Quarterback Thomas Castellanos scored his fourth rushing touchdown with 25 seconds remaining to lift Boston College to a 27-24 victory over Army on a stormy Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium.
BC improved to 3-3 and enters the bye week with two straight victories and first on the road. BC resumes ACC play at Georgia Tech on Oct. 21.
Castellanos, a sophomore transfer from Central Florida, carried the ball 31 times for 142 yards behind a committed offensive line that maintained its discipline despite the adverse weather conditions.
Army quarterback Bryson Dailey rushed for 99 yards and threw for 105 more and a touchdown. BC outgained Army 299-161 in rushing yards and had 19 first downs to 12 for the Cadets.
“This is a hard team to game plan for, it is very different and then the rain made us both one-dimensional running the football,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “We shrunk the game plan and we dummied it down to play fast and stay on our assignments and our players made plays.”
The BC defense forced a three-and-out on the Cadets’ opening possession and a shanked Cooper Allan punt gave the Eagles the ball on the Army 40. BC went up 6-0 when Castellanos escaped pressure, found a seam in the Black Knights’ secondary and went 20 yards for a touchdown with 7:35 to play. Liam Connor’s PAT kick failed. Army had not allowed points in the first quarter in its previous four games.
“The coaches wanted me to keep rolling out and finding the edge,” said Castellanos. “That was me making a play and putting quick points there.”
Army caught a huge break when strong safety Quindrelin Hammonds intercepted Castellanos’ pass to Dino Tomlin and returned it the BC 43. Army advanced the ball inside the BC 10, where the drive stalled. Kicker Quinn Maretzki made it 6-3 with a 22-yard field goal with 10:08 to play.
BC went up 13-3 on a drive that would have found favor with Army coach Jeff Monken. BC went 75 yards on 17 plays, consuming 8:44 off the clock. The trip was extended by two fourth-down conversions and ended with Castellanos’ second touchdown run of the half.
The highlight of the drive occurred when Castellanos broke into the Army secondary and was running for daylight. Castellanos’ rush was cut short when he collided with umpire Mark Wilson and went down like a sack of rice.
“I was talking to him (Wilson) on the sideline and I asked him, ‘How much are lifting?’ It was like hitting a brick wall,” said Castellanos.
Army return specialist Zach Mundell took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and ran it 53 yards to the BC 37. Six plays later, wingback Tyrell Robinson scored from the 10 to make it 13-10 with 10:48 to play.
The Eagles’ response was fast and furious. BC went 75 yards on five plays that included a 50-yard run by tailback Pat Garwo to the Army 10. Castellanos scored on a rush around left tackle for his third of the game to make it 20-10 with 7:36 to play.
Army answered with a scoring drive to make it 20-17 with 2:51 to play. Featured tailback Hayden Reed went up the middle from to six for his second of the season. The Black Knights took their first lead, 24-20, when Daily completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyson Riley with 11:43 to play.
Army’s defense stopped Castellanos on a fourth and two, but BC got it back when Daily was flagged for an illegal forward pass on third down and Army had to punt.
