Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 NOV. 19, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: BOSTON COLLEGE BY TODD D. BURLAGE BOSTON COLLEGE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Boston College ranked last in the country in rushing offense heading into its game against North Carolina State Nov. 12 with only 68.3 yards per game, while Notre Dame was situated 35th in rushing defense with 125.2 yards allowed per contest. The Eagles' rushing production ranked so solidly in dead last of the 14-team ACC, the next team above it (Virginia Tech) averaged 36 more yards per game than Boston College. A rash of injuries along the Eagles offensive line has rendered their running game toothless this season. Eagles junior tailback Pat Garwo III led the team with a total of 302 yards rushing, which was only 33.6 yards per outing. He also led BC with 2 rush- ing touchdowns on a team that had only 5 rushing scores through nine games. Freshman tailback Alex Broome (186 yards) was the only other BC player last week with at least 100 yards rushing on the season. For Notre Dame, it continues an impressive as- cent in this category. In its 35-14 win over No. 4 Clemson Nov. 5, the Irish rush defense held the powerful Tigers running game to only 90 yards — its lowest single-game rushing total since 2016. Additionally, that Notre Dame defensive performance came one week after the Irish held No. 16 Syracuse to a season-low 61 yards Oct. 29. Notre Dame ranked No. 51 nationally in rush- ing defense after the Syracuse performance. It climbed to 35th at 125.2 yards per game after the Clemson upset. With 12 tackles in the two wins against UNLV and Syracuse — followed by a game-high 12 stops against Clemson — Irish senior linebacker JD Ber- trand pulled away for the team lead in stops through nine games with 60 tackles, including 6.5 for loss. Advantage: Notre Dame BOSTON COLLEGE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE How Boston College stacks up in this matchup became a little uncertain following its 38-31 loss to Duke Nov. 4. Starting in place of injured senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec — a transfer from Notre Dame — Eagles freshman Emmett Morehead completed 27 of 45 passes for 330 yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. In the process, Morehead became the first BC quarterback to throw for 4 touchdowns in his first career start since Doug Flutie did it in 1981. Jurkovec is expected to be healthy for the Notre Dame game. But who will end up as the starter is uncertain. If the depleted BC offensive line can keep which- ever quarterback upright — the Eagles were last in the ACC and 126th nationally in sacks allowed last week (3.78) — its offense features two talented wide receivers. Through nine games, senior wideout Zay Flow- ers led the ACC with 791 receiving yards. He was also tied for the most touchdown catches (8) in the conference and was second in receptions (60). Complementing Flowers is surging freshman wideout Joseph Griffin Jr. Making good on his increasing snaps and targets, Griffin recorded 5 catches for 103 yards with 2 touchdowns against On PaPer Despite Boston College's offensive struggles, senior wide receiver Zay Flowers led the ACC in receiving yards (791) plus was second in both receptions (60) and touchdown catches (8) through Nov. 5. PHOTO COURTESY BC FOOTBALL