If the Irish were looking for style points to boost their BCS cred in the wake of top-ranked Alabama's loss to Texas A&M earlier Saturday, they didn't get in the first half against Boston College.
But the Irish still moved the ball at will against the 2-7 Eagles defense, taking a 14-3 lead into halftime. They just took their time, is all.
Remarkably, the Irish had just three possessions in the first half. A George Atkinson III fumble stunted the second one, but the first and third were methodical marches that chewed up the clock and the Boston College defense.
After the Irish forced a punt on the Eagles' opening drive, Everett Golson engineered a 95-yard touchdown drive -- the longest of the season for ND -- capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run of his own.
BC responded with a lengthy drive of its own, but after the Irish defense allowed five passes of at least 10 yards, Prince Shembo and Sheldon Day combined for a third-down sack of BC quarterback Chase Rettig, and the Eagles had to settle for a 36-yard field goal.
After Atkinson's fumble and another BC punt, Golson ate up 8 minutes, 30 seconds with a 16-play, 87-yard scoring drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Troy Niklas.
The Irish were 8-of-8 on third downs in the half, with Golson picking up five of them on designed runs. He had eight carries for 37 yards, and was 10-of-13 for 134 yards passing. Theo Riddick added 58 yards on eight carries, and Tyler Eifert had four catches for 52 yards.
But the Irish still moved the ball at will against the 2-7 Eagles defense, taking a 14-3 lead into halftime. They just took their time, is all.
Remarkably, the Irish had just three possessions in the first half. A George Atkinson III fumble stunted the second one, but the first and third were methodical marches that chewed up the clock and the Boston College defense.
After the Irish forced a punt on the Eagles' opening drive, Everett Golson engineered a 95-yard touchdown drive -- the longest of the season for ND -- capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run of his own.
BC responded with a lengthy drive of its own, but after the Irish defense allowed five passes of at least 10 yards, Prince Shembo and Sheldon Day combined for a third-down sack of BC quarterback Chase Rettig, and the Eagles had to settle for a 36-yard field goal.
After Atkinson's fumble and another BC punt, Golson ate up 8 minutes, 30 seconds with a 16-play, 87-yard scoring drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Troy Niklas.
The Irish were 8-of-8 on third downs in the half, with Golson picking up five of them on designed runs. He had eight carries for 37 yards, and was 10-of-13 for 134 yards passing. Theo Riddick added 58 yards on eight carries, and Tyler Eifert had four catches for 52 yards.
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