Boston College looks to cap off 2021 with bowl win
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (BVM) 鈥� Boston College has experienced an up-and-down 2021 season but the Eagles could put that all in the rear view mirror with the team鈥檚 upcoming matchup against East Carolina in the Military Bowl.
The chance to face an out-of-conference foe is a welcome sight for an Eagles team that had struggled within ACC play this season. After the back-to-back losses to close the campaign, Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley thinks the time off has allowed for his team to lock back in.
“The last two days have been probably our most competitive practices,” Hafley . “We’re getting ready for a game, and we kind of changed things around. We’re doing more good-on-good, and there’s been a ton of energy. I think our last two practices preparing for an opponent have been as good as we’ve had it, and maybe we’ll even make some changes like this going forward for next year.”
Boston College arrived in Washington, D.C. for the matchup on Wednesday and kicked off its practice at the site on Thursday. Freshman linebacker Bryce Steele echoed his coach鈥檚 enthusiasm about the team鈥檚 work since the end of the regular season.
“It’s been great,” Steele . “Just being out, being able to get back out on the field and be with my teammates, we love the game of football. So for any opportunity for me to get out there and play the game I love, it’s an amazing opportunity.”
As the team prepares for the Dec. 27 matchup, the Eagles will likely have to gameplan for the high-powered East Carolina offense. Led by Holton Ahlers, who鈥檚 thrown for 3,135 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, the Pirates are currently ranked 23rd in the country in passing yards.聽
The Eagles have had mixed results at the quarterback position throughout 2021, with most of it coming after redshirt junior quarterback Phil Jurkovec sustained an injury in the team鈥檚 Week 2 matchup against UMass. As Jurkovec has gotten back into the mix of things with his return in early November, the BC quarterback will now look to use the extra time off before this game to get back in a rhythm with the offense. After scoring just one touchdown in the team鈥檚 last game against Wake Forest, the offense as a whole will look to be sharper.
Along with East Carolina鈥檚 passing attack, freshman running back Keaton Mitchell ran for 1117 yards this season on only 174 carries. The lead back averaged 6.4 yards per carry and added nine touchdowns on the season. The Pirates also relied heavily on Tyler Snead who paced the receiving group with 854 yards and four touchdowns.
Boston College will be getting some help stopping East Carolina鈥檚 offensive attack after Hafley announced that junior defensive back Josh DeBerry would be returning after missing the prior two games. The addition should be a big one for the Eagles defense who have struggled in the two games DeBerry had missed, allowing six passing touchdowns between them.聽
A win over East Carolina would be Boston College鈥檚 first bowl win since 2016, following losses in its last two bowl games in 2017 and 2019. The victory would also be Hafley鈥檚 first bowl win as a head coach.
