No. 19 Boston College Tops Temple 34-17

Posted 4:45PM on Saturday 20th November 2004 ( 20 years ago )

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- L.V. Whitworth ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and Boston College took another step closer to its first BCS berth with a 34-17 win Saturday in Temple's final game before being booted from the Big East. The 19th-ranked Eagles (8-2, 4-1) pulled into a first-place tie in the Big East with No. 21 West Virginia (8-2, 4-1), which ends its season Thursday against Pittsburgh. Even if the Mountaineers win that game, Boston College would earn the automatic Bowl Championship Series slot and its first Big East championship if it can beat Syracuse. The Eagles would receive the bid because they beat West Virginia last week. The Mountaineers need to beat Pittsburgh and have Boston College lose to claim the BCS berth. While the Eagles, who are bolting for the Atlantic Coast Conference next year, are looking to end its final Big East season with a championship, Temple left the conference with a whimper. The Owls (2-9, 1-5) are getting kicked out of the Big East for failing to meet minimum requirements for membership, most notably in attendance, facilities and fielding a competitive team. Temple finished with its 13th straight losing season and had only 14 Big East wins in 14 conference seasons. The Owls begin life next year as an independent. Temple created a task force to decide the long-term future of the program. It could move to another conference - coach Bobby Wallace favors the Mid-American - drop down to Division I-AA or abolish the program. A decision is expected in December. While some of the Eagles fretted during the week about a possible letdown coming off the big win at Morgantown, W.Va., there was little to worry about. The one piece of bad news for BC was quarterback Paul Peterson getting knocked out of the game late in the first half. He did not return because of an injured right hand. Peterson was 12-for-15 for 115 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Matt Ryan ably filled in, going 8-for-15 and throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Larry Lester in the third quarter. Whitworth - who missed three games this year with a knee injury - had touchdown runs of 28 yards in the first quarter and 39 yards in the fourth and was the third straight running back to gain at least 140 yards against the Owls. Whitworth broke left for a 29-yard touchdown run, and Petterson rolled right and connected with Chris Miller for a 3-yard TD pass, helping Boston College to a 17-3 halftime lead. Ryan Ohliger added field goals of 43 and 32 yards. Temple couldn't build on its upset win over Syracuse, though Walter Washington ended with one of the team's best seasons since Paul Palmer in 1986. Washington threw for 283 yards two touchdowns, giving him 10 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing scores this season.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/11/146931