Virginia brings momentum into matchup with stable BC crew


Virginia brings loads of momentum into Saturday’s matchup with Boston Faculty, which can be taking part in its final sport of the season.

However the Eagles have hardly been pushovers beneath first-year coach Jeff Hafley.

The Cavaliers (4-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Convention) have rallied behind quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who missed two video games (each losses) and a part of a 3rd with a concussion earlier within the season. He has thrown for 10 touchdowns with two interceptions within the final 4 video games whereas including a working risk to the combo.

Armstrong is coming off a 383-yard, four-touchdown passing efficiency, together with three scoring throws of 52 yards or extra, in a rout of Abilene Christian. He has additionally rushed for not less than 52 yards in every of the final 4 video games.

”I marvel generally simply at that arm energy and a number of the throws that he makes in a number of the home windows that he throws them into,” coach Bronco Mendenhall mentioned this week. ”And his confidence and how briskly he makes selections. So I’ve seen glimpses of all that however not on the similar quantity. And so I have been actually impressed simply with the decision-making, the accuracy and arm energy.”

The Eagles (6-4, 5-4) are ending their season on schedule, uncommon on this pandemic-affected 12 months for school soccer, however a postseason berth is unsure.

All of BC’s losses have come to opponents that had been ranked on the time, and the Eagles had been aggressive in opposition to then-No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Notre Dame.

”If we may end 6-4 within the ACC, it might be a pleasant approach to ship out the seniors, good momentum going into the offseason, and only a lot to construct off of,” Hafley mentioned. ”Regardless, I am already happy with the fellows and the way they’ve fought.

”I believe within the final 5 video games, we have gained three and misplaced to the No. 1 and a pair of within the nation. The final 5 video games, our guys are getting higher and can maintain repeating. I believe it may assist us down the street.”

Listed below are some issues to observe when Boston Faculty visits Virginia:

UNDEFEATED

The Eagles are 6-0 in opposition to Virginia, together with 4-0 since they joined the ACC. Their final assembly was a 41-10 beatdown in Scott Stadium in 2017.

DEEP THREAT

Virginia freshman WR Lavel Davis Jr. has 5 landing catches in as many begins, together with a 90-yarder final weekend. He leads the ACC with a mean of 26.7 yards per reception.

MASK UP

The Eagles have not had a single optimistic COVID-19 check since consumption testing over the summer season. That is helped them turn into considered one of 5 Energy 5 groups to have performed 10 video games already.

”That’s the hardest factor we have needed to cope with,” Hafley mentioned. ”It is not simply our soccer crew, I believe that our campus has accomplished a fantastic job too. You have to give a whole lot of credit score to all people round right here, actually our gamers.”

HAFLEY’S YEAR

Hafley, who was an Ohio State assistant when BC employed him final Dec. 14, is developing on his one-year anniversary in Chestnut Hill. It has been an odd one.

A 12 months in the past, the second-ranked Buckeyes had simply crushed archrival Michigan and had been getting ready for the Large Ten championship sport in opposition to Wisconsin. After Hafley was employed, he nonetheless needed to coach Ohio State within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, the place it misplaced to Clemson.

Then got here a season that wasn’t like anybody may have anticipated. Spring ball was interrupted, and Hafley met his gamers by way of Zoom. A lot of the recruiting was additionally accomplished remotely.

”This season has been extra particular than I may have ever imagined,” mentioned Hafley, whose six wins are essentially the most for a first-year BC coach. ”I am going to always remember that first win when nobody thought we might play. I am going to always remember any of the moments that we have had within the locker room after these laborious wins when individuals did not know if we might play. … I believe all of it occurred for a motive.”

Extra AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25





supply

Leave a Reply