was coming down and it was cold and the field was soaked and I thought Chris did a really good job of making plays with his feet," Ryan said. "Chris is a really good runner and he showed that today. He's a powerful runner and can run people over. I thought he did a really good job today."
Asked if Crane was a better runner than him, Ryan laughed and said, "Oh, much better. C'mon, didn't you watch? He's a much better runner, better than I am, and we're lucky to have him on our team."
Although it came in less-than-perfect conditions, Crane's first start no doubt bolstered his confidence to manage a game from start to finish, especially with BC set to make a stretch run of four conference games, beginning Saturday at Wake Forest.
"I think it helps immensely, because I hadn't started a game yet and I hadn't played for an extended period of time," Crane said. "With the monsoon-like conditions, if I could get it done, I'm pretty confident that when the weather's more adequate, I'll do just as well."
