Nov. 8, 2008
Notre Dame at Boston College Final Stats
BOSTON (AP) – Paul Anderson intercepted Jimmy Clausen twice, running one back 76 yards for a touchdown on Saturday night, as Boston College beat Notre Dame 17-0 and extended its winning streak against the Fighting Irish to six in a row.
With the victory, BC (6-3) pulled even in the all-time series between the nation’s only Catholic schools playing top-tier football – a tally that was unthinkable only a decade ago, when Notre Dame had won eight of 10 matchups and had 11 consensus national championships to one for Boston College.
Clausen completed 26-of-46 passes for 226 yards for the Irish (5-4). But he also had four interceptions, one returned for a score and two others to kill drives after Notre Dame ventured deep into BC territory.
It was the first shutout for either team in the series that began in 1975 and was dominated by the Irish for the first two decades. Notre Dame has dropped BC from its schedule after two more years.
And just in time.
Montel Harris carried 23 times for 120 yards for the Eagles, who posted their third shutout of the season to snap a two-game losing streak and qualify for a bowl game for the 10th year in a row. Chris Crane completed just 9-of-22 passes for 79 yards, but the BC defense held Notre Dame to 66 yards rushing while collecting five turnovers to go with a blocked punt.
Steve Aponavicius, the walk-on placekicker who was the feel good story for BC last season, missed his first field goal attempt but made his second to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead in the first. It stayed that way until Clausen overthrew his receiver over the middle midway through the second and Anderson gathered it in, then let his blockers clear a path to the end zone.
BC made it 17-0 when Golden Tate fumbled a punt and Brad Newman fell on it at the Irish 48 yard-line. Crane brought BC to the 9 before hitting Brandon Robinson for a touchdown with 10:27 to play in the third quarter.
Ifeanyi Momah blocked a punt and Codi Boek fell on it at the Irish 31 yard-line, but Aponavicius, who missed two field goals in a six-point loss to Clemson last week, missed from 32 yards.
Clausen brought Notre Dame to the BC 24 in the final three minutes before he was picked off by Donnie Fletcher, and the Eagles ran out the clock.