Overtime Eagles win again
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CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts -- This time it was the arm of Matt Ryan that kept Boston College's drama-filled season on a high note.
Ryan threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play in the
second overtime and Jamie Silva intercepted a deflected pass as the 23rd-ranked Eagles squeaked out a 30-23 victory over BYU.
It was the second straight win in double overtime for Boston
College (3-0), which outlasted Clemson in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener last weekend, 34-33. Jolonn Dunbar blocked an extra point and Ryan Ohliger converted one following a TD run by L.V. Whitworth to seal that win.
Meeting the Cougars for just the second time in 21 years, the Eagles appeared to have the contest in hand in the first overtime when BYU (1-2) committed a bad snap on a 43-yard field goal chance.
Needing just a field goal to win, BC played conservatively, running three plays up the middle to set up a 38-yard try for Ohliger, who had been maligned after missing two extra points in the first half.
Ohliger had his attempt blocked, sending the Eagles into another
nerve-testing situation. However, Ryan stepped up right away, rolling to the right before finding wide receiver Tony Gonzalez at the front of the end zone.
BYU came back to get inside the BC 20, but linebacker Robert Francois was able to get a hand on a pass by John Beck and Silva made a driving catch that originally was ruled incomplete on the field.
The play was challenged by Eagles coach Tom O'Brien, and reversed much to the delight of the fans at Alumni Stadium.
With the win, O'Brien became the all-time leader in wins in school history, pulling ahead of Joe Yukica with a 69-42 mark.
Ryan finished with a career-high 356 yards and two touchdowns.
Beck threw for 438 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars. It was the third-highest passing total by an opponent in Eagles history.