DL Ty Clemons' 55-yard score off INT and WR Reed Harris' splendid TD catch carry BC past Pitt, 34-23
BOSTON -- —Boston College defensive tackle Ty Clemons picked off a pass in the middle of the Pitt backfield and rumbled down the field for a score, bringing a roar not only from the fans but from his sideline, too.
Clemons scored on a 55-yard pick-six, Reed Harris made a leaping 28-yard TD grab over a defensive back and BC beat Pittsburgh 34-23 on Saturday.
“We were roommates for a while. Ty is my guy. He's one of my best friends,” BC defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku said. “I was just screaming, honestly. I didn't even know he had the ball. ... I was screaming my head off. Actually, I had a headache after because I was yelling so much.”
Jordan McDonald had a 36-yard scoring run and Kye Robichaux added a 2-yarder for the Eagles (7-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). Grayson James completed 20-of-28 passes for 253 yards with two TDs for BC, which completed its first six-win season (6-1) at home since 2009.
“That was a huge play,” BC coach Bill O'Brien said of Clemons' score. “That was a huge momentum builder there.”
It was the first pick-and-score by an Eagles’ defensive lineman since 2007.
Making his second start of the season after starting QB Eli Holstein left last week’s lopsided loss at Louisville early with a leg injury, Nate Yarnell went 23 of 42 for 296 yards with three TD passes —two to Gavin Bartholomew — for Pittsburgh (7-5, 3-5), which lost its fifth straight.
“Nate got banged up on the first drive of the game,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We went out there, he said: ‘I think I broke my wrist.’ That's what he felt like. But he's a tough son-of-a-gun and I appreciate our players' effort.”
With BC leading 13-7 in the final minute of the second quarter, Yarnell was under pressure from lineman Neto Okpala and tried to throw a pass toward the line as his arm was hit. The 6-foot-3, 273-pound Clemons rumbled straight down for the score, followed by a few of his linemates.
Yarnell hit Bartholomew with a 5-yard shovel pass for a TD that sliced it to 20-17 before Harris jumped over Rashad Battle on a 3rd-and-20 play on the right side of the end zone.
James put it away with a 15-yard TD pass to Kamari Morales midway into the fourth.
“It’s awesome to be named on that list. It’s a group of dudes I grew up watching,” he said of the Pro Ballot. “You look at that list and it’s like: “Dang, man. There’s some big dogs on this list.’’’
Boston College: Under first-year O’Brien, the Eagles are in line to post their first eight-win season since 2009.
Boston College: Will receive its eighth bowl opportunity in the last nine years Dec. 8.
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