Rams end disappointing year with loss to Eagles: Boston College wins San Francisco Bowl 35-21

SAN FRANCISCO – Boston College safety T.J. Stancil did not have

an interception all season. But the junior said he told a friend at

the Eagles’ hotel that he would have three interceptions against

CSU in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl Wednesday.

Stancil lived up to his promise, recording three of BC’s (8-5)

five interceptions. CSU (7-6) quarterbacks Justin Holland and

Bradlee Van Pelt combined to throw five interceptions as the Eagles

pounded the Rams 35-21 in front of an announced 25,621.

“A lot of people have been getting on me because I haven’t had

any picks,” Stancil said. “We had a great scouting report.”

The Rams came into the game ranked 105th out of 117 Division I-A

teams in turnover margin. To make matters worse, Van Pelt was still

recovering from a broken right hand and had problems with swelling

throughout the game.

“You look at five interceptions, you’re going to lose the game,”

said Van Pelt, who had an x-ray on his hand after playing his last

collegiate game. “It’s the story of our season where we shoot

ourselves in the foot.”

The Eagles jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead behind good

field position set up by turnovers, special teams and big plays by

the offense. BC’s Will Blackmon returned the opening kickoff 59

yards to the CSU 41-yard line to set up the first Eagles’ score. BC

started the next drive on their own 2-yard line, but quarterback

Paul Peterson led the Eagles down the field, hooking up with

receiver Larry Lester on a 50-yard bomb to put BC up 14-0. Holland

started the game for CSU and threw the first of his two

interceptions on the second Ram possession. BC star running back

Derrick Knight took over from there, scoring his second touchdown

to put the Rams in a huge hole. Knight had 30 carries for 122 yards

and three touchdowns.

“In the beginning we started real flat,” said senior cornerback

and returnman Dexter Wynn, who also caught the first two passes of

his career on offense. “But we knew we could play with them when

the second quarter rolled around and we shut them out.”

The CSU defense began to shut down Knight and Peterson and CSU

got on the board on Van Pelt’s first drive of the game as running

back Jimmy Green ran it in from seven yards.

The Rams looked to be headed for another score just before

halftime, but Van Pelt threw across his body on a rollout and

Stancil made his second interception of the game in the end

zone.

CSU inched closer to 21-14 in the third quarter when Van Pelt

hit receiver David Anderson on a deep post for 40 yards and a

touchdown. Anderson’s 10 catches for 134 yards gave the sophomore

the all-time single season high in CSU history in both receiving

yards (1,293) and receptions (72). With the absence of starter

Chris Pittman due to academic ineligibility, Anderson played a key

role in the passing game and also set the school’s bowl game record

in receiving yards and receptions.

“I got hit pretty hard one play so I couldn’t really tell you

how it is (to get the record),” Anderson said. “But it’s nice I

guess, but I’d like to get a victory, I’m 0-2 in bowl games.”

The Rams could come no closer than seven points, however as Van

Pelt and Holland threw three more interceptions and BC expanded the

lead to 35-14. Head coach Sonny Lubick took the blame for the team

not being ready and said a lot of work needs to be done to cut down

the turnovers for next season.