College Sports
The Eagles (4-3, 2-2 ACC) are just two wins away from bowl eligibility.
Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie threw for 101 yards and a touchdown and ran for 170 yards and two scores in the Eagles’ 49-27 win over Georgia Tech. Stacy Revere
In coach Bill O’Brien’s perfect world, the Boston College football team would avoid falling behind by double digits in the first quarter.
But, if the Eagles keep responding with conviction and rallying to defeat Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, O’Brien can’t complain.
A week after bouncing back against Pittsburgh, BC did the same against Georgia Tech, pulling away for a resounding 49-27 triumph Saturday in Atlanta. The Eagles scored their most points against a conference opponent since 2019 and illuminated how dangerous they can be when everything is clicking.
“The team you saw in the second half, to me, that’s our football team,” O’Brien said.
The Eagles (4-3, 2-2 ACC) improved to 3-10 on the road under O’Brien and are just two wins away from bowl eligibility. They have doubled their win total from last year and continue to inch closer toward entering the upper echelon of the conference.
Boston College racked up 500 total yards, including 399 on the ground, leaning on its offensive line to overpower a depleted Georgia Tech defense.
“It’s a special thing when you can run the ball like that,” said BC quarterback Mason McKenzie. “It opens everything up.”
McKenzie contributed two touchdowns on the ground and one in the air. Bo MacCormack III added three rushing TDs, and Charlie Comella intercepted two passes — including a dagger 47-yard pick-6 in the fourth quarter.
The Yellow Jackets (2-5, 1-3) burst out to a 10-0 edge through one quarter on a 4-yard touchdown reception from Kevin Roche Jr. and a 32-yard field goal from Aidan Birr.
Despite the deficit, BC averaged 9.1 yards per rush in the quarter and stayed within striking distance following a penalty-filled start for both sides. Center Michael Crounse’s return bolstered a steadily improving unit that played by far its best game of the season.
“Going out there and performing how we did today, we really put the staple on O-line U,” said offensive tackle Veguer Jean-Jumeau. “That’s what we call ourselves, and that’s what we pride ourselves on.”
McKenzie (9 for 17, 101 yards; 16 carries, 170 yards) hit Nedrick Boldin Jr. for a 25-yard TD early in the second, skillfully placing the ball where only Boldin could corral it in traffic. It was the first career touchdown for Boldin, the second cousin of former NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Jonathan Hewitt — replacing Luca Lombardo, who missed a field goal on the Eagles’ opening series — missed the extra point to keep it at 10-6.
MacCormack (20 carries, 155 yards), embracing an increased role with Evan Dickens sidelined, powered into the end zone from 7 yards out with 11:03 left in the half. MacCormack, a Westford native and Buckingham Browne & Nichols product who is the all-time leading rusher in Massachusetts high school history, ran with force and precision.
“I was seeing a lot of red jerseys blocking a lot of white jerseys and moving them,” MacCormack said.
Comella made a key tackle in the final minute, helping the Eagles hold Georgia Tech to a 20-yard field goal. The Yellow Jackets took a 13-12 edge into halftime.
McKenzie broke free for a 40-yard rush early in the half, setting up a 2-yard plunge from MacCormack to cap an efficient, five-play, 75-yard drive.
A pivotal interception from the Wellesley native and former Xaverian catalyst Comella paved the way for a 6-yard McKenzie TD. This time, Lombardo’s extra point was successful, as the Eagles extended the margin to 25-13 through three.
MacCormack’s runs up the middle opened up room for McKenzie’s rushes on the outside and kept the Yellow Jackets off balance.
Lombardo drilled a 23-yard field goal to push it to 28-13, 46 seconds into the fourth. Justice Haynes answered back with a 15-yard rush to trim it to 28-20. McKenzie responded with a 15-yard TD of his own, then Comella provided the finishing touch with his fourth pick of the season.
Dalen Penson trimmed it to 42-27 before MacCormack punctuated the performance with a 19-yard score at the 3:14 mark to cement a gritty victory.
“It hasn’t been easy,” McKenzie said. “We’ve come back from behind, but that’s just the type of guys we have on this team.”
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.
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