Eagles smother the Flashes

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.--Kent State's bid to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2006 fell woefully short as Boston College dissected the Flashes on the way to a 34-7 victory at Alumni Stadium.

The lone highlight for the Golden Flashes (1-1) came late in the fourth quarter when freshman quarterback Spencer Keith completed a 65-yard drive with his first career touchdown pass, a 4-yarder to tight end Jon Simpson.

The scoring began on Boston College's second drive when redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Tuggle completed a long play-action pass to wide receiver Colin Larmond Jr.

Two possession's later Kent State quarterback Giorgio Morgan had his first pass of the drive tipped and intercepted by freshman linebacker Nick Clancy. The Eagles found the end zone two plays later when quarterback Dave Shinskie found senior wide out Rich Gunnell in the back of the end zone.

Two Kent State three-and-outs later, Boston College running back Montel Harris made it a 21-0 game with a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:52 left in the second quarter. Harris rushed 19 times for 80 yards in the game.

By halftime it was 24-0 and with Morgan and backup quarterback Anthony Magazu playing through injuries, Kent State head coach Doug Martin turned to Keith on offense.

"Giorgio was limited because of his injury and Anthony's arm injury limits him from stretching the field," Martin said.

In all, seven quarterbacks took snaps in the game-three for KSU and four for BC. Three of the seven were freshmen.

Morgan, hobbled by an ankle injury, started the game and completed 9-of-16 attempts for 38 yards and an interception. Magazu entered the game on Kent's seventh drive and did little to propel the Kent State offense.

Keith was under center for the Flashes to start the second half, but his first career pass attempt was intercepted by Eagle's linebacker Dominick LeGrande.

"I took the read away from Spencer on the pick and told him to hit the tight end on the crossing route," Martin said. "Instead he went to the outside and threw a pick, but that's what freshmen do."

The turnover led to another Eagle's touchdown when Tuggle, who went 6-for-12 for 150 yards, completed a 4-yard pass to Gunnel for his second touchdown pushing the Eagles lead to 31-0.

Keith recorded his first career completion-a 4-yard loss-on Kent State's next possession, then a fumble on the next play was recovered by Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly on the Kent State 16.

Kent State safety Brian Lainhart recorded his tenth career interception on a deep pass from Shinskie early in the third quarter but the Flashes couldn't do anything with the ball and were forced into another punt.

"The pick didn't really help how I felt about how the game went," Lainhart said. "We had a couple blown coverages today and I don't really care about my personal statistics."

With the score extended to 34-0 by a Nick Aponavicius field goal, the Flashes went three-and-out but in the third quarter Keith came back and completed seven passes to lead the team to its lone score.

"It felt really good to get that first TD and I'm just going to learn from it and try to get better," Keith said.

Keith's experience against Boston College could help the Flashes down the road.

"We are a better team because of his experience today," Martin said. "We are going to need him to progress if we are going to win MAC games."

Despite having the advantage in time of possession, albeit by two-seconds, the Flashes offense managed only four third-down conversions in 16 chances and had only 179 yards in total offense. Running back Eugene Jarvis was limited to just 10 carries for 21 yards and didn't play in the second half.

The Kent State defense didn't fair any better, as the Flashes allowed 349 total yards and were burned for long touchdown passes of 57 and 44 yards.

"BC ran a couple of hitch and goes but our defensive backs contested them," Martin said. "We need our guys to recognize the double moves a little better."

Kent State's returns home next week where they will host Iowa State. It will by the Cyclones first visit to Dix Stadium since 1971.

"We played a really good team today and whoever their strength coach is, he isn't paid enough," Martin said. "They are strong and are a first class outfit. Now we need to get Giorgio healthy and get ready for Iowa State."

Scoring SummaryBoston College: Colin Larmond 57 yd pass from Justin Tuggle (Steve Aponavicius kick)Boston College: Rich Gunnell 21 yd pass from Dave Shinskie (Steve Aponavicius kick)Boston College: Montel Harris 1 yd run (Steve Aponavicius kick)Boston College: Steve Aponavicius 24 yd FGBoston College: Rich Gunnell 6 yd pass from Justin Tuggle (Steve Aponavicius kick)Boston College: Steve Aponavicius 33 yd FGKent State: Jonathan Simpson 4 yd pass from Spencer Keith (Freddy Cortez kick)Team StatisticsBoston CollegeKent StateTOTAL FIRST DOWNS1613TOTAL NET YARDS349179Total Plays6666Average Gain5.32.7NET YARDS RUSHING12660Rushes3729Average per rush3.42.1NET YARDS PASSING223119Completions-attempted15-2921-37Sacked00Yards Lost00TOTAL TURNOVERS13Interceptions12Fumbles Lost01OTHERPenalties56Penalty Yards7744Time of Possesion29:5930:1Punts610Punt Average40.538.6Return Yards62104PassingBoston CollegeCMPATTYDSTDINTYDS/ATTDave Shinskie (0)91673114.6Justin Tuggle (0)6121502012.5Michael Marscovetra (0)010000.0Kent StateCMPATTYDSTDINTYDS/ATTSpencer Keith (0)91471115.1Anthony Magazu (0)3710001.4Giorgio Morgan (0)91638012.4RushingBoston CollegeATTYDSTDAVGMontel Harris (0)196813.6Rolandan Finch (0)63205.3Josh Haden (0)83003.8Justin Tuggle (0)2301.5Michael Marscovetra (0)1-20-2.0Dave Shinskie (0)1-50-5.0Kent StateATTYDSTDAVGAndre Flowers (0)103003.0Dri Archer (0)51903.8Eugene Jarvis (0)101701.7Giorgio Morgan (0)1101.0Spencer Keith (0)3-70-2.3ReceivingBoston CollegeATTYDSTDAVGRich Gunnell (0)6114219.0Colin Larmond (0)374124.7Clarence Megwa (0)21407.0Chris Pantale (0)21206.0Jordon McMichael (0)2904.5Kent StateATTYDSTDAVGTyshon Goode (0)42606.5Eugene Jarvis (0)3802.7Dri Archer (0)231015.5Jameson Konz (0)21809.0Kendrick Pressley (0)21608.0Chris Gordon (0)21608.0Phil Garner (0)2100.5Andre Flowers (0)2-10-0.5Jonathan Simpson (0)1414.0Sam Kirkland (0)1000.0