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Boston College Triumphs Over Central Michigan

ACC DN Video: Highlights

Chestnut Hill, Mass. (bceagles.com) – Boston College scored a season-high 28 points and rushed for 224 yards as the Eagles claimed a 28-8 win over Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

 
Junior running back Jon Hilliman scored a career-best three touchdowns - two rushing, one receiving - to pace a ground attack that also saw freshman AJ Dillon become the first freshman running back to collect a 100-yard game since Hilliman in 2014. Dillon finished with a game-high 120 yards.
 
Three Boston College (2-3) touchdowns were set up by punt returns by junior Michael Walker, who collected a career-high 128 yards on four punt returns. That figure is fourth-most in BC single-game history.
 
After Central Michigan (2-3) recorded a safety 3:14 into the game, BC scored two touchdowns inside the first quarter to take a 14-2 lead. Central Michigan got a six-yard run to pull within eight points, but their two-point conversion failed
 
Hilliman's second TD of the day with 4:03 left the second pushed the Eagles' lead to 21-8, before he added a receiving TD with 7:40 left in the third quarter to round out the scoring.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 28, Central Michigan 8
Records: Boston College (2-3, 0-2 ACC), Central Michigan (2-3, 0-1 MAC)
Location: Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Attendance: 27,036
Time of Game: 3:07
Weather: 55 degrees, overcast, intermittent showers
 
BC HIGHLIGHTS
  • Junior wide receiver Michael Walker totaled 128 yards in punt returns, which is fourth in single game history, including a career-long 61-yard punt return. He finished the day with 135 return yards that also included a kick return of seven yards.
  • Hilliman's second TD of the day was his recorded his 23rd career rushing touchdown, which is tied for 10th in BC history. Today marked the seventh time in Hilliman's career that he scored two rushing touchdowns and the first time that he scored three touchdowns in one game.
  • Junior free safety Lukas Denis recorded his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season. He entered the game tied for second in the nation in interceptions. This was his first two-interception game of his career.
  • Senior defensive end Harold Landry recorded his 43rd tackle for loss in the second quarter and added a second - a sack - in the fourth. With those tackles, he moved past Chris Hovan (1996-99) for sole possession of third place in the BC record book for career TFLs.
  • Freshman running back AJ Dillon rushed for 120 yards, marking the first 100-yard game by a BC true freshman running back since Hilliman rushed for 148 yards in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 27, 2014).
  • Junior defensive end Zach Allen recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.
  • Junior defensive back Will Harris registered 10 tackles, tying his single-game best which he set in the 2017 season opener at Northern Illinois (Sept. 1)

KEY MOMENT
  • Dillon converted a 15-yard touchdown rush with 4:25 left in the first quarter to give the Eagles a 14-2 lead. The drive was set up by a 34-yard punt return by Walker, a 15-yard rush by Hilliman and Anthony Brown's 11-yard rush.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After Jack Sheldon's 42-yard punt to the Eagles one-yard line, Hilliman was tackled on a first down running play by Nathan Brisson-Fast for the safety as the Chippewa's took an early 2-0 lead at 11:46 in the first quarter.
  • On the following play, Walker rushed for a career-long 61-yard punt return to the Eagles' six-yard line. Hilliman gave the Eagles a 7-2 lead with a six-yard touchdown rush at 10:33.
  • The Eagles increased their lead shortly after at 4:25 when Dillon completed a 15-yard touchdown rush, making the score 14-2. The scoring drive included a 34-yard punt return by Walker, a 15-yard rush by Hilliman, and an 11-yard rush by Brown to set the Eagles up in CMU territory.
  • Kumehnnu Gwilly rushed for 33 yards to the BC 29-yard line. After an 18-yard pass from Shane Morris to Jonathan Ward and a 16-yard reception by Mark Chapman, the Chippewa's had the ball at the BC one-yard line. Gwilly rushed for a one yard touchdown at 10:24 and CMU could not convert the two-point conversion, making the score 14-8 in the second quarter.
  • After a 29-yard punt return by Walker to the CMU 17-yard line, Hilliman rushed for five yards. On the following play, Hilliman converted a two-yard touchdown run at 4:03, increasing the Eagles lead to 21-8.
  • Half-way through the third quarter, Brown completed a 23-yard pass to junior wide receiver Jeff Smith. After a series of runs by Hilliman and an 18-yard rush by AJ Dillon, Brown converted a three-yard touchdown pass to Hilliman at 7:40 to give the Eagles a 28-8 lead.
UP NEXT
The Eagles return to action against No. 12 Virginia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:15 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Mass. ESPN2 will have the broadcast and it will be carried on radio by the Boston College IMG Sports Network.