Written by Garin Turner
The Boston College Eagles look to start off the 2018 college football season with a win in their home opener against the UMass Minutemen Saturday at 1 PM EST and can be seen on ACC Network Extra. The Minutemen opened up their season last week where they crushed Duquesne 63-15. Last year UMass 4-8 which saw them lose their first six games of the year. Meanwhile, Boston College finished 7-6 last year.
The Eagles own a 21-5 series lead over the Minutemen including nine straight victories. Boston College returns 17 starters from last season’s squad. The Eagles won five of their last six games which ended in a New Era Pinstripe Bowl loss to Iowa. Eagles head coach Steve Addazio has led his team to four bowl games in his first five years making him the first coach in school’s history to do so.
Sophomore running back AJ Dillon looks to continue where he left off last year as he was the team’s leading rusher. He carried 300 times for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns. His numbers were good enough to earn him ACC Rookie of the Year. “Last year I thought our running back coach and our staff did a good job of bringing AJ along,” Addazio said. They’ll need a second back to step up this year as Jonathan Hillman transferred to Rutgers. “I look at a young player in David Bailey right now. David is another on of those really talented young backs,” Addazio said.
Sophomore quarterback Anthony Brown had a decent year as a freshman throwing for 11 scores and 1,367 yards. His best game came against Virginia in Oct. where he threw for a career-high 275 yards and three touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, DE Zach Allen enters the year as a Preseason All-America selection. He finished the year with 100 tackles, 15.5 for a loss and six sacks. The Eagles were 12th nationally in interceptions as they had 18. The Eagles also ranked third in passing efficiency defense. “They have weapons. If you have the horses and the weapons, you can do some things,” Addazio said about UMass offense.
The Minutemen played two quarterbacks last week. Andrew Ford (13-19, 186 yards and two touchdowns) and Ross Comis (6-9, 104 yards and two touchdowns). UMass added four scores on the ground, led by Bilal Ally (nine carries for 109 yards and a score) and Marquis Young (15 carries for 90 yards and a score).
