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BC coach Steve Addazio stands by Chase Rettig

Senior receives confidence boost

BC senior QB Chase Rettig is now 14-26 as a starter.AP/File

Boston College coach Steve Addazio met Monday with quarterback Chase Rettig, as he has from time to time this season. This time, Addazio decided to take Rettig’s temperature after the senior was held to a season-low 57 yards passing in Saturday’s 34-10 loss at North Carolina.

It was the second-worst passing performance of Rettig’s career, after a 32-yard effort vs. Maryland in 2011.

“I like to know where everybody’s mind is, and it’s interesting to hear how guys are feeling,’’ Addazio said. “Quite honestly, I like our team. I love Chase and I care about how he feels.

“As the head coach, I know what it’s like when you get too much credit and you get too much blame. I’ve got that figured out. To think that a quarterback isn’t feeling what happens positively or negatively, you’re sticking your head in the sand, because they care and a lot goes on.’’

With a tough ACC home game looming Saturday against Virginia Tech, Rettig, now 14-26 as BC’s starter, earned an unsolicited vote of confidence from his coach.

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“He and I had a nice visit,’’ Addazio said. “I told him how proud I was of him and how hard he was competing and working. We’re all trying to improve each week and take the things we need to work on and improve on.’’

Against the Hokies’ third-ranked defense, Addazio said, he needs Rettig “to play with great confidence — we need his experience, we need his leadership.

“We just wanted him to know that we’ve got his back and let’s roll.’’

Asked if he had given any consideration to adding junior backup Josh Bordner to the mix, Addazio left no doubt.

“Chase gives us our best opportunity to win right now,’’ the coach said. “He’s an experienced veteran player and game manager. That’s nothing against Josh, but Chase is where it’s at right now and we’re going to go to war with Chase.’’

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They get an ‘A’ for ‘D’

BC has gone up against a number of impressive defensive units this season, from Southern Cal to Florida State to Clemson. But Addazio’s film study of Virginia Tech seemed to leave him floored.

“They’re No. 5 in rushing defense, No. 2 in passing defense, and they’re No. 2 in sacks with 28 and they’re 11th in the nation in creating turnovers, and they’re returning nine starters on defense,’’ said Addazio. “Let’s make no mistake about it: This is probably the best defense, if not the best, then [among] the top five in the country.

“We’ve played some pretty darn good defenses. We played USC with their backs up against the wall. We turned around and played Florida State. We turned around and played Clemson, and now we turn around and we’re playing Virginia Tech.

“I’ve told you before that we were playing good defenses with these other teams. But this defense is better than all the defenses we’ve faced and that’s a fact. That’s not just coachspeak. That’s just the way it is. They’re legit.’’

Evans out for year

BC’s third road loss of the season, which extended its overall losing streak on the road to nine, came at a price, as Addazio reported that wideout Spiffy Evans suffered a season-ending fractured clavicle. “Happened in the second half,’’ Addazio said. Evans, a junior from Hollywood, Fla., had seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown this season and also contributed to special teams as the punt returner (12 for 147 yards, 12.2 average, and a long of 34 yards). David Dudeck, a sophomore, will likely handle the return duties and help fill the void at wideout, along with sophomores Harrison Jackson and Dan Crimmins.

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No intent seen

Addazio rose to the defense of junior free safety Sean Sylvia, who was the first BC player to be ejected from a game for targeting. Sylvia was banished after he rocked Tar Heels wideout Bug Howard with a head shot on Howard’s 10-yard TD catch, which gave UNC a 20-7 lead with 52 seconds left before intermission. “I can tell you wholeheartedly that Sean Sylvia had no intent to hit anybody in the head,’’ Addazio said. “It’s just a split-second thing. It’s not like guys are head-hunting or something. It’s just not the case. If I thought a guy had intent to hurt somebody, I’d want him ejected, too.’’ . . . BC’s road game at New Mexico State Nov. 9 will kick off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.


Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com.