Arizona cruises past BC in Advocare V100 Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — B.J. Denker threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, Ka’Deem Carey rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns and Arizona had an easy time Tuesday in beating Boston College 42-19 in the Advocare V100 Bowl.
Arizona (8-5) never trailed, leading 21-6 by halftime and 42-6 early in the fourth quarter. Carey had his 16th straight game with at least 100 yards rushing while Denker added a 14-yard touchdown run.
The game was billed as a matchup between two of the nation’s top running backs — Arizona’s Carey and Boston College’s Andre Williams. But the duel between AP All-America first team selections was one-sided.
Williams, who won the Doak Walker Award over Carey, was held to 75 yards rushing and a touchdown. Boston College (7-6) didn’t score a touchdown until Williams’ 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Arizona’s Nate Phillips caught nine passes for 193 yards while redshirt freshman Trey Griffey — the son of former baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. — caught two touchdown passes. Arizona’s six touchdowns tied an Advocare V100 Bowl record.
Boston College’s remarkable turnaround season came to a disappointing conclusion. First-year coach Steve Addazio took a team that finished with a 2-10 record in 2012 back to the postseason, but the Eagles couldn’t do much of anything right Tuesday.
Williams, who came into the game with 2,102 rushing yards, looked ordinary against Arizona’s active defensive line. The senior never had much of a chance, usually meeting a pile of defenders right at the line of scrimmage.
The Eagles’ secondary struggled to contain Arizona’s receivers, who repeatedly found space in the defense. Boston College’s Alex Amidon caught 10 passes for 129 yards and Nate Freese made field goals from 32 and 41 yards to cap a 20 for 20 season.
Both teams took to the air early. Denker completed 8 of 12 passes for 145 yards in the first half, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Griffey late in the second quarter that gave the Wildcats their 21-6 halftime lead. Griffey’s two touchdowns were the first of his career.
Boston College looked much less comfortable throwing. Chase Rettig tossed two first-half interceptions, including one that was returned by Arizona’s William Parks for a 69-yard touchdown.
Denker was named the game’s Most Valuable Player on offense while Parks won defensive honors.
Carey had 116 of his 169 yards rushing in the second half. The Wildcats pushed ahead 28-6 early in the third quarter after a long drive ended with Carey’s second touchdown — a 5-yard run up the middle.