Jurkovec throws 3 TDs; BC beats Pitt in OT on missed PAT
Phil Jurkovec threw three TD passes to Zay Flowers _ the last a 25-yarder in overtime _ and ran for a score and Boston College beat Pittsburgh 31-30
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Phil Jurkovec threw three touchdown passes to Zay Flowers — the last a 25-yarder in overtime — and ran for a score as Boston College beat Pittsburgh 31-30 on Saturday night when the Panthers missed an extra-point attempt to end the game.
Jurkovec, a sophomore transfer from Notre Dame, was 19 of 35 for 358 yards passing as the Eagles (3-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) rebounded from a frustrating close loss to then-No. 12 North Carolina. Flowers had six catches for 162 yards.
Kenny Pickett completed 25 of 48 passes for 266 yards for Pittsburgh (3-2, 2-2). He threw two TD passes, ran for a score, and then limped off the field late in the third quarter but returned in the next series to throw an interception.
On BC’s first possession in OT, Jurkovec threw a strike down the middle to Flowers in the end zone on third-and-10.
Pickett hit Taysir Mack with a 3-yard TD pass, but Alex Kessman missed wide right on the PAT. He had hit a 58-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in regulation. BC’s Aaron Boumerhi was wide left on a 52-yarder as time expired to force overtime.
Pittsburgh rallied from a 10-point deficit.
Vincent Davis’ 4-yard scoring run sliced it to 24-21 late in the third. The Panthers took over at their own 38 with 3 1/2 minutes to play and marched to BC’s 26. Max Richardson sacked Pickett on third-and-5 for a 15-yard loss before the game-tying field goal.
Jurkovec hit Flowers with a 77-yard TD pass down the middle on the second play after halftime to give the Eagles a 24-14 lead. Jurkovec also found Flowers with a 44-yard strike in the left corner of the end zone early into the second quarter.
BC led 17-14 after an entertaining first half that was filled with pass interference calls, three long scoring drives — two by the Eagles — and over 300 combined yards passing.
In a matchup of the conference’s second and third ranked quarterbacks in yards passing per game, (Pickett was second and led with 1,123 total yards), both teams came out up-tempo on their first possession and drove easily before things settled down in the second quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Pittsburgh: The Panthers’ defense came into the day second in the nation in fewest yards allowed per game but was picked apart. After giving up a late scoring drive in a loss to N.C. State last week, they’ll have to fix things quickly with tough matchups at Miami and against Notre Dame the next two weeks.
Boston College: Seems a bit ahead of schedule under first-year coach Jeff Hafley, but if Jurkovec keeps playing the way he is they’ll be a tough matchup for anyone.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: At No. 7 Miami on Saturday.
Boston College: At Virginia Tech on Saturday night.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25