Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Boston College
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Boston College
Courtesy: NC State
By Gary Hahn
NC STATE (1-2, 0-0) vs. No. 20 BOSTON COLLEGE (3-0, 1-0)
DATE: Saturday, September 23, 2006
TIME: Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,583)
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network: 7:00 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: espn2
OPPONENT?Boston College had to wait a few minutes before celebrating its second straight overtime victory at Alumni Stadium.
Matt Ryan threw a touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez on the first play of the second overtime period Saturday. Then the Eagles had to wait for a replay review to verify Jamie Silva?s game-ending interception before escaping with a 30-23 victory over BYU.
It was the second consecutive double-overtime game for Boston College and it was also a game where Ryan and BC kicker Ryan Ohliger atoned for mistakes. Ryan was picked off twice in regulation and Ohliger missed two extra points and a field goal.
In the first overtime, both teams missed field goals before Ryan?s touchdown pass and Ohliger?s PAT kick gave BC the lead.
Looking to send the game into a third OT, BYU drove to the 14 before Cougar?s quarterback John Beck threw a pass that was tipped by BC linebacker Robert Francois. Silva dove for the loose ball, trying to get his fingers under it before it made contact with the ground. The Eagles thought they?d won the game and began to celebrate.
However, officials ruled the pass incomplete and sent the BC players back to the bench. Following a replay delay of several minutes, referee Terry Leyden ruled that the pass was intercepted sending the Eagles into a full-blown celebration.
Beck completed 38-of-59 passes for 436 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice. The BC defense was on the field for 90 plays and gave up 547 yards.
Ryan was 29-for-48 for 356 yards and two touchdowns, but he opened the door for a BYU victory when Kelly Poppinga picked him off with 20 seconds left in regulation. Beck took advantage by throwing an 18-yard pass to Daniel Coats at the BC 34. That set up a 51-yard field goal attempt by Jared McLaughlin, but the kick was short and left with 8 seconds to play.
BC?s offense has been pretty impressive over the first three games, including four overtime periods. The Eagles lead the ACC in total offense. They?re averaging 400 yards and 31.7 points, but only 103 rushing yards a game. They throw nearly 59 percent of the time and have allowed only 2 sacks.
On third down, BC is converting 42 percent of its opportunities, third best in the ACC behind Clemson and North Carolina.
As usual, BC is big up front. The Eagles starting offensive line averages 306 pounds and is anchored by three, third-year starters in redshirt senior tackle James Marten (6-7, 307), redshirt junior tackle Gosder Cherilus (6-7, 318) and redshirt senior guard Josh Beekman (6-1, 321).
Ryan, this week?s ACC Offensive Back of the Week and total offense leader, has completed 62 percent of his passes for 6 touchdowns and 297 yards a game with only two interceptions. His favorite receivers are redshirt junior Kevin Challenger (16 catches, 2 TDs), Gonzalez, a redshirt senior (15 catches, 3 TDs) and Robinson, a redshirt sophomore (10 catches). Reserve tight end, Ryan Purvis, is another option and averages 14 yards a catch.
Two veterans anchor the runningback position. L.V. Whitworth (5-11, 216) leads the team with 191 rushing yards (4.4 ypc.) and a touchdown while Andre Callender (5-11, 204) is next with 136 yards (4.1 ypc.). The two redshirt juniors are also good pass receivers, combining for 17 catches.
Defensively, Boston College is allowing more points (26.7) and yards (464) per game than head coach Tom O?Brien would like. The Eagles surrender an average of 341 yards passing a game, but opponents have thrown for only 4 touchdowns.
Second-year starters, B.J Raji (6-1, 340, Jr.) and redshirt junior end Nick Larkin (6-4, 250) anchor the BC front four. Larkin averages nearly 6 stops a game and is tied for the team lead with 4 tackles for loss.
Middle linebacker Jolonn Dunbar (6-0, 233) is the team?s leading tackler. The redshirt junior is averaging 8.3 stops a game in his first year as a starter. Redshirt junior Tyronne Pruitt (5-11, 220) is also a first-year starter at outside linebacker.
The other outside linebacker, Brian Toal, a third-year starter, is the leader of the defense. The junior has been hampered lately with a shoulder injury, but is one of the best defenders in the ACC. He also plays fullback in short-yardage situations and has 8 career touchdowns, including two this season. Due to Toal?s shoulder injury, Francois? playing time has increased and he?s made the most of it with 21 tackles.
In the secondary, there is experience at safety. Both Silva (5-11, 208) and DeJuan Tribble (5-9, 190) are redshirt juniors and second-year starters. Both have recorded an interception this season and Tribble has broken up a team-leading five passes. Silva is the team?s No.2 tackler. The corners, Paul Anderson (6-1, 210, So) and redshirt senior Larry Anam (5-11, 196) are first year starters.
The Eagles have one of the most exciting kick returners in the ACC in Jeff Smith. The true freshman recorded 213 yards against Clemson, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He?s averaging 36.3 yards a return which is No. 3 nationally. Tribble is the BC punt returner (4.3) and also returns kicks (21.3).
Long snapper Jack Geiser is a true freshman, but punter Johnny Ayers and Ohliger are veterans. Ayers is a steady, third-year starter who is averaging 39.9 yards a punt. Ohliger has been inconsistent during his career, but has made 4-of-7 field goal attempts this season with a long of 44-yards.
NOTES: Saturday?s game will mark only the second meeting between the Wolfpack and Eagles. BC won 30-10 at Chestnut Hill last season and held State?s Andre Brown and Tony Baker to a combined 30-yards rushing...BC is averaging nearly 300 passing yards a game, the best mark in the ACC...NC State is the only ACC team not to allow a touchdown pass this season...The Wolfpack is No.2 in the ACC in sacks with 9...Chuck Amato is 3-3 in ACC openers, but the Pack has dropped two of the last three...State is last in the ACC in turnover margin (-7) and has lost the football an ACC-leading 10 times...Opponents have scored 27 points off Wolfpack turnovers, accounting for 40.3 percent of the total points allowed by NC State this season...Andre Brown needs 150 rushing yards for 1,000 in his career...The Pack was flagged for 10 penalties for 82 yards last week in the loss at Southern Miss...The Golden Eagles ran for 261 yards marking only the fourth time in the last 10 games that an opponent rushed for more than 100 yards against the NC State defense...Wolfpack kicker, John Deraney, has never missed an extra point kick in his college career (69-69) and drilled a career-long 54 yard field goal at Southern Miss... Wolfpack linebacker, Pat Lowry, is averaging 9.7 tackles a game, second in the ACC...Defensive end, Raymond Brooks, is No.2 in the ACC in tackles for loss (5)...In 10 of the Pack?s 14 home losses under Chuck Amato, the score was decided by single digits...BC quarterback, Matt Ryan, leads the ACC in total offense (290 ypg.)...Redshirt sophomore Daniel Evans will start his first college game at quarterback for the Wolfpack. He was 11-8-1 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown at Southern Miss in relief of Marcus Stone.
INJURIES--NC State: C Luke Lathan-Questionable, concussion; CB A.J. Davis-Questionable, hamstring; WR Darrell Blackman, Doubtful, MCL sprain. Boston College ?DT Ron Brace-Probable, concussion; LB Brian Toal, Questionable, shoulder
