BOSTON — Alabama’s loss cleared out one of the teams in the way of Notre Dame’s 2012 title hopes. An hour later, the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish avoided one of their peskiest obstacles of years past.
Everett Golson ran for a touchdown and threw for two more on Saturday night to help Notre Dame beat Boston College 21-6, giving the Irish a workmanlike victory over a rival that had twice before ended their drive to a national championship.
“You can’t come out and worry about another team that lost. You have to be focused on the task at hand,” Notre Dame cornerback Bennett Jackson said. “Wins don’t come easy. Boston College plays us hard every year.”
Taking the field soon after top-ranked Alabama lost to No. 15 Texas A&M, the Fighting Irish (10-0) remained unbeaten and in the hunt for a spot in the BCS title game. And a week after needing triple overtime — and a lot of luck — to get past unheralded Pittsburgh, Notre Dame eased past a BC team hoping a win in the rivalry known locally as “The Holy War” would salvage its dismal season.
“A win against Notre Dame — a top-ranked team in the country — would have been great for the whole organization,” Boston College receiver Alex Amidon said. “It just didn’t happen.”
Golson completed 16 of 24 passes for 200 yards, connecting with Troy Niklas for a 7-yard touchdown at the end of the first half and with John Goodman from 18 yards out early in the second. Manti Te’o grabbed his sixth interception of the season — a school record for a linebacker — to end the Eagles last chance at a comeback with just under six minutes left.
Chase Rettig completed 27 of 34 passes for 247 yards for Boston College (2-8), which is off to its worst start since 1989.
Theo Riddick ran 18 times for 104 yard and caught six passes for 67 more for the Irish, who are 10-0 for the first time since 1993.