April 15, 2000

The white team battled from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to force a 29-29 tie in Boston College's annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game Saturday in Alumni Stadium.

The maroon team, which featured BC's first-team offense and second-team defense, took a 26-6 third-quarter lead. Defensive back Willie Poole actually scored first for the maroon when he intercepted a Kevin Kiley pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown in the game's first quarter.

The white team, featuring the second-team offense and first-team defense, struck back as redshirt freshman Kiley ran it in from five yards out in the second quarter. The maroon team, however, scored again as sophomore quarterback Brian St. Pierre hit Dedrick Dewalt for a 16-yard touchdown.

The Maroon team took a 26-6 lead in the third quarter when Cedric Washington plunged in from the one. Then the white team mounted its comeback, sparked by sophomore running back William Green's 53-yard touchdown scamper with five seconds remaining in the quarter. Kiley scored with 1:09 remaining in the game to pull the white team within six, at 26-20. After a tough defensive stand by the white team, the maroon team took a safety to make it 26-22. The white team then mounted a drive, capped by a Kiley to Keith Hemmings 15-yard touchdown pass, to take a 29-26 lead with 25 seconds remaining.

But the game was not over. The maroon team took possession at the 50-yard line, and two plays later, freshman placekicker Sandro Sciortino booted a 41-yarder to knot the game at 29.

BC coach Tom O'Brien saw improvement from several individuals.

"We still have some challenges, including lack of depth on defense," O'Brien said. "But a lot of out kids matured this spring. Now our challenge is to put them together and make a football team in time for the fall."

The Eagles open the 2000 season with a Sept. 2 game at West Virginia.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

PASSING: Brian St. Pierre (maroon) 14-26-1/225/1TD, Kevin Kiley (white) 13-20-1/146/1 TD.
RUSHING: Cedric Washington (maroon) 13-64/2 TD, William Green (white) 18-140/1 TD.
RECEIVING: Dedrick Dewalt (maroon) 6-106/1 TD, Mike Guazzo (maroon) 2-76, Cedric Washington (maroon) 4-27, Keith Hemmings (white) 4-63/1 TD, Ryan Read 1-52, Shaun Toof 3-21.
TACKLES: Andrew Romanowsky (maroon) 3 UT/9 AT/12 TOT, Trevor White (maroon) 5 UT/3 AT/8 TOT, Doug Bessette (maroon) 2 UT/5 AT/ 7 TOT, Josh Ott (white) 3 UT/3 AT/6 TOT, Keith Leavitt (maroon) 2UT/4 AT/6 TOT, Curtis Bolden (maroon) 1 UT/5 AT/6 TOT.