The guests gained the possession battle, 36:53 to twenty:47, and executed simply sufficient to squeak out a win.
“They performed their recreation, and we performed proper into it,” Boston School coach Jeff Hafley mentioned. “That’s the disappointing factor. That’s what we couldn’t let occur, and we did.”
GAME. OVER. 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️@NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/EX2wPsI3RA
— #MACtion (@MACSports) September 2, 2023
BC alternated between quarterbacks all through the sport. Redshirt sophomore Emmett Morehead began and struggled earlier than sophomore Thomas Castellanos changed him on the third drive.
Castellanos, a Central Florida switch, completed 13 for 28 for 138 yards, with two TDs and an interception, plus 9 carries for 67 yards and a rating on the bottom — accounting for 68 p.c of the Eagles’ offense. He introduced a spark to a dull assault that desperately wanted one, however he was inconsistent in key moments.
Morehead, who confirmed promise whereas beginning the ultimate 4 video games final season, completed 4 for 10 for 30 yards.
Hafley mentioned the Eagles got here in with the plan that each would play as a result of they each deserved to play. He additionally mentioned the choice to place Castellanos in wasn’t indicative of the best way Morehead carried out, and he didn’t really feel as if alternating affected the rhythm of both.
Linebacker Vinny DePalma mentioned the Eagles had been ready to play with each QBs.
“Tommy runs round like a maniac and makes large performs,” DePalma mentioned. “That simply is what it’s. Emmett can actually throw it. He has nice command within the huddle. We knew it going into the week. Everybody within the locker room was good with it.”
It’s a Boston BONEYARD social gathering!!!🦴
Watch the Huskies have a good time their 18th POWER 5 VICTORY!! #PackPRIDE | #TheHardWay 🤘🏽🐾 pic.twitter.com/IuA7KbMZi6
— NIU Soccer (@NIU_Football) September 2, 2023
The offensive line regarded barely much less inept than it did final yr, when BC completed final within the nation with 63.3 dashing yards per recreation. The Eagles averaged 6.4 yards per carry for a complete of 90 on the bottom earlier than the break. In any other case, the BC offense struggled mightily your complete half, gaining simply 45 yards within the air.
“I assumed these guys would come out quick,” Hafley mentioned. “I used to be flawed.”
Northern Illinois wasn’t significantly better offensively within the early going, however Antario Brown hauled in a 7-yard landing go to place the Huskies forward with 2:44 left within the half.
The guests prolonged their result in 14-0 on a 2-yard rush from Brown on the opening drive of the third quarter.
BC acquired the break it wanted when defensive finish Neto Okpala pressured Lombardi into dropping the soccer, and Khris Banks recovered the fumble on the Huskies’ 25-yard line with 6:53 left within the third.
The hosts took benefit, as Castellanos delivered an 11-yard dart to a wide-open Lewis Bond (4 catches, 40 yards) in the course of the top zone to finish the five-play march. Liam Connor drilled the additional level to slice BC’s deficit in half, 14-7, with 4:58 left within the third.
Castellanos ➡️ Bond
Eagles ➡️ finish zone pic.twitter.com/lcmC086fUC— Boston School Soccer (@BCFootball) September 2, 2023
Momentum was on BC’s facet, however Castellanos badly underthrew Jaden Williams on the following drive, and it was picked off by JaVaughn Byrd.
“That’s acquired to be a greater ball,” Castellanos mentioned. “The protection acquired a cease, and I used to be making an attempt to be aggressive.”
Northern Illinois pushed its result in 21-7 on a 1-yard plunge from Brock Lampe with 9:24 to play. The torpid Eagles regarded down and out, however in actuality they had been simply getting began.
Castellanos stored BC afloat, circling the sector like a Zamboni on fourth and 5 and discovering Bond for a 10-yard acquire and a scintillating first down. He described himself on Media Day as somebody who makes “wild performs,” and it’s clear now that he wasn’t exaggerating.
“These are just like the loopy school soccer performs you look ahead to the subsequent 25 years,” mentioned DePalma, who had a game-high 12 tackles.
Simply over two minutes later, Castellanos swerved into the top zone for a 2-yard rating to trim the margin to 21-14 with 5:59 left.
The Huskies picked up two first downs and knocked 2½ minutes off the clock, however gave the Eagles the ball again with 3:23 left at BC’s 17. It took Castellanos lower than two minutes to drive for the tie. He had runs for 16 and 10 yards, and hit Ryan O’Keefe on a 22-yard strike to get to the Huskies’ 30. On the subsequent snap, he discovered Williams for a 30-yard TD to tie it.
Not carried out but pic.twitter.com/VJfaRTuAmN
— Boston School Soccer (@BCFootball) September 2, 2023
BC took the ball first in OT, however after gaining simply 4 yards in three performs needed to accept a Connor 39-yard area objective. The Huskies then took issues over. After an incompletion, Lombardi hit Brock Lampe for a 16-yard acquire to the BC 9. Gavin Williams had an 8-yard carry to arrange Lombardi’s dive into the top zone for the win.
Hafley mentioned defensive finish Donovan Ezeiruaku addressed his teammates within the locker room and reminded them that they’ll’t let a season-opening loss spiral prefer it did final yr.
“No one’s bailing out but,” DePalma mentioned. “I don’t actually suppose anybody bailed out final yr, and final yr acquired fairly powerful. We’re not even near that but.”