Mason McKenzie’s two TDs give BC a fourth-quarter lead, but Va. Tech pulls away late to win ACC opener

For three-plus quarters Saturday, the Boston College football team proved it belonged against 14-point favorite Virginia Tech.

The Eagles matched the Hokies’ physicality, withstood the elements, and gave themselves a chance to secure one of the gutsiest wins of the Bill O’Brien era.

Then, in the final 11 minutes, they unraveled in familiar fashion, falling 21-14 in a wet, windy, and wild matinee at Alumni Stadium.

“We came here with a mind-set of be physical, be physical,” said BC defensive lineman E’Lla Boykin. “I feel like we did that, until the end.”

Quarterback Mason McKenzie vaulted the Eagles (2-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) ahead with two second-half rushing touchdowns.

The Hokies (4-0, 1-0) answered the second with consecutive fourth-quarter scores, including a decisive 76-yard TD run from Jeffrey Overton Jr. with 4:58 remaining. BC couldn’t convert on its ensuing drive, then the Hokies ran out the clock to escape.

“We’ve got to finish,” Boykin said. “We’ve been there before. We’ve just got to finish.”

It became clear early that nothing would come easily for either offense. With steady rain and strong wind gusts, both teams had significant trouble generating momentum.

While the second half featured many twists and turns, a defensive-minded first half yielded 117 yards and five punts for each side.

“It’s not going to be 42-35,” McKenzie said. “You’ve got to do your best to get first downs.”

O’Brien said the wind was more of a factor than the rain. McKenzie noted that the ball became wetter as the game progressed and said neither team could do what it typically does offensively.

“It makes the game a lot more difficult, a lot more physical,” McKenzie said. “I thought we did a good job of handling the physicality.”

BC had a chance to attempt a 45-yard field goal on its opening drive, but elected to go for it and fell short. The Eagles outgained the Hokies, 94-29, in total yards in a scoreless first, with McKenzie rushing for 47.

The second quarter was more of the same, with KP Price (10 tackles), Anthony Palano, and Marcus Upton orchestrating a stellar defensive effort for BC.

“We knew the weather was going to be bad, so we knew they were going to have to run the ball on us,” Boykin said.

John Love drilled a 45-yarder with 16 seconds left in the second quarter to give Virginia Tech a 3-0 halftime advantage. He doubled the lead on a 22-yarder with 11:58 left in the third quarter following a 45-yard punt return from Que’Sean Brown.

The Eagles responded with a 5-yard touchdown run from McKenzie (11 of 23, 111 yards; 26 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs) to claim a 7-6 edge with 9:52 remaining in the quarter. McKenzie eclipsed 2,000 career rushing yards on a 45-yard scamper to set up the score.

Two defensive plays from Max Tucker — a forced fumble and recovery on one drive, and a stop on fourth and 4 on the next — helped the Eagles preserve a lead heading to the fourth.

McKenzie added a 2-yard TD rush to push it to 14-6 with 11:09 to go. At that point, Boston College had momentum on its side with McKenzie as the engine.

“He was banged up but kept coming back,” O’Brien said. “He did a lot of great things.”

The Hokies answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive — capped by a 14-yard pass from Ethan Grunkemeyer to Marlion Jackson and 2-point conversion rush from Overton — to tie it at 14 with 8:05 to go.

Then came Overton’s decisive blow, down the right sideline, as a defense that tackled at a high level most of the day disappeared in the defining moment.

The Eagles sputtered to the finish line and let a winnable game slip away. It doesn’t get any easier in a road matchup with Southern Methodist next Saturday at noon.

“It’s frustrating, no doubt,” O’Brien said. “Very frustrating. I feel bad for the guys in that locker room, but we’re going to go back to work tomorrow, correct some things, and keep battling.”

Trevor Hass is a sports producer who covers Boston’s professional teams. He also writes about Boston College football and high school sports for The Boston Globe.