Competition heats up at BC

Baked by yesterday's oppressive heat and humidity, the Boston College football team concluded its first day of two-a-day workouts in full pads with a long scrimmage last night at Alumni Stadium as the Eagles prepare for the Sept. 3 opener at Brigham Young.

''We looked a little sluggish," coach Tom O'Brien said. ''This morning was a little hot on them, so I think the heat maybe had something to do with it. But that's no excuse. I think we have to get it going. A little more enthusiasm would've suited me. As always, when we look at tape, we'll find good things and we'll find bad things. But, as I told the team, it's a start."

With the injured Andre Callender (groin) and A.J. Brooks (leg) watching from the bench, sophomore running back L.V. Whitworth of Milton seemed to gain a leg up in his bid for the starting job, rushing 10 times for 52 yards, including a long gain of 27 yards that set up a 42-yard touchdown pass from Quinton Porter (5 of 10, 71 yards) to Jason Lilly.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Ryan led all passers by completing 9 of 12 attempts for 110 yards and a 33-yard TD to Kevin Challenger (2 catches, 48 yards).

By getting the majority of the reps in practice, Whitworth seems to be putting more and more distance between himself and his competitors. ''I think it's a huge advantage, because he's out there practicing and playing," O'Brien said. ''I think he performed and showed a little bit of quickness. If you're out there playing and seeing things, you're getting better and he's certainly worked hard. Any practice time anyone else misses [who is] behind him, they're falling further behind."

Fresh start

BC's coaching staff took an extended look at its third-teamers, comprised mostly of true freshmen and redshirt freshmen.

''One of the things we wanted to do was to make sure we got everybody in," O'Brien said. ''It's probably the most we've scrimmaged the third group. We didn't scrimmage the 3s last year because we didn't have the bodies to do it. So, a lot of those freshmen, we gave them as many plays as the 1s and 2s get. We have to take a long, hard look at a lot of people at a lot of positions and that's what we wanted to accomplish tonight and I believe we did that."

One freshman who seemed to make a positive first impression was linebacker Mike McLaughlin, a 6-foot, 245-pounder from Woburn who had six tackles (three solo), a forced fumble, and a 6-yard interception return.

''He made some plays," O'Brien said. ''That's why we're doing this."

Goodwyn commits

BC picked up its 12th recruit yesterday when Natick wideout Reshaude Goodwyn verbally committed to the Eagles, becoming the third Bay State Leaguer to join the Eagles, along with Natick teammate Bill Flutie and Wellesley defensive tackle Thomas Claiborne, all present at the scrimmage. BC has 12 commitments in hand, the most it has had before the start of the football season, with eight recruits from New England . . . Sophomore defensive tackle B.J. Raji proved a disruptive force with three tackles, two for losses of 6 yards. Freshman Brady Smith and redshirt freshman Jerry Willette were credited with TFLs of 4 and 1 yards, respectively . . . Senior defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, sophomore linebacker Tyronne Pruitt, and freshman defensive end Jim Ramella were each credited with a sack . . . Senior cornerback Jazzmen Williams led the secondary with a pair of pass breakups.