BC returning to top form

ACC goal alive after solid triumph over Florida State

Freshman Montel Harris ran with a chip on his shoulder as he battered Florida State (the team he rooted for growing up) for 121 yards. (Phil Coale/Associated Press)

Leave it to Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, with the wisdom of his 79 years and his 380 victories, to put the final spin on Boston College's 27-17 win over the Seminoles Saturday night.

"They deserved to win in every facet," said Bowden. "They deserve all the credit. [BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski] lost all those kids last year. I didn't think they'd be that good. But dadgumit he's really done a heck of a job."

The entire Eagles operation hit the ground running at Doak Campbell Stadium. The offense, defense, special teams, and coaching.

The Eagles, ranked No. 25 in the USA Today coaches poll, flew home early yesterday morning on a magic carpet and now their preseason goal is within reach. Victories at Wake Forest Saturday and at home against Maryland Nov. 29 will put the Eagles in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Tampa Dec. 6.

And while the task is daunting, nothing seems out of reach for the Eagles, whose precision Saturday night was so impressive, they even overcame a pair of drive-changing fumbles and a fake punt by Florida State in the second half.

"I'm really proud of our football team," said Jagodzinski, who now has a pair of résumé-enhancing road wins (including Clemson last season) since arriving at The Heights. "It was us against the world and that's the theme we took. That's the good part of being a coach, when you see a team fight like that. It was the first time the offensive line got a chance to take a game over."

But it was more than the offensive line. It was freshman running back Montel Harris, who ran with a chip on his shoulder for not being recruited by Florida State, a school he cheered for as a kid in Jacksonville, picking up 121 yards, including taking on the role of workhorse in a game-sealing, time-consuming final drive that culminated with a 30-yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius.

Jagodzinski understands the challenges still ahead. "We have another one on the road against a good Wake Forest team," he said. "But I want to enjoy this one first. We have to just keep getting better. That's all you can do."

The defense again came up with a sterling effort, picking off three passes, including a spectacular 87-yard return for a touchdown by safety Marcellus Bowman and an interception in the end zone by cornerback DeLeon Gause on a pass that could have tied the game in the fourth quarter.

It marked the fourth time this season the BC defense has scored a touchdown.

When asked how to rate the play of the unit, defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani was at a loss. "I couldn't rate them," said Spaziani, who was already planning for Wake Forest. "This is one of the more rewarding groups we've had. They don't get fazed by situations. They play with passion. They are just a great group that does what you ask them to do."

What the Eagles must do now is catch their breath and begin preparation for the next challenge - winning at Wake Forest.

"We came up big when we had to," said linebacker Mark Herzlich, who has been playing like an All-American the past several weeks. "Now we have to get ready for our next game."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.