BOSTON (AP) — It was a close game late into the second quarter. Then reality set in for Maine.

Playing their longtime hockey rivals, the Black Bears hung in there for nearly two quarters before Boston College pulled away for a 34-3 win on Saturday.

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LONG DAY: Maine quarterback Marcus Wasilewski (7) reacts after throwing an incomplete pass during the Black Bears’ 34-3 loss to Boston College on Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Boston. AP

“They have some big dudes on the defensive line, to be honest,” Maine quarterback Marcus Wasilewski said. “I walked out there and noticed one guy that was really tall, he must have been 6-9.”

There’s the big difference from the Football Bowl Subdivision, where Boston College plays, to the Football Championship Subdivision, where Maine made the final eight last season.

“They have five guys on their offensive line over 300 pounds,” Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said. “We don’t see many like that in our level of football.”

Chase Rettig threw three touchdown passes, and Spiffy Evans caught one score and ran a punt back 82 yards for another as Boston College overcame a pair of early fumbles for the win.
Nate Freese booted two field goals, helping the Eagles (1-1) rebound from a season-opening loss to Miami last week.

The loss was the season opener and the 1,000th game for Maine’s program. Brian Harvey had a 19-yard field goal for the Black Bears.

“It’s a real good experience to play against ACC linemen,” Maine defensive lineman Michael Cole said. “Going against BC this week will give us some valuable experience, and will surely help us out against our next opponents.”

Rettig went 16 of 32 for 219 yards without an interception. Rolandan Finch carried 17 times for 90 yards.

Maine led 3-0 before the Eagles scored 17 points in the final 7:09 of the second quarter. Boston College broke it open with a field goal and two TDs late in the third.

Wasilewski was 20 of 42 for 134 yards and two interceptions for the Black Bears.

It was just the seventh meeting between the schools, with the first five coming before 1930.

The Eagles outgained the Black Bears by nearly 100 yards in the opening quarter, but fumbled it away twice and trailed 3-0 after one.

In the second quarter, BC avoided turning the ball over, got its offense on track and marched 62 yards in nine plays with Rettig capping the drive with a 3-yard TD toss to Evans to move ahead 7-3.

Rettig completed a pair of passes for 27 yards, moving the ball deep into Maine’s territory, before Andre Williams carried to the 3 to set up the score.

After the Black Bears gave the ball back to BC at its own 10, following a botched snap on a punt attempt, the Eagles made it 14-3 on Rettig’s 9-yard scoring strike to Johnathan Coleman, who made a nice grab along the back line of the end zone.

Freese’s 39-yard field goal with 61 seconds left in the first half made it 17-3.

The Eagles outgained the Black Bears 229-65 in the first half.

Midway into the third, BC safety Jim Noel picked off Wasilewski’s pass at the Black Bears’ 18. Six plays later, Freese kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 20-3.

Late in the quarter, Evans backpedaled to handle a long punt, bolted up the middle and raced untouched for the score, making it 27-3.

The Eagles turned it into a rout when Rettig threw a 32-yard TD strike to Alex Amidon on the play after Manuel Asprilla picked off a pass.

In the opening quarter, BC marched down to Maine’s 14-yard line before Tahj Kimble fumbled it diving toward the goal line. After a replay review, it was ruled that the ball hit the pylon and rolled into the end zone, giving the Black Bears the ball on the 20.

Later in the quarter, Maine’s Darlos James recovered Finch’s fumble at the Eagles’ 10. The Black Bears were unable to punch it into the end zone, though, getting stopped at the 2 before Harvey’s field goal.

It was similar to the final quarter of their opening week loss to Miami when the Eagles fumbled the ball away on their first two possessions of the fourth.

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