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New kicker helps Boston College top Virginia Tech
By The Associated Press
Friday, October 13, 2006 | No comments posted.
BOSTON - Boston College walk-on kicker Steve Aponavicius vows that nothing will change when the fuss over his football debut goes away.
“A week ago, there was nobody talking to me or looking at me,” he said, “and I was still kicking as many balls as I could each day.”
The fresh-faced soccer convert had never played football before Thursday night, when he made both of his field goals and both extra points to lead Boston College to a 22-3 victory over No. 22 Virginia Tech. He was mobbed by his teammates, cheered by a crowd that included BC legend Doug Flutie and surrounded by reporters before and after the game.
“All of it was fun. Every minute of it,” Aponavicius said, overdressed for the postgame news conference in a coat and tie. “I just wanted to go out and enjoy it.”
In the only other Top 25 game Thursday night, No. 12 Clemson routed Temple 63-9.
Matt Ryan hit Kevin Challenger for two touchdown passes and the BC defense forced four turnovers to send the Hokies to their second consecutive loss. Boston College (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is a North Carolina State desperation pass away from being unbeaten.
Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-2) has lost consecutive games since rising to No. 11 in The Associated Press Top 25. The Hokies also fell to 12-2 in Thursday night games on ESPN; both losses were to BC - one in Blacksburg, one in Chestnut Hill - 11 years apart.
“It's a big win on Thursday night against a program that's owned Thursday night,” said BC coach Tom O'Brien, whose team lost to N.C. State on Sept. 23 on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 8.5 seconds left.
Ryan was 16-for-29 for 174 yards despite limping through much of the second half on a previously injured ankle. Freshman Alex Albright contributed to two turnovers, tipping a pass that was intercepted and recovering a fumble.
Virginia Tech's Sean Glennon completed 23 of 34 passes with two interceptions. The Hokies were held to 21 yards in the second half.
“It's frustrating,” Glennon said. “You think you played all right. Then I look at the stat sheet and you see two interceptions and a fumble.”
No. 12 Clemson 63, Temple 9
At Charlotte, N.C., James Davis ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries - all in the first half - for Clemson.
C.J. Spiller added 73 yards rushing and two scores and Will Proctor threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns for Clemson (6-1). The Tigers scored touchdowns on their first nine possessions and had 559 yards in offense in their fifth straight win.
Davis, Proctor and most of the starters sat out the second half, when fourth-string running back Chris Chancellor ran for 114 yards and a TD as the Tigers set a school record by scoring over 50 points for the fourth time this season.
Temple (0-7) extended the nation's longest losing streak to 19 games.
The game was a Temple home game, but the school moved it for financial reasons to Bank of America Stadium, 130 miles from Clemson's campus.
“A week ago, there was nobody talking to me or looking at me,” he said, “and I was still kicking as many balls as I could each day.”
The fresh-faced soccer convert had never played football before Thursday night, when he made both of his field goals and both extra points to lead Boston College to a 22-3 victory over No. 22 Virginia Tech. He was mobbed by his teammates, cheered by a crowd that included BC legend Doug Flutie and surrounded by reporters before and after the game.
“All of it was fun. Every minute of it,” Aponavicius said, overdressed for the postgame news conference in a coat and tie. “I just wanted to go out and enjoy it.”
In the only other Top 25 game Thursday night, No. 12 Clemson routed Temple 63-9.
Matt Ryan hit Kevin Challenger for two touchdown passes and the BC defense forced four turnovers to send the Hokies to their second consecutive loss. Boston College (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is a North Carolina State desperation pass away from being unbeaten.
Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-2) has lost consecutive games since rising to No. 11 in The Associated Press Top 25. The Hokies also fell to 12-2 in Thursday night games on ESPN; both losses were to BC - one in Blacksburg, one in Chestnut Hill - 11 years apart.
“It's a big win on Thursday night against a program that's owned Thursday night,” said BC coach Tom O'Brien, whose team lost to N.C. State on Sept. 23 on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 8.5 seconds left.
Ryan was 16-for-29 for 174 yards despite limping through much of the second half on a previously injured ankle. Freshman Alex Albright contributed to two turnovers, tipping a pass that was intercepted and recovering a fumble.
Virginia Tech's Sean Glennon completed 23 of 34 passes with two interceptions. The Hokies were held to 21 yards in the second half.
“It's frustrating,” Glennon said. “You think you played all right. Then I look at the stat sheet and you see two interceptions and a fumble.”
No. 12 Clemson 63, Temple 9
At Charlotte, N.C., James Davis ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries - all in the first half - for Clemson.
C.J. Spiller added 73 yards rushing and two scores and Will Proctor threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns for Clemson (6-1). The Tigers scored touchdowns on their first nine possessions and had 559 yards in offense in their fifth straight win.
Davis, Proctor and most of the starters sat out the second half, when fourth-string running back Chris Chancellor ran for 114 yards and a TD as the Tigers set a school record by scoring over 50 points for the fourth time this season.
Temple (0-7) extended the nation's longest losing streak to 19 games.
The game was a Temple home game, but the school moved it for financial reasons to Bank of America Stadium, 130 miles from Clemson's campus.
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