Four things BC football needs to address to get the season back on track

University sports

By Trevor Hass, The Boston Globe

October 31, 2024 | 12:57 PM

In late September, Boston College football found itself at 4-1, fresh off two comeback wins and hoping to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

A month later, the Eagles are 4-4, 1-3 in the ACC and in danger of collapsing completely.

To say that October was rude to BC would be an understatement. Road losses to Virginia and Virginia Tech exposed the Eagles’ weaknesses. A collapse against Louisville – in which they blew a 20-0 lead – puts them in danger of losing everything they’ve built.

The Eagles, who host Syracuse on Nov. 9 after this bye week, still have a chance to become bowl eligible. To do this, they will have to break some bad habits.

“Extra practice is always great, for whoever you’re preparing for,” quarterback Thomas Castellanos said. “It will be good to reflect and learn, keep learning and hit the ground running. This has passed us by now.”

Here are four things that need to happen for BC to save its season.

1. Start at the end.

One starting point is improving how games end.

Through five plays, BC has outscored its opponents, 35-6, in the fourth quarter. In the next three games, the opponents outscored BC 46-0. Yes, 46-0.

“It’s the same thing that happens over and over again,” Castellanos said. “We have to find a way to finish.”

Virginia outscored BC, 18-0, to turn the tide. Virginia Tech crushed a BC comeback attempt with a 14-0 fourth quarter. Then Louisville, which trailed 27-10 midway through the third, scored 14 in the fourth to steal one back at Alumni Stadium.

“We’re off to a really hot start,” Cameron Martinez said. “I think we can beat anyone in the country. We just have to put it together for four quarters.”

2. Why does it happen?

Against the Cavaliers and Hokies, turnovers burned the Eagles in crunch times.

Last Friday against the Cardinals, BC handled the ball but was inconsistent in moving it in the fourth. The Eagles went three-and-out on their first three drives of the quarter. They breathed powerful life into Louisville’s offense, time and time again.

“I think we’re struggling to find our identity in the second half,” Martinez said.

Let’s take a look at the playback distribution on those units. The first had two punts, then Castellanos was sacked for a loss of 7. On the next, after a Louisville touchdown, Castellanos rushed for second-and-2, then a rush for no gain and an incompletion forced a another goal.

That set up another Louisville score, giving the Cardinals the lead with 7:12 left, setting up a three-run BC drive. BC has only thrown the ball once in nine games.

“I don’t think that was really what they did,” Castellanos said. “I think we were more us. I started quickly. We just couldn’t sustain it for 60 minutes.”

3. Must improve on special teams.

Each of those three and outs resulted in a goal. Ivan Zivenko’s first down went 24 yards and sailed out of bounds at the BC 42. His next punt was a little better at 30 yards and also went out of bounds.

The final boot, from Sam Candotti, was a respectable 45 yards, but by then the damage was done.

The Eagles are last in the ACC in yards per punt at 37.1. Zivenko, Candotti, Sam Stone and Liam Connor tried, but all four averaged 38 yards or less. The Eagles put significant time into practice, but it didn’t pay dividends in the game.

“We have to look better,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I don’t know. We don’t train him well enough.”

BC has only attempted one field goal this season. No other team in the conference attempted fewer than 11. Connor missed an extra point that proved costly. The Eagles are last in extra point percentage at 93.3, second to last in kickoff return yards at 60.7 and last in kickoff return yards at 14.7.

4. Must stop the run and pass at the same time.

BC has successfully defended the run and successfully defended the pass at times in recent weeks, but has had trouble doing both in the same game.

Virginia Tech was relatively quiet through the air, but racked up 368 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Louisville was relatively quiet on the ground, but racked up 332 yards and two scores through the air.

The Eagles are missing cornerback Amari Jackson, who is out for the year with a torn ACL, and linebacker Kam Arnold, who was in the sling last Monday and may or may not return this season.

After a strong start through one and a half quarters, BC allowed Louisville to score on five of six possessions.

Syracuse boasts the No. 1 passing attack. 2 in the ACC and SMU (next opponent) has the no. 1. Regaining momentum for the Eagles starts with taking every opponent out of what they do best.

“Just pump the brakes a little bit,” Martinez said. “Just try to figure out how we can play team ball. I think that’s what it boils down to.”