BOSTON — Fenway Park in Boston has hosted football many times in its 100-plus year history, but Saturday night’s game between the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Boston College is the first college football matchup at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark since 1949.
In fact, football hasn’t been played at Fenway Park since 1968, when the New England Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals 33-14.
There’s a lot at stake in this game, especially for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are clinging to the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, and another loss would make the Irish’s chances of making the four-team tournament impossible.
BC, who has knocked off highly-ranked Notre Dame teams in the past, especially on the road — Saturday’s game is technically an Irish home game — certainly would receive a recruiting boost with a stunning upset.
Keep it right here with NESN.com’s live blog for score updates, analysis and highlights.
Final, 19-16 Notre Dame
Fourth quarter, 0:53, 19-16 ND: Notre Dame recovers BC’s onside kick and takes over on the Eagles 38-yard line.
Fourth quarter, 0:54, 19-16 ND: The Eagles still have a chance.
John Fadule went back in the game as the Eagles quarterback and led his team into the red zone with just over a minute left in regulation.
Smith took over at quarterback on BC’s first play in the red zone and threw an incomplete pass to the far right corner of the end zone, but a pass interference penalty on Notre Dame put the ball on the Irish 3-yard line.
Smith threw a touchdown strike over the middle to wide receiver Harrison Jackson on the next play.
Fourth quarter, 3:49, 19-9 ND: A dropped pass cost the Fighting Irish a chance at another score.
Notre Dame moved to BC’s 44-yard line, and then Kizer threw a pass to Fuller, who dropped it at the 5-yard line. He was wide open after beating the Eagles defensive back with a double-move.
The Irish couldn’t convert another first down and punted. The Eagles called for a fair catch on their own 14-yard line.
Fourth quarter, 6:25, 19-9 ND: Boston College’s next drive lasted just 1:28. The Eagles punted and the Irish called for a fair catch on their own 39-yard line.
Fourth quarter, 7:43, 19-9 ND: The Irish couldn’t put together back-to-back scoring drives.
Kizer threw a 31-yard pass to Fuller on second-and-12 to move the chains for the first time on the drive. Fuller was tackled at the Irish 48-yard line.
Notre Dame didn’t advance much further, though, and punted into the BC end zone for a touchback.
Fourth quarter, 10:17, 19-9 ND: A quick-scoring drive was just what the Eagles needed.
Jeff Smith ran 80 yards for BC’s first touchdown of the game. He broke through the second level of the defense and used his speed to find the end zone. His pass attempt on the two-point conversion fell incomplete.
Fourth quarter, 13:33, 19-3 ND: The Fighting Irish pulled further away from the Eagles on their first drive of the fourth quarter.
Kizer began the drive with a 33-yard completion to Carlisle. A 15-yard connection to wide receiver Corey Robinson on third-and-3 moved the chains again.
Notre Dame’s drive stalled at the Eagles 21-yard line, but Yoon made a 35-yard field goal to increase the lead.
Fourth quarter, 14:06, 16-3 ND: The Eagles couldn’t respond to the Irish’s touchdown drive.
An unsportsmanlike penalty put them in a tough third-and-21 situation, and they failed to convert. BC punted and Notre Dame returned the kick to the Irish 22-yard line.
Third quarter, 1:10, 16-3 ND: The Fighting Irish offense broke through once more.
After picking up a first down, Kizer completed a third-and-9 to wide receiver Will Fuller for a 32-yard gain to the Eagles 21-yard line. Two plays later, Kizer threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brown in the far right corner of the end zone. BC defended the play well, but Brown jumped up and took the ball away with a catch right in front of the defensive back’s face.
A bad snap resulted in a failed extra point attempt.
Third quarter, 4:22, 10-3 ND: A change at quarterback gave a little spark to BC’s offense.
The Eagles began the drive with two first downs, both of which were the product of good runs up the middle. Jeff Smith took over for Fadule at quarterback and converted a second-and-6 with a completion to Thadd Smith at the Eagles 39-yard line for their third first down of the drive.
That’s where the drive ended, though, as the Eagles couldn’t convert on third down and punted. Notre Dame took over on its own 27-yard line.
Third quarter, 9:23, 10-3 ND: Turnovers are killing Notre Dame.
Notre Dame started its first drive of the half with two first downs, including a 38-yard completion from Kizer to wide receiver Chris Brown down to the BC 22-yard line. The play was reviewed, but Brown maintained control of the ball and got one foot in.
Kizer hit Brown on the next play for a 13-yard gain to the BC 9-yard line.
The drive ended when Kizer threw an interception, his second of the game, on a horrible pass that was tipped at the line. It was the Irish’s fifth turnover of the game and third in the red zone.
Third quarter, 13:05, 10-3 ND: BC finally scored on its opening drive of the second half.
Eagles receiver Michael Walker took the kickoff 67 yards to the Notre Dame 27-yard line, setting up great field position for BC. The Eagles didn’t gain any yards, but kicker Colton Lichtenberg made a 43-yard field goal to put BC on the scoreboard.
Halftime, 10-0 ND
Stats provided by ESPN
End of first half, 10-0 ND: BC couldn’t gain anything on the ensuing drive and punted. Notre Dame took a knee to end the first half.
Second quarter, 1:22, 10-0 ND: Another Irish turnover has kept the Eagles in this game.
Kizer picked up a first down on a QB run to the Irish 42-yard line, but the drive ended three plays later when he threw an interception over the middle. Simmons made a diving catch at the Eagles 31-yard line to give the ball back to BC. He also forced and recovered a fumble in the first quarter.
Second quarter, 1:51, 10-0 ND: The Eagles offense is improving a bit, but it’s still far from a scoring threat.
BC picked up a quick first down on a 22-yard pass from Fadule to tight end Tommy Sweeney. Smith dropped a long pass play on the next snap that would’ve put the Eagles in the red zone. The drive stalled from there, as BC failed to convert on third-and-10 from its own 38-yard line.
BC punted and Notre Dame let the ball go out of bounds at its own 29-yard line.
Second quarter, 3:25, 10-0 ND: The story of this game so far has been fumbles.
Prosise was helped off the field after suffering an apparent injury on a 2-yard run. The NBCSN broadcast showed Prosise limping down the dugout to the locker room. Two poor passes by Kizer that were thrown behind his receivers set up a fourth-and-13, and Notre Dame punted.
However, BC fumbled the punt inside its 5-yard line and Notre Dame recovered, setting up a first-and-goal.
Three straight stops by the excellent Eagles run defense helped them get the ball back, as the Irish fumbled on third-and-goal and BC’s Matt Milano recovered and ran to the 16-yard line.
Second quarter, 9:33, 10-0 ND: The Eagles had their most productive drive of the game, picking up two first downs and 25 yards, but it didn’t produce any points.
BC picked up a rare first down on a pass from Fadule to wide receiver Thadd Smith at the 16-yard line. Fadule gained another first down to the Eagles 39-yard line after a pick up of 17 on a nice QB run down the left sideline.
That’s where the drive ended, though, as the Notre Dame defense sacked Fadule on third-and-7 for a 10-yard loss.
The Eagles punted and the Fighting Irish took over on their own 9-yard line.
Second quarter, 11:28, 10-0 ND: Notre Dame failed to move the ball on its first drive of the quarter, but a 55-yard punt was downed at the 6-yard line, giving BC a very long field to work with.
Second quarter, 13:20, 10-0 ND: BC’s offense went three-and-out again and punted 28 yards. Notre Dame took over on its own 43-yard line.
First quarter, 0:00, 10-0 ND: A questionable penalty allowed Notre Dame to extend its lead to double digits.
Prosise caught a 17-yard pass down to the BC 23-yard line, fumbled, but one of his offensive linemen recovered.
Notre Dame couldn’t pick up a first down on the next two plays, but it got a second chance when BC committed a roughing the kicker penalty on a missed 44-yard field goal that hit the right upright.
The Irish scored their first touchdown two plays later when Kizer hooked up with Carlisle for a 10-yard touchdown. Carlisle caught the pass on a WR screen play, juked one BC defensive back and ran into the end zone.
First quarter, 2:00, 3-0 ND: A failed fake punt attempt ended another lackluster BC drive and the Irish took over on the Eagles 40-yard line. Great field position coming up for Notre Dame.
First quarter, 3:29, 3-0 ND: Another turnover stops a promising Notre Dame drive.
Prosise ran 19 yards down the left sideline to the BC 32-yard line, but Justin Simmons ripped the ball out of his hands for a fumble and then recovered it.
The Eagles took over on their own 32-yard line.
First quarter, 3:32, 3-0 ND: The Eagles offense continues to struggle.
BC once again failed to pick up a first down as quarterback John Fadule was sacked by Notre Dame defensive tackle Sheldon Day on third-and-7.
The Eagles punted and the Irish called for a fair catch at their own 49-yard line.
First quarter, 5:59, 3-0 ND: Notre Dame entered the red zone on its second straight drive, but it only came away with a field goal.
Kizer completed a pass along the left sideline to receiver Amir Carlisle for 26 yards to the BC 42-yard line. After another second-and-short, an offside penalty gave Notre Dame another first down at the BC 29-yard line.
Irish receiver Torii Hunter Jr. made a catch over the middle for a 23-yard gain. It appeared he was tackled, but he got up and ran down to the 7-yard line. The play was reviewed and the referee determined his knee was down at the 18-yard line and not sitting on top of the defender. It was a 12-yard gain.
Kizer fumbled at the 16-yard line and BC recovered, but the play was reviewed and the initial call was overturned because replay clearly showed his left knee was down before the ball was jarred free.
Kizer’s pass attempt on third-and-4 from the 13-yard line might have been completed in the end zone if tight end Alize Jones didn’t stumble and lose his footing as the ball came to him.
The Irish settled for a 30-yard field goal from kicker Justin Yoon.
First quarter, 9:32, 0-0: BC couldn’t move the ball on its first drive, which included two incompletions and a failed conversion on third-and-15. Notre Dame fielded BC’s punt on its own 23-yard line and was tackled for no gain.
First quarter, 12:21, 0-0: Despite having great field position with a kickoff that sailed out of bounds, Notre Dame failed to score on its opening drive because of an interception in the end zone.
Notre Dame picked up a first down with a third-down pass completion to the sideline. On the next play, Irish running back C.J. Prosise picked up a 31-yard gain on the ground. He ran down the right sideline and was pushed out of bounds at the Eagles 22-yard line.
A pass interference penalty moved Notre Dame down to the 7-yard line, but the Irish turned it over on the next play when quarterback DeShone Kizer threw an interception in the right corner of the end zone.
BC defensive back Josh Johnson made the play and was tackled in the end zone for a touchback.
Kickoff: BC kicks off wide out of bounds. The ball wasn’t even close to staying in. Notre Dame takes over at the BC 40-yard line.
7:40 p.m.: BC has won the opening coin toss and has deferred to the second half. That’s a Bill Belichick-like move.
7:37 p.m. ET: Both teams have come onto the field and we’re almost ready for kickoff. Fireworks went off as the Fighting Irish came out of the Red Sox dugout.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
