Chestnut Hill, MA - 9/01/2018 - (1st quarter) Boston College Eagles wide receiver Kobay White (9) pulls in a reception over UMass Minutemen cornerback Lee Moses during a first quarter drive for a touchdown. Boston College Eagles vs. University of Massachusetts Minutemen at Alumni stadium in Chestnut Hill. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Julian Benbow, Topic: 01BC-UMass, LOID:8.4.2982354795.
Chestnut Hill, MA - 9/01/2018 - (1st quarter) Boston College Eagles wide receiver Kobay White (9) pulls in a reception over UMass Minutemen cornerback Lee Moses during a first quarter drive for a touchdown. Boston College Eagles vs. University of Massachusetts Minutemen at Alumni stadium in Chestnut Hill. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Julian Benbow, Topic: 01BC-UMass, LOID:8.4.2982354795. Credit: Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Boston — Anthony Brown threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns while playing just the opening half in his return from a season-ending knee injury, and Boston College opened its 120th season on Saturday with a 55-21 victory over in-state rival Massachusetts.

Brown, a redshirt sophomore, completed 15 of 21 passes and led the Eagles on TD drives in seven of their nine first-half possession before sitting out the second half.

He missed the final two regular-season games and the bowl game last year after a non-contact, right knee injury that required surgery.

AJ Dillon, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseason player of the year, carried 20 times for 98 yards in two quarters. He also had a 15-yard TD catch in the opening half before he was removed.

Marquis Young had a 3-yard TD run for UMass (1-1). Andrew Ford completed 9 of 18 passes for 78 yards with two interceptions, and backup Ross Comis went 9 of 13 for 145 yards with a TD.

Colgate 24, Holy Cross 17

Hamilton, n.y. — Grant Breneman threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns as Colgate opened the season and Patriot League play with a victory over Holy Cross.

Plymouth St. 38, Castleton 0

Castleton, Vt.— David Hamilton ran for 109 yards and touchdown and also caught a TD pass as Plymouth State routed Castleton in the season opener for both teams.

Zack Edwards threw for 207 yards for the Panthers.

Morrisville St. 34, Norwich 13

Northfield, Vt. — Brandon Gwinner threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns as Morrisville State defeated Norwich in both teams’ season opener.

Matthew Chaffee threw for 138 yards and a touchdown for the host Cadets.