No Matt Ryan, two freshman running backs, and injuries to Chris Crane, Brian Toal, Alex Albright, and others?

No problem for this year's ACC Atlantic Champions.

BC has found ways to win each of it's last three games with a stingy defense and a great team effort.

NEWS AND NOTES
• BC's win over Maryland snapped the Terps winning streak over nationally ranked teams

• The Eagles are now 4-2 in the all-time series with Maryland.

• Robert Francois' 4th Quarter pick six marked the seventh straight game that the Eagles scored a non-offensive touchdown.

• Montel Harris broke the all-time Boston College freshman rushing record with his 798 rushing yards so far this season. Shelby Gamble previously held the freshman mark of 776 yards which he attained in 1979.

• BC dodged a bullett after Maryland's super-star receiver and future NFL 1st round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey was held out of Saturday's contest with a nagging calf injury.

• The Eagles held Maryland’s rushing attack (which had averaged 147.3 yards per game) to 6 yards on 26 carries.

• Many BC fans have been critical about Coach Spaziani's supposed reluctance to blitz. Maryland QB Chris Turner saw things differently:

“They blitz a lot. That’s what they do. They got to us a few times. To be honest we picked up a lot of their blitzes but they blitz a lot. A lot of the times, we burned them, but every now and again they’re going to get you, especially as much as they blitz.”

• Paul Anderson wore the number 31 as the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship, given annually to a senior defensive back.

Jack-of-all-trades Sophomore Billy Flutie, who completed his first collegiate pass on a fake field goal for a Touchdown, is proud of his heritage:

“I don’t downgrade my last name. I am a Flutie and I take all of the honor in my last name. Darren and Doug did great things while they were here and I am looking to contribute to that and do the best that I can.”


TENACIOUS D
It's no secret that The Boston College defense has been integral to the team's success this year. If the old addage is true and defense wins championships, I like the eagles chances on Saturday as the BC defense is among the best in the country in the following categories:

• 1st in the Nation in interceptions with 25 (Florida is 2nd with 23).

• 7th in the country in rushing yards allowed with an average of 87.3.

• 2nd in the nation after forcing a total of 33 turnovers.

• 1st in the ACC and 9th in the country in pass efficiency defense.

• 8th in the nation in total yards allowed.


GOOD CLEAN FUN
• Boston College and Virginia Tech are tied for 8th in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (36.8). For the Eagles part, this is obviously due the lingering effects of ace disciplinarian Tom O'Brien.