Ex-Gator QBs lead new schools to victories
Published on Tuesday, 9/2/14, at 12:55 a.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
While Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel had to sit out Week 1 due to Mother Nature, his former back-ups were busy leading their new teams into the win column.
Boston College’s Tyler Murphy completed 17-of-24 passes for 173 yards in a 30-7 win at Massachusetts. The Eagles covered the spread as 17-point home favorites.
The Minutemen went ahead of the number thanks to a 77-yard TD pass with 1:29 left in the third quarter, slicing to the deficit to 20-7, but Murphy promptly answered for BC backers. He connected with Josh Bordner on a 43-yard scoring strike and the Eagles went on to take the cash.
Murphy did throw one interception, but he rushed for 118 yards and another TD on 13 carries.
BC hosts Pitt this Friday night.
Jacoby Brissett’s three second-half TD passes sparked his team to victory in his debut at N.C. St.
Ga. Southern pulled a major upset at Florida last season and in its FBS debut, it was on the cusp of pulling another stunner Saturday at North Carolina St. The Wolfpack trailed 20-10 with less than seven minutes remaining, before ex-Gator Jacoby Brissett came to the rescue.
The junior QB, who sat last season due to transfer rules (Murphy graduated in four years at UF, so he was eligible immediately at BC), threw a pair of TDs at crunch time to lead his new squad to victory. First, Brissett found Bra’Lon Cherry for an 11-yard scoring strike with 6:55 left.
After Ga. Southern tacked on a field goal for a 23-17 advantage with 3:35 remaining, Brissett led the Wolfpack down the field for the game-winning score. Brissett threw a 35-yard TD pass to Matt Dayes with 1:37 remaining.
Brissett completed 28-of-40 throws for 291 yards with a 3/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He connected on 14-of-16 passes in the final two drives. N.C. St. trailed 17-3 at halftime.
The Wolfpack take on Old Dominion at home in Week 2.
