With Grayson James making his first start, Boston College overcame a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter to edge past visiting Western Kentucky 21-20 in nonconference action on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
The FIU transfer quarterback was 19-of-32 passing for 168 yards and a touchdown, finding Jerand Bradley for an 8-yard reception in the back of the end zone with 3:33 remaining. Liam Connor’s ensuing PAT stood as the game-winning point.
The victory was Boston College’s (4-1) second come-from-behind win in as many weeks.
James was starting in place of the injured Thomas Castellanos.
Donovan Ezeiruaku led the defensive effort with a career-high 14 tackles, including four for loss, and three sacks.
Western Kentucky transfer Kye Robichaux rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for the Eagles.
Ezeiruaku made the key play that led to the Eagles’ go-ahead score, strip-sacking Caden Veltkamp and forcing a fumble that George Rooks recovered with 6:23 remaining.
After the recovery at the Western Kentucky 20-yard line, Robichaux brought the Eagles into goal-to-go territory and James found Bradley three plays later.
Veltkamp was 25-for-39 for 232 yards and two touchdowns for Western Kentucky (3-2), which fell just short of its fifth power conference win as an FBS program.
Elijah Young rushed 21 times for 85 yards, and KeeSean Johnson had 56 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Hilltoppers.
Before the winner, James found Treshaun Ward out of the backfield and Jaedn Skeete for key plays to cross midfield before scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper, bringing Boston College back within one score with 11:36 left.
Western Kentucky was stopped on fourth down in the red zone to begin the game but strung together an eight-play, 63-yard scoring drive on its second series. Veltkamp’s 33-yard deep ball to River Helms on third-and-1 helped set up Johnson’s 3-yard touchdown catch with 3:05 left in the first.
A Khari Johnson interception looked to turn the momentum in the hosts’ favor late in the first, but Keondre Williams picked off a James pass on the third play of the ensuing series to turn the ball back.
Western Kentucky doubled its lead to 14-0 when Easton Messer made a 7-yard catch at the 12:01 mark of the second quarter.
James completed all six passes during a 13-play, 74-yard drive that bled 5:59 of the second-quarter clock and brought the Eagles within 14-7. Robichaux ended the series with a 3-yard score.
Lucas Carneiro kicked field goals from 22 and 35 yards away to cap 12-play drives on both sides of halftime, increasing the Hilltopper lead to 20-7 near the midway mark of the fourth.
–Field Level Media
