FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Boston College flew all the way to Ireland in its opener only to lose to Georgia Tech thanks in part to a pair of missed field goals.Now the Eagles have their shortest road trip of the season, driving down to the home of the New England Patriots to play Massachusetts. The matchup

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Boston College flew all the way to Ireland in its opener only to lose to Georgia Tech thanks in part to a pair of missed field goals.Now the Eagles have their shortest road trip of the season, driving down to the home of the New England Patriots to play Massachusetts. The matchup gives the Eagles a chance to record the FBS victory they have struggled to come by; last years team won only one game against an FBS opponent, beating Northern Illinois, and went winless in the Atlantic Coast Conference.The ACC losing streak was stretched to nine games with the Week 1 loss to Georgia Tech. BC led 14-10 in the fourth quarter -- it could have been more, if not for missed field goals of 43 and 35 yards -- but the Eagles gave up a 22-yard gain on fourth-and-19, and then a 4-yard, go-ahead touchdown run with 35 seconds left.BC has won eight straight vs. UMass, the last meeting coming in 2014.Here are some things to look for in the Battle of the Bay State:THE MORE THINGS CHANGESo far, Boston College has looked a lot like last years team: Good defense, strong running game, bad special teams.The Eagles led the FBS in total defense in 2015, allowing just 254.3 yards per game. They gave up 238 yards to Georgia Tech last week.RUNNING GAMEJon Hilliman, who was injured in Week 4 last year, posted his fifth career 100-yard rushing game against Georgia Tech, collecting 102 yards on 17 carries, including 73-yard touchdown. In all, the Eagles gained 176 yards on the ground from seven different backs, including 27 yards on nine carries from quarterback Patrick Towles.Weve got a lot of confidence in the stable of backs, coach Steve Addazio said. What makes Jon unique is hes a big back whos got speed. And thats when youre dangerous. Hes talented. We missed him last year. You felt it right away in Game 1.QB NO. 1The one place BC can improve is at quarterback. Last year, Darius Wade was lost in the third game of the season to a broken left ankle, Jeff Smith was sidelined with a concussion, Troy Flutie was yanked after a slow start and soon BC was relying on fourth-string walk-on John Fadule.Towles is a graduate transfer who won the job in training camp. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 144 yards, with one interception. If he can stay healthy, the Eagles might be able to avoid a repeat of last year, when they lost ACC games 14-0, 9-7 and 3-0.KICKING THEMSELVESThe most troubling sight for the Eagles was watching Colton Lichtenberg miss two short field goals: a 43-yarder that was blocked, and a 35-yarder that was shanked. The Eagles had similar trouble last year, when he was 3 of 6 and the team was 6 for 11.If you get in the red zone, youve got to be able to get points, Addazio said. You cant miss two field goals, one from the 18 and one from the 26. Those are six valid points.LOOKING FOR A HOMEUMass went FBS in 2012 and played in the Mid-American Conference for four seasons. But the Minutemen left the league and went independent this year rather than join for all sports, which would have required ending a long affiliation with the Atlantic 10 in basketball.In four-plus seasons as an FBS program, UMass is 8-41. Air Max 270 React Tan . 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Gary Abletts six-year reign as Gold Coast captain is over, with the under-siege AFL star standing down on Tuesday.And despite being contracted until the end of 2018, the 32-year-old has admitted the 2017 season might be his last in the AFL.Ablett informed his teammates at training of the decision to relinquish the captaincy, after it was confirmed last month he had sought a trade from the club late last season to return to Geelong as he battled family issues.That request was denied, and he also missed the opening days of pre-season training on a delayed honeymoon, prompting former Suns defender Campbell Brown to tweet that the 32-year-olds teammates were dirty on him.But Ablett and the club insisted the decision had been made between he and coach Rodney Eade at the end of last season.I feel it is the right time for a change, both for the club and for me, Ablett said in a statement.When I got injured last season, we handed the role over to Tom Lynch and Steven May and both guys, with the help of their teammates, did an outstanding job.It became obvious to me then that we now have the calibre of leaders that are capable of leading the footy club into our next phase.Ablett had captained the Suns in 96 games since their foundation season, but only played 20 matches for the club in 2015 and 2016 as he battled ongoing shoulderr issues.ddddddddddddowever, he said matters off the field were more likely to end his career prematurely, and that he would discuss his future with the Suns at the end of 2017.In the back of my mind, I want to play two years, but I cant guarantee that and thats because of everything thats going on in my personal life, he told the AFL website.Trying to juggle football life and life outside football, I need to see where things are at the end of this year and Ill make a decision then.But, the two-time Brownlow Medallist reiterated his stance that he was wholly committed to the club as they attempted to make the finals for the first time in 2017.This will allow me to concentrate on my return from injury, Ablett said.The last few years have been frustrating, having not been able to get out there and do what I love doing.I will do whatever I can to help my successor and his teammates.Eade said the club would be in a position to announce a new captain within the next month, with Lynch or May favoured to take the helm.As a club, we have had some time to think through the process, he said.Gary and I agreed on a transition a couple of months ago but it was appropriate that he tell his teammates first. 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