Colorado State rallies for 24-21 win over BC

Sep 27, 2014, 06:05 pm

BOSTON -- Garrett Grayson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charles Lovett on a fourth-down play with 1:02 left, lifting Colorado State to a 24-21 victory over Boston College on Saturday afternoon.

Grayson completed 28 of 42 passes for 269 yards with two TDs for Colorado State (3-1) and Dee Hart rushed 10 times for 117 yards, including a 43-yarder that moved the ball deep in Boston College's territory on the game-winning drive.

Jon Hilliman carried 24 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Tyler Murphy ran for a score for Boston College (3-2).

Murphy, who entered the day leading all quarterbacks in rushing with 500 yards, carried 16 times for 79. He also completed 12 of 18 passes for 169 yards with an interception.

Trailing 21-17, Colorado State took the ball over at its own 10 with just over five minutes to play and moved it to BC's 12 after a 43-yard run by Hart. On the fourth-and-12, Grayson had time in the pocket and found Lovett in the back right corner of the end zone.

BC led 21-17 early in the final quarter and was in Colorado State territory when Murphy was picked off at the 19 by Bernard Blake.

The Rams then moved into Eagles' territory, but were held on a fourth-and-2 at the 38 when linebacker Steven Daniels tipped Grayson's pass.

With temperatures in the low 80s and a hotter on the turf field, both defenses seemed to wear down at the start of the second half.

After Colorado State had a long drive to tie the game at 14, the Eagles responded by going 82 yards in 11 plays, with Hilliman's second TD run of the day -- a 5-yarder -- pushing the Eagles ahead 21-14 late in the third quarter. Murphy converted a fourth-and-1 at the 7 before the score.

Jared Roberts' 33-yard field cut it to 21-17 just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Colorado State had taken the ball to start the second half and drove it 82 yards in 10 plays, tying the game on Treyous Jarrells' 6-yard run.

The Eagles led 14-0 midway into the second quarter.

Former Eagles and current New York Giants RB Andre Williams, LB Mark Herzlich and DE Mathias Kiwanuka were on the sidelines and introduced to the crowd in the second quarter.

After BC's second interception of the first quarter, the Eagles marched 80 yards in 11 plays, with Hilliman capping the drive with a 4-yard TD to make it 7-0. Murphy had a couple of big plays on the drive, hitting Marcus Outlow for 31-yard pass and running for 16 himself on a 3rd-and-10 from the Rams' 20.

On its next possession, BC took the ball 96 yards in 11 plays before Murphy had his 7-yard TD run. On the first play from its own 4, Hilliman broke up the middle for 52 yards.

The Rams then got on the scoreboard when Grayson hit Rashard Higgins with a 21-yard TD pass late in the second quarter.

BC's Alex Howell missed a 40-yard field goal attempt as the first half ended.

The Rams marched into BC territory twice early into the game only to have Grayson intercepted twice. The first time they moved to BC's 35. On the second trip, they were prepared to attempt a 40-yard field goal after defensive back Bryce Jones' catch was ruled out of the end zone, but a reversed call gave the Eagles the ball at the 20. The play was ruled a catch and touchback.