CHESTNUT HILL - If Weber State and Kent State are comparable to the Buffalo Bills, then Virginia Tech is comparable to the New York Jets.
Boston College faced its first real test of the season on Saturday when it hosted ACC rival Virginia Tech in the conference opener for both team's after opening up the season with two wins against softies Weber State (38-20) and Kent State (26-13).
Unfortunately, it was a test they failed miserably.
The Hokies built on their recent success, as quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 16-of-21 passes and threw for 237 yards as Virginia Tech blanked Boston College 19-0 at Alumni Stadium.
"We werent able to finish drives and put points on the board," said junior running back Montel Harris (19 carries, 110 yards). "That's what we needed to win."
Prior to Saturday, the last time Boston College was shut out was in 1998 when it lost 17-0 against Virginia Tech, breaking a streak of 148 consecutive games without a shut out.
Boston College (2-1, 0-1 ACC) opened the game with a 13-yard rush by Harris followed by an eight yard pass from quarterback Dave Shinskie (11-for-25, 130 yards, 2 INT) to wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah (2 catches, 29 yards).
However, Virginia Tech (2-2, 1-0 ACC) forced a three-and-out on the next set of downs, forcing a Ryan Quigley punt that traveled 36 yards and pinned the Hokies on their own nine yard line.
After driving the ball 46 yards on 10 plays, Taylor and company were forced to punt.
This time around, the Eagles were able to drive the ball down the field, going 64 yards on nine plays. Nevertheless, Shinskie killed the drive when he threw an interception to sophomore Jayron Hosley in the endzone.
Then, Taylor went to work.
Taylor led the Hokies on a nine-play, 80-yard drive that spanned over four minutes that ended with Darren Evan's four-yard touchdown scamper to give Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead with 14:55 remaining in the half.
Following a 66-yard punt that pinned Boston College at its own one yard line with 10:45 to play in the half, Shinskie connected with freshman wideout Jonathan Coleman for a 22-yard gain (his only catch in the game) that gave the Eagles offense some breathing room.
The Eagles proceeded to march the ball to the Hokies' 30 yard line, kicker Nate Freese missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, turning the ball over with 6:34 left to play in the second quarter.
With less than three minutes to play in the half, the Eagles caught a break when Virginia Tech was slapped with a personal foul for roughing the kicker, giving them a fresh set of downs at their own 46 with under two minutes to play.
Boston College caught another break, as the Hokies were called for pass interference, setting BC up with a first-and-ten at the Hokies' 38 yard line with 1:21 to go.
With under 20 seconds in the half and the Eagles in the redzone, Virginia Tech committed another penalty, a late hit on Shinskie.
A few plays later and with less than 10 ticks left on the clock, Shinskie took off for the endzone but was tackled at the one yard line in bounds without a timeout.
"They had a blitz on and I just saw a hole," Shinskie said. "I probably should have thrown it away, but I saw the endzone and I tried my damndest to get it in."
The Eagles were unable to get to the line of scrimmage, and they wasted a golden scoring opportunity, and Virginia Tech took a 7-0 lead to the locker room.
"I kind of feel for him," Harris said about Shinskie. "I know he's a hard worker. He's going to be ready tomorrow for practice."
Virginia Tech continued to bring the pressure in the third quarter as kicker Chris Hazley connected on three field goals, one from 29 yards out with 11:20 to play, another from 45-yards out with 8:10 left and one more from 29-yards out with 4:13 to go.
Having had enough of Shinskie's short comings, head coach Frank Spaziani put sophomore quarterback Mike Marscovetra (5-of-7, 49 yards) under center in a move that may be a permanent one.
It's a move that Shinskie doesn't agree with.
"I think I should be the starting QB," said Shinskie. "There's a lot of stuff that goes into be a starting quarterback. I think I have that."
Senior linebacker Mark Herzlich made noise in the fourth quarter, picking off Taylor for a 12 gain, setting BC up with a first and ten on their own 43 yard line.
"I felt a lot better (today)," said Herzlich. "I felt good, I felt fast and I didn't feel any lag."
However, Marscovetra couldn't work the ball down the field and the Eagles went three and out yet again.
Hazley tacked on another field goal with 3:48 remaining in the fourth, this time from 32 yards out, giving the Hokies a 19-0 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.
The Eagles totaled 252 yards in the game with 179 coming through the air and 73 net yards on the ground.
"We moved the ball all first half, both passing and running," Shinskie said. "I've got to give credit to my line, Montel and my receivers. But a drive means nothing if you don't get any points on the board. That was our downfall today as an offense."
As for Virginia Tech, it amassed 342 yards with 237 passing yards and 105 rushing yards.
Boston College looks to rebound from Saturday's disappointing loss when it hosts arch rival Notre Dame next Saturday at Alumni Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC).
NOTES
42,317 attended Saturday's Boston College game against Virginia Tech...The Eagles fall to 5-2 coming off a bye week after joining the ACC in 2005...Quarterback Dave Shinskie threw two interceptions in Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech. It's the second game that Shinskie has thrown two interceptions this season...Sophomore cornerback Jayron Hosley recorded his first collegiate interception in the first quarter. It came in the end zone to halt an Eagle drive. It led to a three yard touchdown run by Darren Evans...Evans' touchdowns was the first offensive touchdown scored by the Hokies at Alumni Stadium since Lee Suggs scored on a rush in the fourth quarter of the 2002 game.