Boston College’s season opener looked a lot like the story Eagles fans know too well.
A roster with a new feel and a fresh coaching staff still ended up with an old result Saturday, as BC fell 34-15 at Cincinnati. The Eagles were undone by turnovers, missed chances and a defense that wore down as the afternoon went on, turning what started as a competitive game into something far more familiar for a team coming off a 2-10 season.
“The whole thing’s on me,” said coach Bill O’Brien. “We have to coach a lot better.”
BC’s defense gave the Eagles a chance early. Defensive tackle Christian Hudson, linebacker Anthony Palano and safety KP Price all helped make things uncomfortable for Cincinnati quarterback JC French IV, and the Bearcats could only manage a 3-0 lead after one quarter thanks to Stephen Rusnak’s 54-yard field goal with 8:27 left in the period.
The first real momentum swing came on a Cincinnati fake punt, which set up a 4-yard JV Gibson touchdown catch with 7:48 left in the first half to make it 10-0. Boston College, meanwhile, opened cautiously on offense, with Saginaw Valley State transfer quarterback Mason McKenzie leaning on his legs more than his arm.
BC finally stirred late in the half, and it briefly looked like the Eagles had found the end zone on a Danny Edgehille catch, fumble and recovery. The officials ruled it an incomplete pass instead.
“I definitely thought it was a touchdown,” said BC linebacker Bodie Kahoun. “Obviously, that would have changed the whole game.”
The missed opportunity got bigger when Luca Lombardo, who was 16 for 17 on field goals last year, pushed a 35-yard attempt wide in the final seconds of the half. The Eagles went to the locker room still within reach, but the game changed quickly after that.
Cincinnati took control in the third quarter as Boston College slid back into the same problems that haunted it a year ago: penalties, turnovers and too many chunk plays allowed on defense. French broke the game open with back-to-back 4-yard touchdown runs, stretching the lead to 24-0 with 5:24 left in the quarter.
The Eagles then caught another break when starting center Michael Crounse left with an injury on the next drive, leading to a high snap from backup DJ Williams. McKenzie recovered and turned it into BC’s first touchdown, handing off to Evan Dickens for a 4-yard score with 2:01 left in the third. McKenzie then added a 2-point run to trim the margin to 24-8.
McKenzie finished 18-for-35 for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he also ran 20 times for 78 yards. His best traits showed up in bursts.
“I feel terrible for him today,” O’Brien said. “He gave us everything.”
Dickens gave the offense some needed steadiness after that. The Liberty transfer, who finished third in the nation with 121.7 rushing yards per game last season, was one of the brighter spots for BC. Javarius Green also chipped in with six catches for 74 yards.
Boston College had chances to make it interesting. The Eagles moved the ball well enough to get deep into Cincinnati territory, including a stretch fueled by promising runs from Bo MacCormack III, but they couldn’t finish. After another defensive stop, BC then failed on fourth down in its own territory with 5:59 remaining.
Rusnak’s 44-yard field goal with five minutes left made it 27-8, and MJ Cannon later intercepted McKenzie before French added a 1-yard touchdown run to close out Cincinnati’s decisive performance. The Bearcats averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
McKenzie connected with Johnathan Montague Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown late, but by then the outcome was long settled.
“We have to have a short memory, fix the mistakes, and look to next week,” Dickens said.
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