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Well, as we found out last week, there simply haven't been too many times Boston College has played on September 5, so it stands to reason that there won't be many times BC has played on September 12 either. But the best of those efforts came on September 12, 1992, when BC thrashed Northwestern 49-0. The win began a streak of three consecutive shutouts which had not happened since 1942 and hasn't happened since.
Now this was not a great Northwestern team. Gary Barnett had come over from Colorado and was in his first year as head coach of the Wildcats, who entered the game against BC 0-1 after getting drilled by Notre Dame 42-7 in Week 1. He would eventually "take the Purple to Pasadena," but the only thing purple after this game were the bruised bodies and egos of NU players.
BC, a 21 point favorite going into the game after that opening week win over Rutgers, stumbled early with TB Chuckie Dukes fumbling on the first series. The defense rescued the Eagles, thanks to a Charlie Brennan (boy was he an underrated player) interception that set up Darnell Campbell for a 28 yard TD and a 7-0 BC lead.
The lead grew to 14-0 late in the first quarter when Chuckie Dukes plunged over from the 1. Dukes (13 carries, 112 yards) and Campbell (16 carries, 115 yards) became the first BC tandem to run for over 100 yards in the same game since 1973.
From there the rout was on.
Greg Grice hauled in a 3 yard TD pass from Glenn Foley and by the half, BC had a 35-0 lead and school was out.
Dukes from 27 yards out and freshman Justice Smith (85 yards in his debut) from 5 yards put the finishing touches on the win, which could have been worse. Both coaches understanding the state of the Northwestern program and the rise at BC.
"It could have been 100-0 out there," said Barnett.
As strong as the running game was, it was the Eagle defense that shone, holding Northwestern to just 75 yards total offense, the third lowest total of any opponent in BC history to date. The defense also put marks that still stand in the record book for first downs allowed (5 - second fewest all time) and sacks in a game (6- second most all time).
September 12 notes:
Boston College has never lost on September 12 (4-0), defeating Kent State (2008), Rutgers (1998), Northwestern (1992), and Temple (1987). All of the wins came at home and with an average margin of victory of 31 points.