In a game in which BC's defense was outstanding, the offense was abysmal, turning the ball over six times to the North Carolina Tar Heels in a 31-13 UNC victory.
The loss eliminates BC from the race in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Their chances of winning were remote, but Saturday's loss made it official.
Shinskie accounted for five of those turnovers, with four coming by way of interception and the other coming on a fumble. It was, without question, the worst performance of the 25-year-old freshman's young career. He finished the day 12-for-28 for 101 yards, one touchdown and the four picks.
The BC defense played well, forcing UNC into four turnovers and only allowing 17 points. That number in itself is misleading, as one UNC drive started on the BC 1-yard line following Deunta Williams' third interception of the day.
After BC gave up that one-yard touchdown drive, Frank Spaziani inserted Mike Marscovetra at quarterback, though his first pass was picked off as well.
Despite the offensive miscues, the Eagles kept it close. Trailing by eight with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Shinskie twice hit receiver Rich Gunnell for what would have been first downs, but Gunnell dropped them both. The passes weren't perfect, but Gunnell was unable to haul them in and BC was forced to punt.
UNC, behind quarterback T.J. Yates, could muster just one touchdown drive of more than one yard, and it came on the Tar Heels' opening possession. They would score twice more in the first quarter, the first on a Cam Thomas fumble recovery and return and the next on a 30-yard interception return by Kendric Burney. They didn't score again until the fourth quarter on Ryan Houston's one-yard plunge. Casey Barth hit a 29-yard field goal on the Tar Heels' next possession.
The game was BC's last at Alumni Stadium this season, as the Eagles will travel to Maryland (2-9, 1-6 ACC) next week to finish the season.
