Saturday’s first-ever Atlantic Coast Convention assembly between Boston Faculty and Cal in Chestnut Hill, Mass., can be a significant bounce-back alternative for each groups.
Boston Faculty (1-2, 0-1 ACC) had an extended wait to get again on the sector, carrying a league-opening, 30-20 loss at Stanford right into a bye week. Now, second-year coach Invoice O’Brien’s Eagles start a stretch of eight straight sport weeks in opposition to the Golden Bears (3-1, 0-0).
Whereas Alabama switch Dylan Lonergan has thrown a nation-leading 90 complete completions and a conference-best 330.3 passing yards per sport, turnovers harm the Eagles in each losses. All three at Stanford led to opposing scores.
Bucking that development was a significant focus of the bye week.
“We have got to maintain the ball,” O’Brien mentioned. “Take a look at the professional video games and take a look at the school video games (from this previous weekend). Nearly all of these video games, the turnover margin is the distinction within the sport.”
Lonergan has fashioned a fast reference to Lewis Bond (9.67 receptions, 91.7 yards per sport) and tight finish Jeremiah Franklin as a part of the nation’s main passing assault. At Stanford, Reed Harris additionally had a career-high seven catches for 141 yards.
Cal had allowed simply 32 factors in three video games — all double-digit wins — earlier than final Saturday’s 34-0 loss at San Diego State, which was a 14-point underdog.
In describing what sort of observe he hoped to see from his group coming off that defeat, Cal coach Justin Wilcox put it bluntly.
“Pressing,” he mentioned. “Edge. There must be an edge in observe. There must be urgency in observe. That is what it felt like the previous couple of days.”
Wilcox sees room for open competitions, particularly at huge receiver and offensive line, however true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has run with the chance to steer at quarterback.
The 2-time ACC Rookie of the Week has already racked up 980 passing yards, together with 208 final week, however three turnovers in opposition to the Aztecs had a significant affect on the loss.
“It actually begins with me. I did not come out firing,” Sagapolutele mentioned final week. “That is going to be an enormous one for us to be taught from.”
–Discipline Stage Media
