School Sports activities
Boston School entered Saturday’s matchup with Louisville desperate to show the earlier week’s near-upset of then-No. 3 Florida State wasn’t a fluke.
The Eagles believed that in the event that they minimized their penalties, and channeled the identical depth on show at Alumni Stadium in opposition to the Seminoles, they may pull off an upset in opposition to the Cardinals in Louisville, Ky.
As an alternative, BC allowed 42 factors and 374 whole yards within the first half of an embarrassing 56-28 loss at L&N Federal Credit score Union Stadium. The Eagles (1-3) have been outmatched in each part and resembled final 12 months’s group whereas taking a significant step backward.
The Cardinals (4-0), who completed with 585 whole yards, scored touchdowns on all six of their first-half drives and their first of the second half.
The 56 factors signify probably the most the Eagles have surrendered in coach Jeff Hafley’s three-plus seasons, and probably the most total since permitting 59 to Clemson in 2019.
“I felt like we have been flat,” Hafley stated. “I felt like we lacked power. Simply very uncharacteristic on protection. I haven’t seen us play like that since we’ve been right here. I want I had a solution. Clearly, I’ve obtained to seek out it, however I shouldn’t have an amazing one proper now.”
Louisville got here out scorching. Jawhar Jordan (18 carries, 134 yards, 2 touchdowns) discovered the top zone from 33 yards out and Nate Kurisky snared a 1-yard landing cross from Jack Plummer (18 for 21, 388 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs; dashing TD) to make it 14-0 by means of one quarter.
Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (3 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs) added a 45-yard TD reception and Plummer ran for a 9-yard rating to push the margin to 28-0 halfway by means of the second.
Hafley stated it appeared to him just like the Eagles have been all ready for another person to make a play. After an upbeat and energetic week of apply, he didn’t acknowledge his group Saturday.
“I didn’t see that coming in any respect,” Hafley stated.
BC lastly scored when quarterback Thomas Castellanos (17 for 33, 265 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs; dashing TD) scurried in from 39 yards out with 5:38 left within the half.
Jordan answered with a 2-yard TD for Louisville, then Castellanos hit Ryan O’Keefe for a 30-yard rating with 33 seconds to play earlier than the break.
“On the finish of the day, we got here out too flat,” O’Keefe stated. “We made strides towards the center and the top, however we have to come out quicker so we are able to preserve our foot on the fuel.”
It appeared the first-half scoring was over after the O’Keefe landing, however the Cardinals executed a faux kneel-down play to perfection. Jordan scampered for 42 yards, then Plummer discovered Jamari Thrash for a 42-yard rating with 8 seconds left to increase the benefit to 42-14.
It was a humiliating and becoming finish to a catastrophic half for Boston School.
As soon as Castellanos and his receivers lastly discovered their footing, the deficit was means too steep. An avalanche got here the Eagles’ means, and there was completely nothing they may do to cease it. Louisville averaged 10.4 yards per play, 20.3 yards per completion, and completed 5 of 5 on third down.
The Eagles received final 12 months’s assembly with the Cardinals, 34-33, marking a uncommon spotlight throughout a 3-9 season of lowlights. This assembly was a completely completely different story, as a Louisville group that got here in averaging 38.6 factors exceeded that whole in two quarters.
Jordan tacked on a 75-yard TD for good measure on the primary play of the second half.
Castellanos discovered Lewis Bond (4 catches, 74 yards, 2 TDs) for a 22-yard scoring strike to deliver the deficit again down to twenty-eight factors, and the BC protection lastly registered its first cease with 11:05 left within the third.
However the Cardinals weren’t achieved. After an Eagles three-and-out, Plummer discovered Huggins-Bruce for a 55-yard TD with 10:04 remaining within the third to make it a 56-21 sport.
Hafley, considered a defensive again guru within the NFL, watched his secondary battle mightily. He stated his gamers misplaced one-on-one battles and did some “actually uncharacteristic issues.”
The Eagles, who allowed 174.7 passing yards per sport coming in, surrendered greater than twice that quantity to Plummer.
Bond, who was a vivid spot as soon as once more, added an 11-yard rating early within the fourth.
The Eagles, who will welcome 0-4 Virginia to city Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff, are in determined want of a win. Hafley stated he isn’t involved about one deflating loss spiraling into many extra, prefer it did final 12 months.
“I don’t see that from this group,” Hafley stated. “Listening to them at halftime, and listening to them on the finish there, I don’t see that taking place. It’s my job to ensure that it doesn’t.
“We’ve obtained to get again to work.”
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