Another late win for Boston College

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Another late deficit, another stunning comeback for Matt Ryan and No. 18 Boston College.

Three games after Ryan led the Eagles to an improbable 14-10 win at Virginia Tech, he found Rich Gunnell for a 43-yard touchdown with 1:46 to go for a 20-17 win over No. 15 Clemson.

“We practice in these situations a lot and we’ve done a pretty good job of executing,” Ryan said. “It was a great win, exciting, a lot of fun and we’re glad to walk out with the win.”

And a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s title game in two weeks.

“We know we’re there, which is a very good thing,” Ryan said.

A big reason is Ryan, who finished with 315 yards and kept the Eagles (9-2, 5-2) calm after Cullen Harper put Clemson (8-3, 5-3) on top with his four-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left.

As Virginia Tech discovered last month when Ryan tossed two touchdowns in the last 2:11 to win 14-10, the Eagles can’t be counted out as long as their senior quarterback has a chance.

“He’s been like that ever since he was a sophomore. He’s always been cool and collected,” Gunnell said, smiling. “It shows in the fourth quarter.”

On BC’s winning drive, Ryan completed a 12-yard pass to Clarence Megwa on third and eight. Then, facing third and seven, Ryan lofted a perfect pass to Gunnell, who had slipped behind Clemson’s defense and easily walked in for the go-ahead score.

Clemson got one final chance and threw a couple of Ryan-like scares into the Eagles. First, Harper threw a long pass that hit Aaron Kelly in the hands before falling away a yard from the end zone.

“The coaches called my number late in the game to try and make a big play and I didn’t come up with it,” Kelly said.