Boston College improves to 3-0 with 28-3 win at Temple

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Boston College made enough plays on offense, defense and special teams to topple Temple 28-3 Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

“It was a team victory which is so much fun,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “I thought the offense had their moments and special teams was really solid and defense was lights out.

“We are 3-0 and we respect every opponent we play. We prepare every week as if we are playing the best team in the ACC and our guys did that. I think each week we got better at certain stages and I think we got better today.”

BC struggled in the air even though it produced the first touchdown of the game. Dennis Grosel, starting in place of injured Phil Jurkovec, was 5-of-13 for 34 yards with a pick. The Eagles’ ground game netted 187 yards with Grosel accounting for 47 and a touchdown.

“It was his first start and I think he did what he needed to do,” said Hafley. “It’s different than when you come in, he is a starter now and I thought he did a good job managing the game.”

BC went up 7-0 on its opening possession, courtesy of a short field provided by return man Travis Levy, who returned the opening kickoff 67 yards. On second and 10 from the 19, Grosel delivered a low ball down the middle of the field to Jaden Williams for a touchdown just 1:39 in.

Grosel was picked off on BC’s second possession, but that was sandwiched around consecutive three-and-outs from the Owls. BC then launched a 78-yard, 10-play drive that drained the clock and the Temple defense with equal ferocity. Tailback Patrick Garwo, last week’s ACC running back of the week, carried the ball eight times and scored on a 1-yard dive with 36 seconds remaining in the first.

BC got a short field late in the first half. Grosel made a lateral toss to All-ACC first team split end Zay Flowers as he reversed the field in motion. Flowers went 47 yards down the left sideline to the Temple 7. Levy scored on a 2-yard dive through the middle to make it 21-0 with 48 seconds remaining.

“When you have one of the best players in the ACC you have to find ways to use him,” said Hafley.

BC’s defense bent but didn’t break in the third but the offense floundered with three ineffective drives. Temple QB Justin Lynch (188 of the Owls’ 239 total yards) led an impressive drive late in the third that featured a 32-yard toss to Jaden Blue and a 20-yard out to Amad Anderson to the BC seven.

BC’s red zone defense held and the Owls settled for a 32-yard field goal by Rory Bell to make it 21-3 with 13:09 to play. BC’s ground game got traction midway through the fourth and got the final score to go up 28-3 on a 2-yard keeper by Grosel with 4:14 to play.

D-Day for IGM

Boston College middle linebacker Isaiah “IGM” Graham-Mobley, a graduate transfer from Temple, enjoyed a memorable homecoming against his former team. Graham-Mobley, who grew in King of Prussia, Pa., led the Eagles with eight tackles followed by OLB Vinny DePalma with seven.

Graham-Mobley made the stick of the game on Temple’s only sustained drive of the first half. On fourth and three from the BC 34, Lynch attempted a run behind right tackle. Graham-Mobley stood up Lynch inches short of the first down to force the transfer of possession. BC’s red zone defense was effective all game.

“On the play it was get off the field and get the ball back to our offense,” said IMG. “It was a huge momentum and a huge turn of momentum.”

Flipper flopper

BC’s special teams play of the game was on a punt that featured two outstanding complimentary efforts. With the ball on the BC 14, Grant Carlson launched a 59-yard rainbow that had Temple return man Jaden Blue furiously backpedaling.

Normally that kind of punt beats the coverage downfield and creates open space for a long return. Blue gave ground to create a seam but was dropped for a 5-yard loss by cornerback Elijah Jones. BC flipped the field 64 yards from its own red zone.

“I thought Grant was huge today they way he continued to flip the field,” said Hafley. “Elijah had two huge tackles on special teams, but to see him run down there and wrap the guy up, that was huge.”

Carlson averaged 51.4 yards on five punts with a long of 62 and dropped a pair inside the 20.

Special effects

Tailback Travis Levy was the ACC specialist of the week after a huge cumulative effort against UMass. Levy’s big play was a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Levy picked up where he left off in Amherst, opening the game with a 67-yard return that set up the Eagles first touchdown. Levy finished with 117 all-purpose yards.

The Eagles have one more non-ACC game when they host Missouri next Saturday at noon. BC begins ACC competition against the reigning league champion Clemson Tigers at Death Valley on Oct. 2.

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