BC-URI in game

The weather is poor with cloudy skies, cool temps, and intermittent rain resulting in only about 20-25K fans in the stadium at kickoff.

1ST QUARTER
Haden is starting in the backfield and does not appear to be too worse for the wear. He blasted through the line on a couple of runs on BC's first possession, but the drive stalled at Mid-field when Crane sailed a pass over a wide open Josh Haden out of the backfield on 3rd and 6. It's a small detail, but if that pass is on the money, Haden, with a wall of blockers, may have been off to the races.

Crane's errant pass was immediately followed up with another shank 17 yard punt off the foot of freshman Ryan Quigley.

On the defensive side of the ball, things are looking better. Deleon Gause is back in the starting line-up at corner and looks to be in good shape. Freshman Donnie Fletcher is also getting some playing time on third down nickel sets.

On BC's second possession, the ground game looks good, but Crane continues to struggle, missing another open screen pass to Montel Harris out of the backfield. Announcers are talking about how URI is liking the pace of the game. A three and out for BC after Crane misfires on a long pass down the line on 3rd and 7.

On BC's first two drives, Crane is 1 for 4 for 6 yards. Not trying to bash the kid, but we are playing against Div. 1-AA Rhode Island and Crane does not look impressive in the early going.

On the defensive side of the ball, a nice sack by BC Defensive End Jim Ramella - his first of the season - has URI pinned deep in their own end. Through their first three possessions, URI has only one first down. However, URI QB Derek Cassidy looks a lot more comfortable than Crane. On the first three drives, Cassidy is 5 of 6 for 16 yards. While he is not throwing for a lot of yardage, Cassidy is hitting the short passes - something Crane has been unable to do.

A 54 yard punt (!) by Rhode Island gives BC the ball back on our own 45, and, thankfully, with 2:45 left to go in the 1st quarter, a change in quarterback with Dominique Davis coming on. Hopefully, he can do a little better against this URI defense.

On his first pass, Davis puts a deep pass through the hands of Momah - which has been a criticism. That play should have gone for about 30 yards. On 3rd and 7, Davis airmails the receiver leading to another 3 and out.

BC may end up blowing URI out, but so far, the offense is sputtering.

A nice punt by Quigley leaves URI starting from inside their own 10. Who would have thought this game would be a battle of field position??

At the end of the first quarter, there is no score and we are making URI QB Derek Cassidy look like Matt Ryan. So far, he is 6/7 for 26 yards.

2ND QUARTER
Finally, the BC offense starts to click behind Montel Harris, powering BC deep into URI territory.

1st and goal Eagles at the URI 5 yard line.

From there, Harris takes it in untouched for the TD.

The TD drive was 5 plays, 67 yards.

Montel Harris leads all rushers with 7 carries for 65 yards and a TD.

BC 7 URI 0
10:53 left to play in the 1st half.

A short kick-off for Bennett to the 13 yard line.

Another sack for BC and URI goes 3 and out.

After the punt, BC ball at mid-field.

While we probably don't need to do it to win, it would be nice to see BC throw the ball. So far, Davis and Crane are 1/6 for 6 yards.

On 1st down, back on the ground with Jeff Smith speeding past the left tackle for a 25 yard run.

Dominique Davis follows that with a 25 yard TD run on a nice option read off the left side for his first collegiate TD.

BC 14 URI 0
8:05 left to play in the 1st half.

2nd quarter offense for BC:
106 yards rushing
0 yards passing

URI starts its drive from the BC 25.

Cassidy has a nice 10 yard pass on 1st down followed by a late hit/roughing the passer on BC.

1st down URI at mid-field.

Herzlich is all over the field on defense. URI is trying to hit short crossing routes, but Herzlich is stopping them immediately.

Pass is airmailed by Cassidy on 3rd down and INT by Marcellas Bowman which he takes back to the URI 37 (10 yard penalty on the return against BC).

It is now Jeff Smith's turn to run all over URI. Smith gets it on 4 consecutive plays taking BC down inside the URI ten yard line.

Smith runs it in for a 7 yard TD run!

BC 21 URI 0
3:53 left in the 1st Half

It is clear that URI has no answer for BC's running game, and with the rain really starting to fall, I don't expect to see much passing from BC in the 2nd half.

URI muffs the kick-off and starts from inside its own 10 yard line.

Cassidy hits two quick passes and URI is out to the 25 yard line.

With under 2:00 left in the 1st half, URI is trying to engineer a drive, moving the ball out across mid-field with 1:41 left in the half.

Brad Newman ends the drive, stripping the ball from the URI QB and BC takes over at mid-field.

Davis stays in the game at QB for BC for the 4th consecutive series.

Davis hits B. Robinson for a 1st down.

Montel Harris takes it inside the 10 with less than a minute left in the half.

1st and goal BC from the 8 with :41 left.

Davis scrambles on 1st down and makes a jump pass for a TD to Purvis. . . from the 5 yard line. This one is coming back as Davis was 3 yards across the line when he threw the pass - a mistake due to lack of experience.

After an incompletion, it's 3rd and goal from the 10 with :28 left.

Davis throws a wobbling pass behind Justin Jarvis in the end zone who is hit after the play by URI's Jarrod Williams who is called for the personal foul.

1st and goal BC from the 5.

Montel Harris carries it in for the score.

BC 28 URI 0
:17 left in the Half.

Kevin Akins intercepts and and makes a nice return for 70 yards, but is tackled at the 5 yard line as the half expires!!

BC goes into the locker room up 28-0.

2ND HALF
3RD QUARTER
BC gets the ball to start the 2nd half.
It is now absolutely pouring. Look for more rushing by the BC offense.

URI WITH THE ONSIDE KICK. URI Ball across mid field!

BC Defense is still looking good and URI goes 3 and out to start the 2nd half.

BC Special Teams are asleep at the wheel as URI gets an easy 1st down on the Fake Punt.

URI ball inside the BC 30 yard line.

It looks very dark and very wet at Chestnut Hill, but the fans are making some noise.

3rd and 1 from the BC 23. BC stuffs the running play and URI will go for it on 4th down.

URI sets up with an empty backfield on 4th and short. Cassidy mis-fires!

The shutout continues as the BC defense holds on 4th and 1.

BC will take over at their own 23 yard line with 11:02 remaining the in the 3rd Quarter.

Crane comes in and the shotgun snap is fumbled. It appeared to hit Purvis who was in motion on the play.

URI ball, but Cassidy immediately throws an interception, hitting Paul Anderson in the chest.

BC ball near Mid-Field.

Crane is back in the game and Montel Harris carries for 8 yards on 1st down.

It looks like BC will keep it on the ground this half as Harris carries it to the URI 42 yard line.

12 yard carry for Harris to the URI 30 yard line.

Harris leads all rushers with 15 carries for 114 yards.

In these wet conditions, Josh Haden may be done for the day.

It may not be his fault, but things don't seem to run as smoothly with Crane at the helm as a false start is called on Costanzo on 3rd and 3.

Harris runs for a 1st down on 3rd and 8.

BC ball in the URI 21 and Harris pounds his way down to the URI 3 yard line.

Harris brings it after a nice stutter step move for his 3rd TD of the day.

Nine plays (all runs) for 56 yards on the scoring drive.

BC 35 URI 0
5:42 left in the 3rd

Cassidy continues to throw the ball well, moving URI out across mid-field after a couple of nice passing plays.

Cassidy is 18/28 for 133 yards (but with 3 INT's).

Make that 4 INT's as Herzlich picks one off and TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE!

A 60 yard Interception return for a TD for the Junior end from Wayne, PA.

BC 42 URI 0
4:09 left in the 3rd

Bennett has kicked his last two kick-offs to the goal line - a good sign.

URI takes over at their own 24.

A nice pass for Cassidy on 3rd and 6 and URI moves it out to the 40.

URI can't convert another 1st down as they punt it back to BC.

With 5 turnovers, including 4 INT's, URI is getting crushed, but despite the INT's, URI QB Derek Cassidy has made a few nice throws in the first 3 quarters of play. Heading into the 4th quarter, Cassidy is 21/34 for 162 yards. Clearly, though, the INT's have killed them.

4TH QUARTER
Dominique Davis comes back in at QB for BC which will doubtlessly continue to hand the ball of to Harris and Smith.

Smith can't generate much on 1st or 2nd down, leaving a 3rd and 7 from the 18 yard line. Davis can't handle the snap, falls on it, and BC will Punt from deep in its own end.

Quigley shanks another punt about 30 yards in the air, but it takes a BC bounce and roll.

URI ball at their own 45.

4th and 1 for URI. BC (Jerry Willette) jumps off side and hands URI an easy 1st down.

URI ball at the BC 35. It's 3rd and 3. Cassidy tries to run for the first and he is blasted by Scafe at the line of scrimmage.

On 4th and 3, Cassidy hits a receiver at the BC 20 yard line.

1st and 10 URI.

WILL BC HOLD ON FOR THE SHUTOUT?

Pass interference call on BC. URI Ball 1st and 10 from the BC 15 yard line.

BC blows up the screen play as freshman Isaac Johnson out of Everett, MA, gets some play and makes a nice tackle.

It's 3rd and 16 from the BC 21 yard line with 9:25 left to play in the game.

URI gets a short pass for 3 yards.

It's 4th and 13 from the 18 yard line.

URI MISSES the 35 yard Field Goal!

BC ball with 8:40 to go.

Let's hope we can have a nice long drive and end this thing on an ugly day in New England.

Davis is back in the game and Razzie Smith makes his debut for the day at tailback.

R. Smith didn't look too good on the first two downs between the tackles, but on 3rd down, Razzie gets outside and flies down the sideline for a 1st down and big pick-up.

A new look from BC with Codi Boek and Davis in the backfield. Boek appeared to be a decoy on that play as the ball his handed to Razzie for a 3 yard run.

The BC drive stalls at mid-field and Quigley kicks a wobbly 40 yard punt which URI fair catches at the 10 with 4:44 left to play in the game.

URI seems satisfied to run out the clock here as the rain continues to pour.

FINAL
BC 42 URI 0

This win will extend BC's non-conference winning streak to 20 games which is tops in the country (LSU is 2nd).

All and all, a good win for BC, but it didn't answer any questions at the QB position with Chris Crane ending the day with 1 completion (6 yards) on only 4 attempts. Recognizing that this was not a good day for passing, Crane does not seem to instill much confidence in the offense. Conversely, Davis does not seem to have much of an arm either, but is exciting to watch on the run option.

On the plus side, BC got 4 tailbacks in the game who combined for 291 yards on the ground. Needless to say, the development of Montel Harris (18 car. 143 yds. 3 TD's) is encouraging.

Obviously, it will take a much better effort by the QB position with TOB and the NC State Wolfpack.