Title hope on the line

Center Tennant steadies offense

It was another defining moment in a Boston College football season that suddenly seemed to have a succession of them.

Two weeks ago, in the final four minutes against Wake Forest - a game BC needed to win to keep alive the dream of winning the ACC Atlantic Division - the Eagles found themselves trailing, 21-17, and being led by a redshirt freshman quarterback who by his own admission was overwhelmed by his unexpected entrance into the game.

Dominique Davis, filling in when starter Chris Crane fractured his collarbone midway through the second quarter, would find his voice and his confidence in a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive that gave the Eagles a 24-21 victory. But it was the offensive line, particularly center Matt Tennant, that provided the spark with a simple message: Let's win this one for the defense.

"I don't remember saying that exactly," said Tennant with a laugh yesterday as he enjoyed his last day off before the push toward the ultimate goal of winning the ACC title begins. "But the idea we had was to make it as simple as possible for Dominique. I said to the other offensive linemen, 'We need to do a job here and protect him.' "

Preserve and protect has become a mantra for the offensive line, which started the season with some doubters.

A school that had picked up the nickname "Offensive Line U" because of a propensity for sending offensive linemen to the NFL, had issues in that area. The anchor of 2007, left tackle Gosder Cherilus, had moved to the NFL. Sophomore Anthony Castonzo had been switched from right tackle to left tackle, and starters such as Clif Ramsey, Thomas Claiborne, and Rich Lapham were working in new roles as well.

Tennant, the 6-foot-4-inch, 294-pound junior out of Cincinnati's famous Moeller High, was an obvious anchor, having started all 14 games at center as a sophomore.

But unlike last year, when star quarterback Matt Ryan was clearly in the lead role, this year's team had more of a blue-collar feel to it.

The running backs were young and untested. Crane, although a fifth-year senior, had played in only a handful of games. And the offensive line was adjusting to new parts.

"Last year, we didn't play as big a role," said Tennant. "It was all on Matt's shoulders. This year it's much more balanced. We have the ability to take over a game."

BC has done that. In a must-win against Florida State, the Eagles grinded their way to a 67-yard, 16-play drive that consumed 8:55 of the final quarter and ended with a much-needed insurance 30-yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius for a 27-17 victory.

In the Wake Forest game, the line gave Davis the time he needed to put together the game-winning drive, and in Saturday's 28-21 win over Maryland, they put their heads down and provided room in the fourth quarter for freshman Montel Harris to make 10 consecutive rushes and move the Eagles out of their own red zone in a drive that gobbled up five minutes.

"Over the winter, we got challenged when some people were saying we weren't tough enough," said Tennant. "We talked about that and spent a lot of time together in the spring and the summer."'

The Eagles have played 12 games and done their jobs better than most people expected. But there is no satisfaction yet.

"Our goal has not changed," said Tennant. "To win the championship."

Honor roll

Four BC offensive linemen earned All-ACC recognition yesterday. Guard Ramsey was a first-team choice, tackle Castonzo a second-teamer, while Tennant and Claiborne earned honorable mention. Linebacker Mark Herzlich and defensive tackle B.J. Raji were also first-team choices, while tight end Ryan Purvis and defensive tackle Ron Brace were second-team picks. Also earning honorable mention was safety Paul Anderson . . . Linebacker Robert Francois and backup quarterback/holder Billy Flutie were named ACC Defensive Back and Special Teams Player of the Week. Francois had 10 tackles, one sack, and a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown against Maryland, while Flutie threw the first touchdown pass of his career, on a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter.

Weekly planner

The Eagles watched film Sunday, had yesterday off, and will practice today, tomorrow, and Thursday before flying to the ACC title game site in Tampa Thursday . . . ACC Coach of the Year will be announced today; BC's Jeff Jagodzinski and first-year Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson are expected to receive the most votes.

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