Boston College hangs on to beat Pittsburgh in first ACC win

Three days removed from general manager Kenyatta Watson’s unexpected departure, the Boston College football program found itself at a crossroads early in the first quarter of an Atlantic Coast Conference clash Saturday against Pittsburgh.

The game could not have started worse for the Eagles, who were coming off two straight losses. They trailed by 12 points before registering a first down and were in danger of letting everything they worked for during the bye week slip away.

Instead, the Eagles grew progressively stronger and rediscovered their swagger, scoring 21 straight points to pull ahead, then found a way late to earn a gritty, 27-21, triumph at Alumni Stadium.

“I’m proud of the team for what happened right there,” said BC defensive back Carter Davis. “In the past, that’s a game that most likely we’d get blown out. I’m going to be honest with you. I’m proud of how we fought. We handled our business and came out on top.”

Davis powered the Eagles (3-3, 1-2 ACC) with a team-high 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.

Offensively, BC got huge contributions from quarterback Mason McKenzie, who completed 17 of 28 for 295 yards, receivers Javarius Green and Landon Wright, who had touchdown catches of 11 and 69 yards, respectively, and running backs Bo MacCormack III and Evan Dickens, who each rushed for 1-yard TDs.

The Panthers (5-2, 2-2), playing without injured star quarterback Mason Heintschel, jolted the Eagles from the start when freshman QB Corey Dailey (11 of 25, 193 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions) completed a 75-yard scoring toss to Cataurus Hicks on Pitt’s first play from scrimmage for a 7-0 lead with 14:42 remaining.

After BC’s first offensive series resulted in a blocked punt and a safety, making it 9-0, Pitt kicker Antonio Chadha converted a 28-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 55-yard drive. It expanded the Panthers’ lead to 12-0 with 7:58 remaining and had the Eagles reeling.

“These guys did a really good job of being resilient,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien. “It didn’t start very well at all, right? The first play was a touchdown. Then the blocked punt and safety. These guys are tough. They’re resilient. They hung in there.”

The Eagles got on the board when MacCormack scored on a 1-yard TD before the quarter ended, capping a 14-play, 75-yard march that took 6:12 off the clock. McKenzie threw an interception that gave Pitt momentum, but KP Price seized it right back with a pick that paved the way for Green’s 11-yard TD reception with 51 seconds left to give the Eagles a 14-12 lead at the half.

“KP could have left,” O’Brien said. “He stayed. KP could have gone to the NFL or gone to another school. He’s a real BC guy. He stayed loyal to this place. We owe a lot to KP.”

BC extended its lead to 21-12 on McKenzie’s 69-yard TD strike to Wright 46 seconds into the second half.

Wright, who wouldn’t confirm or deny that he is the fastest player on the team, displayed blazing speed the Eagles have lacked in recent seasons.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity,” Wright said. “I knew when I got this opportunity, I was going to take it.”

Chadha, who made four field goals, converted from 29 and 42 yards in the third quarter to help Pitt pull within 21-18 after three quarters.

But McKenzie helped BC pull away when he completed a 53-yard toss to Wright to set up Dickens’s 1-yard TD plunge, giving the Eagles a 27-18 lead with 13:02 remaining.

Chadha tacked on his fourth field goal, a 38-yarder, to pull the Panthers within a touchdown with 8:08 left.

McKenzie threw a second interception with 2:12 left to give the Panthers life, but Charlie Comella intercepted Dailey with 1:34 remaining. Comella, a Wellesley native and Xaverian product, has emerged as one of BC’s most dependable players.

“He’s kind of a do-everything type of player, and on top of it, he’s a Boston guy,” O’Brien said. “He comes from a great family. Love Charlie.”

The Eagles ran out the clock to seal the verdict on their best win to date. BC will now turn its focus to Georgia Tech with a chance to improve its record above .500.

“We know what we can do,” Wright said. “We’re just trying to put our best foot out there and show that we can do it.”

Trevor Hass is a sports producer who covers Boston’s professional teams. He also writes about Boston College football and high school sports for The Boston Globe.