Boston College 16, Clemson 13, OT

Posted 4:18PM on Saturday 24th September 2005 ( 19 years ago )

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Brian Toal's 1-yard run in overtime lifted Boston College to its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory, 16-13 in overtime at Clemson on Saturday. The Eagles (3-1, 1-1 ACC) did not score for the game's final 41 minutes after taking a 10-0 lead at Death Valley. But on 2nd-and-goal on their extra possession, linebacker Toal moved through the right side for the winning touchdown. For Clemson (2-2, 1-2), it meant a second-straight heartbreaking home defeat after last week's loss to Miami, 36-30 in triple overtime. Andre Callender rushed for 116 yards for Boston College, which played without starting quarterback Quinton Porter. Porter injured his right ankle in the Eagles' ACC debut last Saturday night, a 28-17 loss to Florida State. Boston College had a chance to end things in regulation. But sophomore kicker Ryan Ohliger was short and right on a 48-yard field goal try with 1:14 remaining. After Clemson was held on downs, the Eagles got one more shot as they moved into Tigers' territory in the final minute. But Tye Hill intercepted Ryan as time ran out. Clemson settled for a 24-yard field goal on its overtime possession for its first lead of the game, 13-10. Callender looked like he had the game won with a rush to the goalline as BC's players started to rush to the field in celebration. Unlike a week ago when the Eagles couldn't score on seven plays from inside Florida State's 3, Toal slid in for the landmark TD. This was Boston College's first conference road trip and there's almost no tougher place to start than Clemson's Memorial Stadium, renowned as one of the ACC's loudest and rowdiest venues. The Eagles and backup passer Matt Ryan were far from awed, scoring on two of their opening possessions to lead 10-0 and it would've been 3-for-3 if not for Jamaal Fudge's interception in the end zone with Boston College on Clemson's 7. When Ryan snuck for a 1-yard TD with 10:35 left in the second quarter, Boston College appeared on the way to a road rout. After all, the Tigers had punted on its first three possessions, had only one first down and just 10 total yards. But like all its games this season, Clemson rallied back. The Tigers trailed by 10 points at Maryland two weeks ago before winning and were down 20-10 to Miami in the fourth quarter when their rally started. This time, Jad Dean got the Tigers going with a 36-yard field goal. Clemson finally held the Eagles helped by linebacker David Dunham's crunching hit on Ryan that knocked the quarterback's helmet off and temporarily put him on the sidelines alongside hurt starter Quinton Porter. Reggie Merriweather had 37 yards rushing on Clemson's series nearly half the team's rushing total to that point and Whitehurst finished with a 1-yard touchdown run to send things to halftime tied at 10-all. That's the way things stood until overtime. Ryan finished 24 of 42 for 221 yards and two interceptions. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/9/125233