BC's D making its points
Part of the focus of Boston College's regular-season finale against Maryland Saturday will be on redshirt freshman quarterback Dominique Davis, who will make his starting debut.
Linked to that performance will be whether the Eagles can win the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference, something that will be achieved with a victory.
But the key to the Eagles' success - as it has been all season - will be on how much of a burden the defense can take off the offense.
Case in point: The Eagles have scored nonoffensive touchdowns in six consecutive games. "I'd love it if [the defense] scored 28 points," said coach Jeff Jagodzinski yesterday.
Jagodzinski was only half-kidding. He is going into Saturday's game without starting quarterback Chris Crane, who will be sidelined six weeks with a fractured right collarbone.
Jagodzinski also knows his defense - particularly the secondary - will again be challenged by an offense with a decent quarterback (Chris Turner) and an NFL-type receiver in Darrius Heyward-Bey, who has 38 receptions for 561 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The BC defense, which has a nation-leading 23 interceptions, four returned for TDs, said they are ready for the challenge.
"We are coached not to be mediocre," said safety Marcellus Bowman. "We're coached to be the best, so when we make plays, we're happy, not surprised."
The defense has absorbed season-ending injuries to lineman Alex Albright and linebacker Brian Toal. It adjusted when cornerback DeLeon Gause went down with an ankle injury early and was replaced by freshman Donnie Fletcher.
Safety Paul Anderson, this year's winner of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship, given to the best senior defensive back, has a similar viewpoint to Bowman's. "There is always someone there to step in," he said. "I'm not surprised. I'm just proud, I guess."
Wes Davis, a sophomore safety who has returned to form after a head injury suffered against Georgia Tech last year sidelined him for the season, said it is simply a matter of players doing their jobs, filling the roles designated by the coaching staff. "Somebody has to pick up the slack," he said. "It happened to us last year and it happened this year with Albright and Toal."
The defense, like everyone else in the locker room, is taking the one-game-at-a-time attitude to new levels. "We're in a playoff mode," said Wes Davis. "It's in our hands and we just have to take care of business."
The business of the defense is interconnected. The line is anchored by B.J. Raji and Ron Brace; the linebackers are led by Mark Herzlich and Mike McLaughlin.
"They probably have the best defense in the conference," said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen.
The players shrug off the compliments, knowing how fragile their status can be. "We still have to win," said Bowman. "That's still the most difficult part."
Jagodzinski said sophomore Billy Flutie will back up Davis. "We've got a little statue out there right next to the big one," said Jagodzinski with a laugh, referring to the statue of Flutie's uncle, Doug . . . Flutie said the last time he took a snap at quarterback at BC was in the summer of his freshman season . . . Tickets still remain for Saturday, the seniors' final home game . . . If the Eagles win, they will face either Virginia Tech (if the Hokies defeat Virginia) or Georgia Tech (if the Hokies lose) in the ACC title game Dec. 6 in Tampa . . . Jagodzinski said center Matt Tennant will serve as the offensive captain, although Crane will come out for the ceremonial coin toss.
BC vs. Maryland
What: Final regular-season game
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill
TV, radio: Ch. 5, WEEI 