A key touchdown pass by... Flutie
Billy plays big role on fake field goal
- |
Boston College pass by Flutie.
So it came to pass yesterday at Alumni Stadium in a game that brought BC one giant step closer to its first BCS appearance and first major bowl bid since 1984, when Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie led the Eagles to a victory in the Cotton Bowl.
With a victory over Maryland necessary to get the Eagles to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game next Saturday in Tampa, Doug's nephew, Billy Flutie, had a key role.
Playing the understudy as punter, wide receiver, and holder on field goal attempts, Billy Flutie had a shining moment in the third quarter. He executed perfectly on a fake field goal attempt, which turned into a 9-yard TD pass to backup sophomore tight end Jordon McMichael. A 14-7 lead turned into a much more comfortable 21-7 margin, and BC was on its way to a 28-14 victory, the ACC's Atlantic Division crown, and a spot in the title game against Virginia Tech.
"We had been practicing it all week," said Flutie, who hadn't completed a pass since his senior season at Natick High three years ago. "And so I was comfortable with it and it was successful."
Although Flutie had the option to check off, he said his mind-set from the get-go was to go for the fake. "That was the plan when I ran out there," he said.
As for throwing a key November TD pass - Doug threw the famous Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan to beat Miami, 47-45, the day after Thanksgiving in the Orange Bowl in '84 - Flutie said he does not hide from the rich Flutie-BC heritage. "I don't downgrade my last name," he said. "I am a Flutie and I take all the honor in my last name."
Bearing fruit?
After clinching the Atlantic Division for the second consecutive season, BC's bowl hopes became a bit clearer.
If the Eagles defeat Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, they will get a BCS bid to the Orange Bowl.
But even if the Eagles lose, as a participant in the ACC championship game, they must be placed in one of the following bowls: the Gator, Chick-fil-A, Champs, or Music City.
The overall ACC bowl picture started taking shape after yesterday's games. Virginia (5-7) was eliminated from bowl consideration with a 17-14 loss to Virginia Tech.
Virginia's loss also knocked Georgia Tech, which pulled off a surprising 45-42 victory over Georgia, out of the ACC title game.
North Carolina State's 38-28 win over Miami gave the
The ACC has 10 bowl-eligible teams and nine tie-ins to bowls, meaning that one of the 6-6 teams - Wake Forest or N.C. State - might be searching for a spot.
System malfunction
Among the many vagaries of the BCS system: BC was one spot behind Florida State in the rankings, even though the Eagles defeated the Seminoles, 27-17, in Tallahassee two weeks ago . . . BC finished the regular season with three shutouts, the school's most since 1992 . . . BC running back Montel Harris gained 116 yards yesterday and finished with 798, breaking Shelby Gamble's freshman mark of 776 set in 1979 . . . The Eagles have outscored the opposition, 73-20, in the third quarter . . . BC freshman running back Josh Haden went down in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury. He came out in the second half, still in uniform. Defensive tackle Ron Brace left early in the third quarter with a foot injury and did not return.
Kicking into gearBC kicker Steve Aponavicius, who did not attempt a field goal yesterday, has hit five straight and made 13 of 20 for the season, with all of the misses coming on the road . . . Representatives from the Champs Sports Bowl and Chick fil-A Bowl were in attendance . . . The Eagles held Maryland, which had been averaging 147.3 rushing yards, to minus-6 yards on 26 carries . . . BC's Paul Anderson wore No. 31 as the Jay McGillis Scholarship Award winner, given each year to the best senior defensive back . . . Most spectacular defensive play of the day: BC linebacker Mike McLaughlin, who hurdled a Maryland player en route to a first-half sack of Chris Turner.
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.
