CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- While there was considerably less at stake this time, Boston College handed Notre Dame another demoralizing loss.
Sandro Sciortino kicked a 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining as the Eagles posted a 27-25 victory over the Fighting Irish, who are off to their worst start in 40 years.
Sciortino's field goal came after Notre Dame (2-5) had rallied from a 24-6 deficit late in the third quarter. The Fighting Irish went up, 25-24, when Carlos Campbell returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a touchdown with 3:34 to play.
But the two-point conversion failed, and special teams hurt Notre Dame as Will Blackmon returned the ensuing kickoff to the Boston College 49. The Fighting Irish allowed the Eagles to convert two third downs to get into field-goal range.
Quinton Porter avoided a sack with a seven-yard gain on 3rd-and-7 to give Boston College (4-3) a first down at the Notre Dame 17. The Eagles ran down the clock to set up Sciortino for his winning kick.
Boston College posted its third straight victory over Notre Dame. Last season, the Eagles recorded a 14-7 win in South Bend, handing the Fighting Irish their first loss under Tyrone Willingham after an 8-0 start.
Notre Dame is off to its worst start since going 2-7 under Hugh Devore in 1963, the year before Ara Parseghian arrived in South Bend.
The Fighting Irish held Derrick Knight, the nation's leading rusher, to 43 yards on 23 carries. Horace Dodd led Boston College on the ground with 64 yards on 12 carries.
Porter completed 13-of-25 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. His one-yard keeper gave the Eagles a 24-6 lead with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
Brady Quinn rallied Notre Dame, tossing TD passes of 10 yards to Omar Jenkins and 23 yards to Maurice Stovall to pull the Fighting Irish within 24-19.
Quinn completed 23-of-39 passes for 350 yards with two interceptions, but Notre Dame was limited to just 47 yards rushing on 34 attempts.
For nearly three quarters, the Fighting Irish managed only two field goals by D.J. Fitzpatrick and trailed, 14-6, at the intermission.
