Eagles look for win with Hasselbeck-less offense
By KERRY SMITH
Sports Editor
In the college careers of the players that will step on the field at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday, there has not been a rivalry more heated than the Notre Dame-Boston College battle.
Even though Notre Dame holds an 8-3 series record and enjoys a No. 11 national ranking, while Boston College remains unranked and struggling with the loss of its star quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, Saturday's game promises to be close if history proves correct.
"We're going to once again just focus on our performance," Davie said. "I don't think motivation will be the issue this week. It's a big football game."
Two years ago, the Irish made a key defensive stand at the goal line on the final play of the game to hold on to a 31-26 win.
Last year, it was the Eagles' turn to soar. Despite an Irish fourth-quarter rally the Eagles hung on to 31-29 win as the seconds drained off the clock.
This year, a Bowl Championship Series bid remains on the line for the Irish and the Eagles are hungry to tear down their overachieving rival.
The Eagles come to Notre Dame Stadium with a 6-3 record and a new starting quarterback.
Veteran Hasselbeck sprained his knee in the second quarter of Boston College's 31-3 win over Temple, but the Eagles have an able replacement in backup Brian St. Pierre.
"[St. Pierre] throws the ball well. He's pretty mobile," Davie said. "We recruited him ... St. Pierre has come in games this year, nothing seems to have changed. Who knows what they'll do, but I don't see it changing very significantly."
St. Pierre took the majority of snaps during the preseason when Hasselback was sidelined because of surgery and has played in every contest during the last two seasons. The sophomore has completed 30 of 45 pass attempts for 369 yards and two touchdowns.
While St. Pierre looks to continue Hasselbeck's record as signal caller, the rest of the Eagles' offense is preparing to step up its play to take down the Irish.
Sophomore William Green leads the Eagles on the ground, rushing for 1,005 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. Wide receiver Dedrick DeWalt has also made a mark for the offense with 32 receptions for 620 yards and seven touchdowns.
Those numbers concern Davie, whose defense has not performed at its peak of late.
"It's kind of embarrassing, first of all, to give up points and yards kind of in bushels the way we've done it," Davie said. "... We can't win if we keep doing that. It's a concern."
Boston College's defense finds its strength in free safety RaMon Johnson, who leads the team with 69 tackes. Heading the team with six sacks, defensive end Sean Guthrie will look to shut down quarterback Matt LoVecchio and the Irish offense.
Davie knows his team will have to perform at its peak to edge the Eagles and bolster its season record to 7-2.
"We've got our hands full," Irish head coach Bob Davie said. "They're a high-execution team; they don't make mistakes; they don't beat themselves."
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 10, 2000
