By Joshua Anderson, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent  

The last six games between the Boston College Eagles and the Clemson Tigers have all been decided by six points or less. Last year’s match up at Chestnut Hill in Boston saw Clemson steal a come from behind 27-21 victory with a touchdown in the last thirty seconds. Four of the last six games have been decided by field goals in the last two minutes. 

Hence, it’s safe too say that Saturday’s game will be the perfect opportunity for someone to step-up and make a game-winning play.

When Boston College heads south on Saturday to take on the Tigers in front of 90,000 screaming, orange-clad fans at “Death Valley,” aka Clemson Memorial Stadium, it will use a pair of freshman quarterbacks looking to do just that. Entering their third game of the season, the Eagles have yet to solidify the starting quarterback position. Two freshman – Dave Shinski and Justin Tuggle – have been competing for the starting job since preseason. Following two games where both saw equal snaps and put up equal numbers, the race for the starting spot seems to be as close as ever. Saturday’s game against a legitimate ACC defense and pass rush should help the Boston College coaching staff decide who gets the starting nod. 

Boston College’s interim head coach Frank Spaziani, who replaced coach Jeff Jagodzinski after he was fired for interviewing with the Jets last season, has been quiet about his choice for a starting quarterback. At a recent press conference, repeated questions about the subject prompted Spaziani to reply with “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Both quarterbacks have shown great adjustment to the Boston College offensive system and both bring a unique set of skills to the position. Justin Tuggle, a highly recruited player from Georgia standing at 6′3”, and weighing in at 224, is the more mobile of the two. He is quicker on the ground and a great threat to run the ball if needed.

“I think I’ve gotten a lot better at moving the ball and handling broken plays. I feel like I’ve been progressing very well with the offense,” said Tuggle.

Tuggle comes from a storied high school career in Georgia where he set school records for rushing yards and passing yards. Tuggle was recruited heavily by a number of schools from the SEC and the ACC but was ultimately drawn to Boston College due to their history of turning out successful quarterbacks. 

“The bar was already very high for the quarterback position when I got here, and I want to show them that I can take it higher to the next level,» he said.

Tuggle’s competition, Dave Shinskie, comes from quite a different route. A 6′4” freshman from the Mt. Carmel area in Pennsylvania, was actually a pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization playing for their Double-A affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Before that, he was an All-State quarterback who led his high school team to a 15-0 record in 2003. Blessed with a powerful arm and prototypical quarterback size, Shinskie can make all the throws necessary to win over the starting job. At 25 years old, he feels has also has the maturity needed to lead a football team to victory.

“I want to go in, make the right plays, play fast and error free, and lead the team down the field, said Shinskie.

Shinskie says that his biggest challenge is adjusting to the game of football after spending the last years of his athletic career on the baseball diamond. He credits the hard work and expertise of the Boston College coaching staff for getting him in the “best football shape of his life.”

Talking to both players makes one thing seem very clear: this is not a cutthroat competition for quarterback supremacy. A starting quarterback honor is a challenge to lead the team, but it is a position not necessarily etched in stone. Injuries, poor performances, and the specific offensive needs for the Eagles on any given day could prompt the coaching staff to choose one over the other. If the Eagles are looking for speed and mobility, Tuggle may be the best option. However, Shinskie’s powerful arm and strong pocket presence make him a strong option for pass-heavy offensive strategies. 

In the meantime, both quarterbacks continue to take reps with the first-team offense and both have earned the respect of the team’s defense. Senior defensive end Jim Ramella says both quarterbacks have shown their talent throughout the preseason and the team’s first two games, and neither one is seen as a front-runner. 

“They’re both capable of making plays and stepping up. I think the biggest factor will be seeing how they handle adversity. If we’re down and need a big drive, being able to lead the offense down the field may be where they differ,   Said Ramella.

Ramella admits that he hasn’t worried too much about the situation but rather how his team will handle the potent running game of the Clemson Tigers. Armed with a pair of shifty running backs in C.J. Spiller and Andre Ellington, Ramella and the Eagles defense will have their work cut out for them. Facing an ACC caliber rushing offense will be an eye opener for a team that has allowed only seven points in two games this season.

“They are fast, very fast, and without a doubt it will be our first real test of the season” Ramella says. 

Ramella is referring to the team’s first two opponents this season – Division 1-AA Northeastern (where the Eagles won 54-0) and Kent State, where the Eagles rolled to a 34-7 victory. It’s safe to say that the Eagles have yet to meet a team this season with the athleticism and offensive firepower of the Clemson Tigers. Stopping the run will be a priority, but if they ignore the pass too much, gunslinging Clemson QB Kyle Parker could do damage the Eagles through the air. 

With both the offense and the defense looking to prove themselves in front of the biggest crowd of the season, Saturday’s game looks to be a great opportunity for Boston College to establish early season ACC supremacy. Whether or not the team rises to the challenge will be up to each individual player, Ramella says. 

“Someone will have to step up, whether it be a quarterback, the running game or the defense. This game will be a true test of how smart and how hard we can play for four quarters.”

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