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Boston College tailback Andre Williams scored on two long runs in the fourth quarter Saturday to help the Eagles pull away from a stubborn New Mexico State team and escape with a 48-34 victory at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Williams, the leading rusher in the ACC and No. 2 in the FBS in yards per game, finished with 30 carries for 295 yards and two touchdowns. His two biggest, though, were the scoring runs that came on plays of 80 and 47 yards, both with less than a minute to go in the game, and broke a 34-34 tie.
Boston College (5-4) won for the second week in a row, following a win against Virginia Tech last week. However, it wasn't easy against NMSU (1-9), which has lost two in a row and whose only win this season has come against Abilene Christian. BC needs one more win to become bowl eligible.
In the first-ever meeting between the teams, the Eagles led only 20-17 at the half and 27-24 going into the fourth quarter.
A 32-yard field goal by Maxwell Johnson of NMSU tied the game at 27-27 early in the fourth quarter but, as they'd done almost all afternoon, the Eagles answered an Aggie score with one of their own.
This time, it was a 98-yard kickoff return for a score by Myles Willis, who broke a tackle near his own 23-yard line, then darted outside and raced untouched the rest of the way. That put the Eagles back ahead at 34-27.
Still, the Aggies, who had the Boston College defense on its heels for much of the game, refused to go away. NMSU drove 75 yards in six plays to tie the score at 34-34. Quarterback Andrew McDonald hit all-purpose threat Austin Franklin on a post route that covered 49 yards for the tying touchdown.
The Aggies, coached by former Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Martin, looked to take control on the next series when Bryan Bonilla recovered a fumble by Boston College receiver Alex Amidon.
This time, it was the Eagles' defense turn, and it forced NMSU into a three-and-out. However, the ensuing punt left Boston College at its own 3-yard line.
That's when Williams stepped up. After an offside penalty on the Aggies and a 12-yard pass from Chase Rettig to C.J. Parsons, Williams took a handoff up the middle and shot through the line and all the way down the field untouched for a 41-34 lead.
Linebacker Steven Daniels sealed things for the Eagles when he intercepted McDonald on the fourth place of the next series. Two plays later, Williams again broke free, this time for a 47-yard run to the right side that made it 48-34.
