BC GETS DOUBLE DOWNED ON GROUND
Adams, Wimbush run all over Eagles
Notre Dame’s Brandon Wimbush enjoyed a record-breaking performance against a Boston College defense that struggles with dual-threat quarterbacks.
The junior set an ND rushing record for a quarterback with 207 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in a 49-20 win before 44,500 yesterday at Alumni Stadium.
The Eagles fell to 1-2 on the season, and ND upped its record to 15-9 in the rivalry. BC will face defending national champion Clemson next Saturday.
“He is a dual-threat guy and you have to stay on him,” said BC free safety Lukas Denis, who recorded his second interception of the season.
“You have to stay true to your ability . ... But guys like that can get out of the pocket and run around. That’s something he excels at and we have to be more disciplined to stop that in the future.”
Notre Dame’s rushing offense was not confined to Wimbush. The Irish (21) rolled up 515 yards on the ground that included chunk runs of 65 and 64 yards by tailback Josh Adams and a 65-yard touchdown dash by Wimbush. The BC record for rushing yards allowed is 516, set by Army in 2012.
Adams blitzed the BC defense for a career-high 229 yards on 18 carries to become the 17th Notre Dame back to break 2,000 yards in a career. The Irish equaled the school record with seven rushing touchdowns and recorded their most rushing yards since rolling up 597 on Navy in 1969.
Adams and Wimbush became the first modern Fighting Irish tandem to rush over 200 yards in a game.
“We let up to many big runs,” said BC coach Steve Addazio. “We got out of our gaps and we didn’t tackle well at the second level and there were a couple of times the safety should have fit the runs in there . ... Our cow bell was defense and we don’t give up rushing yards like that and we let it up on big plays. It’s not like when you get ground pounded to death. (We) just let up big runs and that’s what happened here.”
BC’s problems against the Irish ground game began in practice on Thursday when linebacker Connor Strachan, the Eagles’ leading tackler in 2016, was sidelined for an indefinite period with a lingering knee injury.
“He’s one of the top three players on our football team, so of course there was an effect,” said Addazio.
The BC offense gave a balanced effort and kept the team in contention until the contest went decidedly Notre Dame’s way late in the third quarter.
ND outscored BC 35-10 in the second half that included a pair of garbage time touchdown runs by Dexter Williams in the fourth quarter.
BC redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Brown bounced back from his disastrous, three-interception performance in home loss to Wake Forest earlier this month. Brown completed 24-of-40 passes for a careerhigh 215 yards that included touchdown tosses of 22 and 13 yards to senior receiver Charlie Callinan.
Junior tailback Jon Hilliman plowed for a seasonhigh 122 yards on 22 carries. The BC offense amassed a season-high 400 yards of total offense and enjoyed a 22-19 advantage in first downs.
“(Brown) bounced right back against a marquee opponent in a big-time atmosphere and performed,” said Addazio.
Notre Dame’s third big run of the game led to a 2013 lead with 5:04 to play in the third. Wimbush rolled right and raced 46 yards to the BC 6-yard line. Adams punched it in from the 1 for his third of the season.
The Irish took quick advantage of a Brown interception to take a 28-13 lead with 2:38 to play in the third. Adams opened the drive with a 36-yard run to the BC 39. Wimbush followed with a 33-yard toss to tight end Durham Smythe to the BC 6. Wimbush scored from the 3 on a rollout right, his third of the game.