Trojans can’t avoid letdown, fall to Eagles, 37-31

Steve Sarkisian knew it was a possibility.

After an emotional victory over Stanford, the chance of a letdown ominously loomed when the Trojans traveled to play a Boston College team that looked anything but formidable.

Sarkisian avoided that conversation with players.

Maybe he should have brought it up.

Boston College, a 17-point underdog, upset the ninth-ranked Trojans, 37-31, on Saturday night at Alumni Stadium.

The crowd of 41,632 rushed the field after the Eagles beat the Trojans for the first time. It was Boston College’s first victory over a top 10 team since 2002.

“They outplayed us — they beat us in all three phases,” Sarkisian said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and the end result was we didn’t get it done.”

The defeat dropped the Trojans’ record to 2-1 and ended the feel-good vibe that permeated the program after victories over Fresno State and Stanford.

USC overcame numerous off-the-field distractions to win those games, but they could not overcome a Boston College team that refused to let the Trojans’ ranking, reputation or a 10-0 deficit keep them from pulling off the upset.

“We sacked them. We harassed them. We played relentlessly on defense,” second-year Boston College Coach Steve Addazio said, adding, “Anybody who was at the game would say this team just wouldn’t back down.”

Now, with an open date next week, USC has two weeks to ponder what would have been a 3-0 start heading into a Pac-12 Conference home game against Oregon State.

Boston College rolled up 506 yards — 452 rushing — against a Trojans defense that was thought to be the team’s strength.

USC had given up 157 yards rushing against Fresno State and 128 against Stanford.

Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy, a graduate transfer from Florida, rushed for 191 yards in 13 carries and buried the Trojans with a 66-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that caused the jubilant crowd to shake the stadium.

“He just beat us with his skills,” USC safety Su’a Cravens said of Murphy. “We were anticipating them to run the ball and that’s what they did.

“We knew he liked to scramble. We just didn’t execute.”

While Murphy baffled the defense, Boston College’s defense stymied the Trojans offense.

Quarterback Cody Kessler completed 31 of 41 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns.

But the junior was sacked five times on a night the Trojans rushed for only 20 yards and converted five of 16 third downs.

“They did a good job of getting to me,” Kessler said. “We missed assignments up front we should have and I needed to make better calls on my part. It’s a combination of both.

“At the end of the day, we need to be more physical up front.”

Boston College (2-1) ), which defeated Massachusetts in its opener and lost to Pittsburgh last week, allowed Pitt running back James Conner to rush for 214 yards. It was the first time since 1999 a back rushed for 200 rushing yards against the Eagles.

But the Trojans could not run against the Eagles.

Javorius Allen, who rushed for a career-best 154 yards against Stanford, gained only 31 yards in 15 carries. He caught nine passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

USC took a 10-0 lead but trailed, 20-17, at halftime.

The Trojans forced Boston College to punt on the first possession of the third quarter but went three and out.

Murphy took it from there, scrambling for 21 yards to spur a drive that ended with a short touchdown run by freshman Jon Hilliman for a 10-point lead.

USC’s offense could not immediately answer.

Each of the Trojans’ three third-quarter possessions ended with punts after the Eagles sacked Kessler. The fourth quarter featured another sack.

Boston College added a field goal before USC finally launched a 75-yard scoring drive, Kessler finding Nelson Agholor for a 10-yard touchdown with 4 minutes 32 seconds left to pull to within 30-24.

But on the ensuing possession, Murphy faked a hand-off and then sprinted through the Trojans to the end zone.

Kessler brought the Trojans back, connecting with receiver Darreus Rogers for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:18 left.

But Boston College recovered an onside kick and held on for the victory.

“I really believe we’ll bounce back and we’ll do it in great fashion,” Sarkisian said. “It’s back to the drawing board for the bye week, which is probably coming at a good time for us.”

Kessler echoed Sarkisian.

“It’s going to be a big week for us to bounce back coming into the bye week,” Kessler said, adding, “I’m not worried. This team knows how to fight back.”
gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein