By Jonathan Burgos –
This year marks the 14th installment of the Pinstripe Bowl, traditionally hosted at the iconic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The 2023 edition of the game was notable not only for its thrilling competition but also for its newly branded title as the Bad Boy Mowers Bowl. In a memorable showdown last year, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights triumphed over the Miami Hurricanes with a decisive score of 34-21, showcasing their strength and resilience on the field. The history and energy of this bowl game continue to capture the excitement of college football fans year after year, as teams vie for victory in this historic venue.
Boston College faced off against Nebraska in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, held at the iconic Yankee Stadium, ultimately losing the contest by a score of 20-15. This matchup marked Boston College’s 31st appearance in an all-time bowl game, which includes two no contests, bringing their overall bowl record to 15 wins and 14 losses. In addition, the Eagles now have an unfortunate record of 0-3 in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The game started with both teams vying for an early advantage, but it was Nebraska that struck first. In the second quarter, they showcased their rushing skills by scoring two touchdowns, which significantly widened their lead to 13-0. The pivotal moment came during Nebraska’s second touchdown when their extra point attempt was blocked—an impressive play by Eagles Cornerback Max Tucker. The blocked kick was picked up by cornerback Ashton McShane, who returned it for a two-point conversion, allowing Boston College to get on the scoreboard and bringing the game to 2-13.
As the third quarter unfolded, Nebraska added to their lead with their only passing touchdown of the game. Quarterback Emmett Johnson completed a touchdown pass to receiver Dylan Raiola, and with the extra point successfully converted, Nebraska extended their lead to 20-2, seeming to put the Eagles in a challenging position.
The fourth quarter saw a resurgence from Boston College, as they mounted a spirited comeback. Turbo Richard and Jordan McDonald each found the end zone with rushing touchdowns, narrowing the score to 15-20 and igniting hope among BC fans.
Following Saturday’s loss to Nebraska, Eagles Head Coach Bill O’Brien was asked about the fourth quarter spark, and Coach OB said, “Yeah, these guys fought hard. We have a tough football team. They never quit. That’s what BC is all about. Give a lot of credit to Nebraska. They did a good job of controlling the game. But in the end, we had a shot there. Couldn’t stop them on the four-minute drive there at the end. But got the blocked punt, kind of hung in there. Had trouble scoring in the red zone. I thought we moved the ball pretty well, but we had trouble running the ball, had trouble scoring in the red zone. Like I said, give Nebraska a lot of credit.”