After losing a head coach and a number of key players, this was not supposed to be an overly successful season for the Boston College Eagles. A few weeks into the season, though, it appears as though the Eagles might be able to survive in a weakened Atlantic Coast Conference.
BC upped its chances with a 27-24 overtime victory over the visiting Demon Deacons of Wake Forest on Saturday. The Eagles led by 14 points with less than four minutes remaining in the game before Wake Forest ripped off consecutive scoring drives, the second one chewing up just 1:35 as the Deacons made it 80 yards down the field to tie the game.
In the overtime period, the Eagles drove inside the 10-yard line on a 14-yard pass from Dave Shinskie to Rich Gunnell. They were unable to get into the end zone and settled for a field goal from Steve Aponavicius — his second of the game.
With the game on the line and the Deacons on the BC 3-yard line, Isaac Johnson forced a fumble from quarterback Riley Skinner, and BC’s Wes Davis recovered the ball to seal the win for the Eagles.
Offensively, Shinskie was effective in his most action of the season, completing 18 of 29 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Wake Forest’s Marshall Williams was by far the offensive player of the game, catching 12 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. His score came on a 17-yard play that tied the game in the closing seconds of regulation.
The Eagles (3-1, 1-1) next host the Florida State Seminoles, who were ranked No. 18 before being upset by South Florida on Saturday.
