Bergbau » look at special teams for momentum-boosters and we

BOSTON -- At the beginning of the year, Boston College set its sights on making it back to the postseason.With two games to go in the regular season, the Eagles have no margin for error if they want to get there.The Eagles (4-6) will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak when they return home for a senior day matchup with UConn (3-7) on Saturday.BC had gotten back to .500 two weeks ago when it snapped its 12-game ACC losing streak at N.C. State. That momentum quickly dissipated, however, following back-to-back blowout losses to Louisville (52-7) and at Florida State (45-7) last week.But with the possibility of a bowl berth still a looming if they can beat the Huskies Saturday and win at Wake Forest next week, quarterback Patrick Towles said there isnt any time to dwell on the past.We dropped probably one or two that we probably shouldnt have dropped, Towles said. But we still have an opportunity. Weve still got two winnable games the next two weeks to go down and get our postseason berth. So the next two weeks are huge, but if we dont win this one, then the last one doesnt really matter.If BC can return to a bowl, it would go a long way toward coach Steve Addazio returning for his fifth season. The Eagles went 3-9 last season after making bowl appearances in each of Addazios first two seasons in 2013 and 2014.UConn is coming off a much needed bye week, having lost four straight. The Huskies last won more than a month ago, beating Cincinnati.Coach Bob Diaco said the week off came at a good time as his team tries to build some momentum over its final two games.The energy was different. Turned the switch back on, Diaco said. Its a tough-minded group. Everyones disappointed with what the season results, from a win-loss standpoint, have been. But theres also great clarity on reasons why, and (the team is) resolute to fixing the issues.Here are some other things to watch for in Saturdays game:SERIES HISTORY: BC and UConn are facing each other for the first time since 2004. The Eagles lead the series 10-0-2 and have won nine straight.LOOKING FOR POINTS: UConn comes into Saturdays matchup in an offensive slump. The Huskies have been outscored 62-3 in their last two losses to East Carolina and Temple. But theyll face an Eagles team that currently ranks last in the FBS in total offense, gaining just 295.5 yards per game.SENIOR DAY: The Eagles will have a pregame ceremony for their 17-member senior class, which includes three graduate players.RYANS RETURN: BC will retire former standout quarterback Matt Ryans jersey at halftime on Saturday. Ryan passed for 56 TDs and more than 9,000 yards at BC, and capped off his career by being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL draft. He is the schools highest draft pick ever in any sport.Addazio said that a player like Ryan who, including his redshirt season, spent five years in the program, is an example of the kind of player the Eagles are trying to cultivate now.At BC, its critically important, the developmental program, Addazio said. Its a program that has to be consistent, and you develop your players, and as you get into the latter two years, they really become mature mentally and physically, and those are your best teams.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Jesse Lingard England Jersey .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Kieran Trippier England Jersey . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Danny-Rose-England-Jersey/ . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Raheem Sterling Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. England Soccer Jerseys . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. (STATS) -- Any deficit in the FCS playoffs was going to trouble unbeaten Sam Houston State considering it had trailed against only one opponent all season -- for a mere 3 minutes, 14 seconds of first-quarter clock.So the Bearkats werent prepared for the kind of lead James Madison built against them Friday night.No team would be.Fourth-seeded James Madison scored early and often while eliminating the fifth-seeded Bearkats 65-7 in the national quarterfinals at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia.James Madison (12-1), which won the CAA Football title under first-year coach Mike Houston, advances to the FCS semifinals for the third time in program history. It will play next weekend against the winner of Saturdays matchup between No. 8 seed South Dakota State and No. 1 seed North Dakota State. The Dukes previously reached the semis in their 2004 national title season and in 2008.Their point total was the sixth-highest in playoff history and the winning margin was the second-biggest to Montanas 70-7 win over Troy in the 1996 semifinals.While game temperatures were in the mid-20s, and not to the liking of the visitors from Texas, James Madison was red-hot in the teams first-ever meeting, taking a 21-0 lead in just over 11 minutes of action and extending it to 35-0 within the first five minutes of the second quarter.Sam Houston (12-1), top-ranked in the STATS FCS Top 25 to end the regular season, hardly resembled the team that entered the game No. 1 in the FCS in both points and yards per game. Jeremiah Briscoe, who had thrown for 4,459 yards and an FCS single-season record 57 touchdown passes, completed only 13 of 44 pass attempts for a season-low 143 yards, throwing two interceptions (Raven Greene and Curtis Oliver) in the third quarter. The junior also was called for intentional grounding in his end zone, resulting in a safety.We had a great week of practice, there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to come out and play well tonight, Houston said. Defensively, that was as impressive of a performance Ive seen in a long time. It speaks to the improvement of the secondary of the past several months. I thought we clicked in all phases -- offensively, defensively and special teams. Very proud of the kids and coaches.We got beat by a really good football team that I thought played at a very high level, Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler said. We feed off our offense and our point production has been off the charts.dddddddddddd Jeremiah really struggled. He didnt take a single snap the entire week of practice (because of an elbow injury). We didnt know if he was going to play until game time. His elbow, he injured in last weeks game, so I thought our timing was off. I thought he threw the ball OK, but the timing was off. Its a shame, but we got beat in all three phases.JMU quarterback Bryan Schor threw for 236 of his 251 yards in the first half, with both a touchdown pass and run. Khalid Abdullah rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns, and Trai Sharp gained 144 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as part of the Dukes 607 total yards.In the first quarter, Abdullah capped an early drive in which he gained 52 rushing yards by scoring from 14 yards out. Schor then completed a 64-yard pass to Domo Taylor to set up his 1-yard touchdown run. After a Sam Houston possession quickly stalled, Rashard Davis weaved his way for a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown -- his fourth of the season.A lot of people may overlook special teams, but its one of the biggest on the field, Davis said. We look at special teams for momentum-boosters and we feed off of them when big plays happen. They play a key role in big games like this. It was the first time Sam Houston hadnt scored in the first quarter since falling to Jacksonville State in last years playoff semifinals. It only got worse when the Dukes special teams delivered again early in the second quarter as Robert Carter Jr. blocked a punt and freshman Bryce Maginley scooped up the ball for a 20-yard touchdown return.On their next drive, Schor hit tight end Jonathan Kloosterman for a 10-yard touchdown pass, making it 35-0 with 10:40 remaining in the second quarter.It was exactly what Sam Houston had been doing to many opponents in the first half of games. The Southland Conference champion had been seeking to reach the national semifinals for the fifth time in six seasons.James Madison hasnt lost to an FCS opponent, only to ACC member North Carolina. The Dukes will host their national semifinal if South Dakota State wins Saturday, otherwise theyll go on the road to face North Dakota State, the five-time reigning FCS champion. ' ' '