CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- On Saturday against No. 23 Boston College, the BYU football team knocked on the door of opportunity until its knuckles were bloody.

And until the final play of the second overtime, the Cougars believed they were going to break through to respectability.

Instead, a video replay overturned a call on the field, awarding Boston College with an interception and a wild 30-24 double overtime victory. BYU (1-2) failed on three field goal attempts in the final quarter and overtime that could have won the game and might have earned the Cougars their first victory over a Top 25 team in seven years.

For now, BYU's door torespectability remains closed.

"I don't think any one phase lost the game," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "We had chances in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams) to win the game. On the road against a quality football team, you have a limited amount of chances and we had enough chances to win."

Boy, did they ever.

Both teams missed field goal attempts in the first overtime -- BYU didn't even get their kick off as holder Jason Beck dropped the snap and BC's attempt was partially blocked by freshman Russell Tialavea -- but Boston College (3-0) scored a touchdown on the first play of the second overtime. Under pressure, BC quarterback Matt Ryan floated a pass to the goal line and Tony Gonzalez beat BYU's Justin Robinson back to the ball for the 25-yard score.

Trailing 30-23, Mendenhall said he had already made the decision to go for two and the win. BYU was facing second-and-10 at the BC 25 when Beck was rushed by Robert Francios, who tipped the ball. Safety Jamie Silva dove and came up with it, but the official on the field ruled the ball had hit the ground. The replay booth called time to examine the play and both teams huddled expectantly, waiting for the call. After a few minutes, the referee awarded the ball to Boston College, which sent the Eagles home with their second straight double overtime win.

"Thank goodness we have replay this year," Boston College coach Tom O'Brien said. "Another double overtime game and we find a way to win it at the end with defense or special teams."

BYU put up huge numbers, just one year after the BC defense held the Cougars to three points at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Beck was 38 of 59 for 436 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. BYU had 547 total yards and 27 first downs. Once again, BYU struggled with penalties, taking 10 for 67 yards.

And for the second time in three weeks, BYU came up just short against a BCS conference opponent on the road.

"It's frustrating," BYU junior linebacker Bryan Kehl said. "Two weeks ago (against Arizona) we had chances to win the game, too. When you're playing a ranked ACC team and you're an underdog, you have to have that confidence. A win just like this would have been perfect."

BYU had its chances to take over the game early. The Cougars took the opening kickoff and went 66 yards in 11 plays, with Beck carrying the ball over the goal line on a quarterback sneak, for a 7-0 lead. On BC's first offensive play, Kevin Challenger was stripped of the ball by Dustin Gabriel and Cameron Jensen recovered on the Eagles 34. Beck missed a wide open Zac Collie on third down and Jared McLaughlin failed on a 49-yard field goal attempt on the next play.

McLaughlin made two field goals in the second quarter -- the second a career-best 50 yarder -- to stake BYU to a 13-6 lead with 6:35 to play in the half. Boston College scored on an 18-yard Ryan pass to Gonzalez, but kicker Ryan Ohliger missed his second straight extra point, and BYU took a 13-12 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Boston College converted a low shotgun snap that Beck fumbled into points when Ryan snuck in from a yard out. The Eagles led 20-13 after Ryan connected with Challenger on the two-point conversion.

BYU bounced back on its longest drive of the season (8 plays, 96 yards) and Beck threw to Fui Vakapuna on a swing pass for a 6-yard score to tie the game at 20.

An Ohliger field goal of 20 yards gave BC the lead at 23-20 with 10:07 to play but BYU tied the game at 23-all on a 25-yarder from McLaughlin with 6:33 remaining.

With 4:35 to play, Boston College reached the BYU 38 but Quinn Gooch knocked the ball way from L.V. Whitworth and Jan Jorgensen recovered. The Cougars drove to the BC 23 but lost four yards on a third and one. McLaughlin's 44-yard field goal attempt had plenty of distance but glanced off the left goal post, and the game remained tied with 2:53 to go.

One final time, the BYU defense made a play. Boston College was near midfield when Hala Paonga tipped a Ryan pass that was intercepted by Kelly Poppinga with 20 seconds remaining. Beck competed a 17-yard pass to Matt Allen with eight seconds left to the BC 34 and McLaughlin trotted onto the field to win the game. But his 51-yard attempt was well short, forcing the first overtime period, and then the second in a game it seemed neither team was capable of winning.

"If John completes that final throw (intended for sophomore running back Manase Tonga), I think we score on that play," BYU senior running back Curtis Brown said. "We were never intimidated by Boston College. We just lacked the execution to win. We fear no one and we believe every team we play, we can win."

But belief wasn't enough on Saturday.

Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com

Get all your BYU sports news at CougarBlue.com

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.

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