After horrible first half, Boston College mounts a comeback but falls short against Virginia Tech

Seventeen years ago, in an instant classic that will hold its place in Boston College football lore, Matt Ryan spearheaded a thrilling comeback for the No. 2 Eagles at No. 8 Virginia Tech.

Ryan and Co. nearly gained company Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va., but BC fell short in a 42-21 loss that featured much more drama than the score indicates.

The Hokies led, 28-0, at the half, then the Eagles (4-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ripped off 21 straight points in the third quarter to swiftly slice it to 28-21 heading into the fourth. Boston College scored three touchdowns in a span of five minutes, 53 seconds, capitalizing on two turnovers and seizing momentum in stunning fashion.

BC had a chance to tie it, but the Hokies (4-3, 2-1 ACC) made a key stop on fourth and 1 and ripped off 14 unanswered points to seal it. Boston College showed flashes of brilliance, but crucial mistakes sullied what could have been a night for the ages.

“We definitely fought back to get ourselves back in the game, but we dug ourselves such a deep hole,” BC coach Bill O’Brien said. “It’s very difficult to come back from a four-score deficit.”

It was a dismal first half for the Eagles.

Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones started the first-half barrage with an 11-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos fumbled at the BC 34 on the ensuing drive, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Logan Taylor gave the Hokies the ball at the 19. Moments later, Drones added a 1-yard score to make it 14-0 through the first quarter.

The Eagles showed flashes of fluidity early in the second, but that momentum vanished when Castellanos fumbled again on a handoff to Kye Robichaux. This one came at the Virginia Tech 6, and what could have become a one-score game instead turned into a rout when Bhayshul Tuten broke free for an 83-yard score.

It was Castellanos’s third fumble and fifth turnover in the last three quarters. He acknowledged that if he didn’t relinquish possession, there may have been a different outcome.

“I’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” Castellanos said. “Those are not on the backs or anybody else.”

Tuten (18 carries, 266 yards, three TDs; 1 receiving TD), who flipped his commitment from Boston College to Virginia Tech in January 2023, capitalized in one clean swoop.

Kam Arnold forced a Virginia Tech fumble, but the Eagles continued to self-implode. Castellanos faked a pitch to Turbo Richard then threw it behind Richard, who was able to fall on it. BC advanced into Virginia Tech territory once again late in the quarter before an Antwaun Powell-Ryland sack led to a punt.

That paved the way for a 20-yard TD pass from Drones to Tuten with 11 seconds left — a fitting end to a disastrous half for Boston College. The Hokies racked up 332 yards, averaged 11.1 yards per rush, and Drones had just one incompletion.

BC held an advantage in time of possession, yet poor execution in crucial moments yielded a sizable halftime edge for the Hokies.

“I thought I had the team ready to go tonight, but I obviously didn’t,” O’Brien said. “I’ve got to figure out how to get the team ready to go. We’re better than that.”

But, as streaky as the Eagles have been the last four weeks, they have had sizzling spurts in each game. Thursday was no exception, as BC showed signs of life to start the third quarter to make it a game.

“No game’s out of reach with us,” defensive tackle Cam Horsley said. “We’re a resilient group. I just told the guys to keep fighting. If they can put up 28 points, why can’t we?”

After a Hokies punt, Castellanos connected with Treshaun Ward for a 25-yard strike to put Boston College on the board. Pressure from Donovan Ezeiruaku forced a poor throw from Drones, and Cameron Martinez intercepted the pass at the BC 30.

Castellanos then found tight end Jeremiah Franklin for an 11-yard TD to slice it to 28-14 with 6:07 left in the third.

“We didn’t quit,” Castellanos said. “We didn’t give up. We didn’t lay down.”

Ezeiruaku then forced a fumble, and Martinez recovered it to set up a 5-yard TD rush from Robichaux. Martinez, who was everywhere in the third quarter, added another sack to force a VT punt late in the third.

Just like that, the Eagles were back in it, with a chance to tie it or take the lead.

They had an opportunity to do so, but the Hokies’ stop at midfield paved the way for a 6-yard Tuten TD to make it 35-21 Virginia Tech with 11:02 remaining. A high snap on a field-goal attempt gave the Hokies back the ball again, which led to a 61-yard TD rush from Tuten to put the game out of reach.

“We can figure it out,” O’Brien said. “It’s not over. The sun will come up tomorrow, but it’ll come up slowly.”