By By Patrick McHugh, News Staff

The 2009 Northeastern football season kicked off in less-than-spectacular fashion Sept. 5 as the Huskies were humbled by the Boston College Eagles 54-0 in front of 33,262 fans at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill. It was the team’s most lopsided defeat since a 77-0 loss to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1999.
The game matched teams that, although geographically close, do not share common ground on the gridiron. Prior to last season, Boston College, a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision’s Atlantic Coast Conference, had won eight consecutive bowl games and has consistently developed NFL talent. Northeastern, playing in the Football Championship Division’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), has not had a winning season since 2003.
On Boston College’s first possession, sophomore running back Montel Harris broke through the Northeastern defense, emerging from a pile of defenders and sprinting down the sideline for a 48-yard touchdown run just 2:15 into the contest. After the NU offense was held without a first down on the next possession, BC got right back to work on its next series, using good field position via a long punt return to drive 29 yards into the end zone, this time capped off on a seven-yard run by sophomore Josh Haden. The Eagles would push the lead to 21 later in the quarter as Harris ran in another touchdown from four yards out.
Head coach Rocky Hager said he was less than pleased with his team’s tackling effort on defense, especially on Harris’ first carry from scrimmage.
‘On the first touchdown for the Eagles, I stopped counting after the third missed tackle,’ Hager said. ‘When you let someone with that kind of speed get out the gate, you’re probably going to listen to their school song, and that’s not fun.’
Northeastern got a heavy dose of the BC fight song as the lead continued to swell throughout the contest. On senior Ron Conway’s fifth punt attempt, one of 12 he had on the game, the punt coverage unit could not pursue to the football in time as BC’s senior punt returner Rich Gunnell went 46 yards down the sideline and into the end zone for BC’s fourth touchdown. Following a field goal and another Harris touchdown, this one on a six-yard swing pass from freshman quarterback Justin Tuggle, the two teams went to halftime 38-0.
Offensively the Huskies’ new spread offense could muster little attack against a stacked Eagles defense. NU managed only five first downs and 131 yards total. To add to the struggles, junior quarterback Alex Dulski was injured during a run in the second quarter after sustaining a blow to the head. Hager said he knew his quarterback would be OK because while on the sidelines Dulski was able to recall Hager’s middle initial. Hager said Dulski should be able to play this week.
Northeastern junior running back John Griffin, who had 10 carries for 10 yards, said the game will help bring clarity to the team.
‘I really think a game like this puts things into perspective,’ Griffin said. ‘It kind of teaches you to not be as lackadaisical in practice. You can never take a down off.’
Hager said he hopes his squad will learn the pace of play after facing such an opponent.
‘When you play this [Football] Bowl Subdivision kind of competition, things happen much faster than what you’re used to in practice,’ Hager said. ‘I personally think this will help us moving forward.’
The Huskies play their home opener this Saturday at Parsons Field 1 p.m. against Maine. It will be the team’s CAA opener and a game that counts in the conference standings.
Hager said he hopes to avoid feeling the way he did after the BC loss.
‘Losing isn’t good,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t feel good. It hurts.’