This was one BC should have had.

"I definitely feel like we should have won," linebacker Mark Herzlich said after the Eagles dropped a painful 19-16 ACC decision to a mistake-prone Georgia Tech club. "We didn't capitalize when we needed to capitalize."

Understatement.

The Eagles left a ton of points on the field in the first half, settling for three field goals and then missing a 30-yarder; and then handing the ball and points away in the second half to lose the home opener.

The result was the fourth loss in eight games since last year's team started Jeff Jagodzinski's stay as head coach with eight straight wins. But the connections to last year's team end there. This year's edition has work to be done, and the bye week leading up to a home game with feisty Central Florida (which almost beat South Florida Saturday night) will be used to make things more efficient.

It will also be used to hone the still-raw skills of quarterback Chris Crane. While the guy is a fifth-year senior, these two starts to open to season came after just one in his first four years, and he just made too many mistakes against Georgia Tech.

No one expects Crane to be Matt Ryan, but the Eagles are asking a fifth-year senior not to make so many mistakes, not to hold the ball too long or throw it too high. He took a second-half safety in this game that was crucial.

It doesn't help the Eagles that they are also trying to develop a running game at the same time they have a "rookie" quarterback. The whole thing has led to an inconsistent offense. And the defense has missed enough tackles in the first two games to drive any coach crazy.

SEASON RECAP

Boston College 21, Kent State 0: Jeff Jagodzinski's second year at the BC helm began with the Eagles pitching a shutout and new quarterback Chris Crane turning in a solid performance. BC, rushing for 230 yards, jumped to a 14-0 lead and cruised to the road win.

Georgia Tech 19, Boston College 16: The Eagles coughed the ball up three times and took a safety in losing the home opener. Chris Crane threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away after BC came away from four first-half scoring chances with three field goals and a miss from 30 yards.

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