Perfect 10: Irish beat BC, stay unbeaten

CHESTNUT HILL -- Quarterback Everett Golson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the fourth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish improved to 10-0 with a 21-6 win over Boston College Saturday night at Alumni Stadium. The Irish, who barely beat Pitt in overtime last week at home, avoided the upset that No. 1 Alabama could not just hours earlier when Texas A&M went into Tuscaloosa, Ala. and shocked the Crimson Tide, 29-24. With Louisville also losing on Saturday, the Irish managed to remain just one of four unbeaten teams in FBS. 

BC receiver Alex Amidon recorded 84 yards on six receptions, giving him 1,158 yards this year, passing Brian Brennan's mark set in 1983. 

The Irish, who converted their first 10 third-down conversions on the night, took their first drive and marched 95 yards in 13 plays, finishing it when Golson ran it in from two yards out around the left tackle. 

The Eagles answered with a long drive of their own, going 69 yards in 15 plays, ending with a 36-yard Nate Freese field goal on the opening play of the second quarter. Quarterback Chase Rettig completed a pair of screen passes to David Dudeck that drove the Eagles deep into Irish territory but Dudeck dropped a potential touchdown pass at the Irish 3 yard line, forcing the Eagles to settle for the field goal.

Notre Dame's only first-half miscue came when running back George Atkinson fumbled at the BC 26. Steele Divitto played a strong first half on the Eagles defense, getting several rushes on Golson while forcing and recovering the Atkinson fumble. But BC couldn't not convert it into points. 

Notre Dame then spent the second half of the second quarter systematically killing clock and driving the field, ending in a 7-yard TD pass to tight end Troy Niklas with 26 seconds left before half, as the Irish took a 14-3 lead into the locker room. 

The Irish then opened the second half the way the first half ended, driving 65 yards in nine plays, ending when Golson threw across the field to a wide open John Goodman from 18 yards out for a touchdown that increased Notre Dame's lead to 21-3. 

Notre Dame didn't punt until its fifth possession midway through the third quarter. BC managed to cut the lead to 21-6 early in the fourth when Freese converted a 45-yard field goal. The Eagles defense forced and recovered their second fumble of the game midway through the fourth but as was the case in the first half, could not convert it into points. Heisman Trophy candidate Manti Te'o intercepted Chase Rettig with four minutes remaining to seal any hope the Eagles had of an upset. 

The Eagles fall to 2-8 on the season and return to ACC play next week when they host Virginia Tech before finishing the season at N.C. State on Nov. 24. Notre Dame now leads the all-time series 13-9 and have won the last four meetings in "Holy War" series, which began in Sept. 1975. For more, visit the BC Blog.