NCAAF Game Preview - Texas State at Boston College
Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:00 PM EDT

Bama
38
MIZ
19
F
K St
38
Okla
35
F
UGA
37
Ark
10
F
Fla
51
Miss
35
F
MissSt
44
LSU
34
F
KY
13
Aub
29
F
Tex
63
TxTch
56
F OT
Vand
12
TxAM
17
F
FlaSt
10
MiaFL
52
F
UCF
51
ECU
28
F
Army
10
Cin
24
F
WVU
13
OkSt
27
F
Tenn
31
SCar
27
F
Troy
7
BYU
48
F
GaSo
18
ULLaf
20
F
NCSt
24
VaTec
45
F
Lou
20
Pitt
23
F
UAB
42
SoAl
10
F
MidTN
35
UTSA
37
F
Camp
21
App
52
F
GATec
20
Syr
37
F
FLInt
34
Lib
36
F
IASt
37
TCU
34
F
Tul
66
SMiss
24
F
UTEP
31
ULMon
6
F
Duke
20
UVA
38
F
TxSt
21
BC
24
F
HBU
38
LT
66
F
SFA
7
SMU
50
F
Kans
14
Bayl
47
F
Boston College QB Jurkovec takes aim at Texas State
Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:48 PM

Once he found a rhythm in his Boston College debut, quarterback Phil Jurkovec realized how much he had missed the physicality of the game.

"I haven't been out there playing real football in so long," he said. "Getting out there, taking hits and playing again was so much fun."

After throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns last weekend in Boston College's 26-6 victory at Duke in its Atlantic Coast Conference and season opener, Jurkovec looks to keep it rolling Saturday as the Eagles (1-0) host Texas State in their lone nonconference game.

The Bobcats (1-2) can expect to see plenty of Jurkovec. The Notre Dame transfer, who endured a lengthy wait to gain eligibility and hadn't started since his senior year of high school in 2017, featured prominently in the win over the Blue Devils. The redshirt sophomore rushed 12 times and completed 17 of 23 passes with one interception.

"We're gonna throw the ball," first-year Boston College coach Jeff Hafley said. "You guys saw (Saturday), we threw it for what, 300 yards? We're gonna throw the ball, we're gonna throw it downfield, we're gonna have a quick game, we're gonna have screen, we're gonna do it all."

Texas State boasts a budding passing game of its own. In his two games, junior Tyler Vitt has passed for 602 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.

However, Vitt is likely to split snaps with sophomore Brady McBride, Bobcats coach Jake Spavital said Tuesday, acknowledging the team's situation under center was "up in the air" now that McBride has returned to health.

McBride, who started the season opener against SMU, didn't travel with the Bobcats for their 38-17 victory at Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, as he spent the week in COVID-19 protocol. Texas State earned its first road win since Nov. 3, 2018, behind the athleticism of Vitt, who passed for 256 yards and two scores while carrying the ball 11 times for a team-best 82 yards and a touchdown.

The Bobcats also got it done on defense, with Jarron Morris tying a school record with a 100-yard interception return touchdown to cap the scoring. Texas State also turned an earlier turnover into a touchdown.

"It was all about playing with physicality and playing with extreme effort and playing with emotion," Spavital said. "That's what we preached all week."

The Eagles forced five turnovers at Duke and were especially opportunistic in the red zone, where the Blue Devils committed four of those miscues.

Boston College's defense helped Jurkovec settle in and get acclimated with his new targets. The Eagles outscored Duke 19-0 after halftime, with Jurkovec connecting with wide receiver Zay Flowers (five receptions, 162 yards) and tight end Hunter Long (seven receptions, 93 yards) for touchdowns.

Hafley told reporters Tuesday that the season status of senior wide receiver Kobay White, the team's leading returning wideout, remained questionable due to a knee injury. White didn't play at Duke.

Saturday marks the first meeting between Boston College and Texas State. The Eagles have won 14 of their past 20 home openers.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

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