Associated Press
BOSTON ó Boston Collegeís standout linebacker Luke Kuechly seemed like he was making every tackle with the game on the line.
Starting quarterback Chase Rettig threw for a touchdown, backup Josh Bordner ran for a score and struggling Boston College stopped North Carolina State twice deep in its own territory late in the game, holding on for a 14-10 win on Saturday.
With Boston College clinging to its 4-point lead, Kuechly was at his best in the final quarter.
He finished with 18 tackles ó nine in the final 13 minutes ó for his 32nd straight game with double digits in tackles. He entered the game leading the nation with 150 after leading the nation with 183 last year.
ěI think it was one of those things where I kind of figured out what was going on and where they were trying to attack us,î said Kuechly, who missed two plays early in the third after injuring his right elbow. ěIt took a while to figure it out, but I finally got going.î
NC State moved the ball to BCís 27-yard line with just over a minute to play, but Max Holloway tipped Mike Glennonís pass at the line of scrimmage and it feel to the ground on a 4th-and-5 play with 70 seconds left.
ěWe were able to make some plays when we had to,î BC coach Frank Spaziani said. ěWhen you play good defense youíre always in the game.î
The Eagles (3-7, 2-5 ACC) are suffering through their worst season since going 4-7 in 1998 under Tom OíBrien ó now in his fifth season as head coach at North Carolina State.
ěWe couldnít put the ball in the end zone,î said OíBrien, who fell to 1-4 against his former team. ěWe just couldnít make a play against their defense when we had to. Thatís what it came down to.î
Rettig completed 9 of 13 attempts for 118 yards.
Glennon was 28 of 40 for 220 yards, and James Washington had a 3-yard TD run for the Wolfpack (5-5, 2-4).
N.C. State needs to win both of its final games to become bowl eligible because it has two wins over FCS schools. The Wolfpack hosts No. 9 Clemson and Maryland to close the season.
ěWe have a big week ahead of us,î Glennon said. ěWeíre playing one of the best teams in the country and we know we have to win out, so we just have to improve in all the aspects, finishing drives on offense and get ready. Backs against the wall now. We know it and weíre ready to step up to the task.î
Wolfpack corner back David Amerson extended a school-record with his NCAA-leading 10th interception in the first half. NC State held BC to minus-2 yards of total offense in the second half.
The Eagles led 14-3 at halftime.
On the drive before its last one, North Carolina State started at its own 18 with 13 1/2 minutes left and marched down to the Eaglesí 23 before Donnie Fletcher picked off Glennonís pass in the end zone.
Boston College took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field in five plays, grabbing a 7-0 lead when backup quarterback Bordner scored on a 3-yard run off an option play. The score came two plays after Rettig hit Alex Amidon with a 41-yard pass along the left sideline, moving the ball to the Wolfpackís 9.
NC State, coming off a shutout win over rival North Carolina last week, drove 61 yards in 13 plays on its first possession before the drive stalled and Niklas Sade kicked a 32-yard field goal. Glennon completed 7 of 8 passes for 60 yards with the only incompletion a drop by T.J. Graham.
The Wolfpack had four first downs on their first drive of the game, but only had three more until midway into the final quarter.
The Eagles improved their lead to 14-3 late in the first half on Rettigís 17-yard TD pass to Colin Larmond Jr. BC started with good field position after Wil Baumannís 24-yard punt gave them the ball at their own 41. Rettig completed consecutive passes for a combined 23 yards and Williams carried six times ó mostly up the middle ó for 16 yards.
Except for the final possession ó which was a one-play kneel down to end the half ó BC went into NC State territory each time it had the ball in the first half.
Washingtonís scoring run cut it to 14-10 midway into the third quarter. On a third-and-4 from the Eaglesí 38, Glennon lofted a pass to tight end Quinton Payton that dropped in between four defenders.
Late in the first half, a fan wearing a No. 40 BC jersey ran onto the field from the student section toward the line of scrimmage. Wolfpack offensive tackle Rob Crisp knocked the male intruder to the ground with his right arm before he got up and was taken off the field by security.
The Associated Press
11/12/11 16:51