Tigers Fall To Eagles, 16-13, In Overtime

Sept. 24, 2005

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Brian Toal’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted Boston College to its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory, 16-13 over Clemson on Saturday.

For Clemson (2-2, 1-2), it was a second straight tough home loss. Last week, the Tigers lost to Miami 36-30 in triple overtime.

Clemson settled for a 24-yard field goal on its overtime possession for its first lead of the game, 13-10, before BC scored the winning touchdown.

This was Boston College’s first conference road trip and there’s almost no tougher place to start than Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, known as one of the ACC’s loudest and rowdiest venues.

The Eagles and backup passer Matt Ryan were far from awed, scoring on two of their opening possessions to lead 10-0 – and it would’ve been 3-for-3 if not for Jamaal Fudge’s interception in the end zone with Boston College on Clemson’s 7.

When Ryan sneaked for a 1-yard TD with 10:35 left in the second quarter, BC appeared on the way to a road rout. After all, the Tigers had punted on its first three possessions, had only one first down and just 10 total yards.

But like all its games this season, Clemson came back. The Tigers trailed by 10 points at Maryland two weeks ago before winning and were down 20-10 to Miami in the fourth quarter when they came back.

This time, Jad Dean got the Tigers going with a 36-yard field goal.

Clemson finally held the Eagles – helped by linebacker David Dunham’s crunching hit on Ryan that knocked the quarterback’s helmet off and temporarily put him on the sidelines alongside Porter.

Reggie Merriweather had 37 yards rushing on Clemson’s series – nearly half the team’s rushing total to that point – and Whitehurst finished with a 1-yard touchdown run to send things to halftime tied at 10-all.

That’s the way things stood until overtime.

Ryan finished 24-of-42 for 221 yards and two interceptions.