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BC Notebook

Record is given the boot

An extra point in the third quarter made Steve Aponavicius (267 points) the leading scorer in program history. An extra point in the third quarter made Steve Aponavicius (267 points) the leading scorer in program history. (Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)
By Mark Blaudschun
Globe Staff / November 1, 2009

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He is now part of Boston College history. With 6:35 remaining in the third quarter of yesterday’s 31-10 win over Central Michigan, BC kicker Steve Aponavicius booted his third extra point of the day to become the leading scorer in school history.

Aponavicius finished with four extra points and an 18-yard field goal, giving him 267 points, breaking the record of 262 set by Brian Lowe from 1986-89. Lowe remains the leader in field goals with 57.

“I think it’s great. It’s a great story,’’ said coach Frank Spaziani.

It was an Aponavicius field goal against Navy in 2006 that gave BC a victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, and gave Spaziani, who was serving as interim coach after Tom O’Brien left for North Carolina State, his first win.

“It’s awesome,’’ said Aponavicius, a former walk-on who was awarded the game ball yesterday and has yet to miss a field goal or extra point this season. “It’s something during the year, I knew I had a chance at. It was really special and I’m glad I was able to do it.’’

Magic number
With yesterday’s victory, the Eagles improved to 6-3 and became bowl-eligible for the 11th consecutive season.

While the Eagles likely need at least one more victory to guarantee them one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s nine bowl slots, the odds of the Eagles playing in an 11th consecutive bowl game appear strong.

The main goal for the Eagles is the ACC championship and a BCS slot in the Orange Bowl. To even have a chance at that, BC will need some help down the stretch.

Time to think
With no game this week, the Eagles can take some time off and contemplate the Atlantic Division race.

Clemson, which routed Coastal Carolina, 49-3, yesterday, is the only team that controls its own fate in the division. If the Tigers win their final three conference games, against Florida State, North Carolina State, and Virginia, they will win the title no matter what BC and Wake Forest do, as Clemson beat both of those teams.

In order for BC to win the Atlantic Division title for the third straight season, the Eagles need to beat North Carolina at home, and Virginia and Maryland on the road, and Clemson must lose one game.

Okoroha suspended
Spaziani announced before the game that freshman safety Okechukwu Okoroha has been suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules . . . Middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin (leg) and offensive tackle Rich Lapham (shoulder) did not play . . . The Eagles will practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then resume preparations next Sunday for their game against Virginia Nov. 14 . . . Rich Gunnell finished with eight receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown . . . Ryan Quigley boomed five punts for an average of 47.2 yards, including a 61-yarder, and one that rolled dead at the Central Michigan 7 . . . BC is 3-0 all time vs. Central Michigan and 45-6 in nonconference games since 2000 . . . Senior defensive tackle Austin Giles tied a career high with six tackles . . . Freshman linebacker Luke Kuechly, who led the Eagles with 11 tackles, had the first interception return for a touchdown of his career (high school and college).

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.