Temple University Athletics
OWL GRIDDERS BOW TO BC IN SEASON FINALE, 36-14
11.23.02 | Football
Temple (4-8, 2-5 Big East) entered its 12th game of the campaign with an opportunity to collect the program's most wins in a season since 1990, but it was not to be. Boston College (7-4, 2-4) dominated play and, in doing so, put itself into solid contention for a major bowl game. The Eagles produced a 21-14 margin in first downs and out-gained the Owls, 351-222 in total net yardage. But once again, turnovers really hurt Temple's chances, as the Owls threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, while BC suffered a single interception.
The Eagles opened the scoring on their third possession of the game, driving 63 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge by sophomore running back Brandon Brokaw. The key play was a 22-yard pass from senior quarterback Brian St. Pierre to Grant Adams on third-and-13 from the Owl 34. The Owls answered right back on a similar 11-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal by Tanardo Sharps. A 17-yard pass from quarterback Mike McGann to Sean Dillard on third and 11 from the BC 18 gave the Owls a first-and-goal at the one, but it took Temple no less than nine plays to punch it in from there.
On the ensuing possession, Boston College took the lead for good, traveling 67 yards in just eight plays for a 14-7 lead on Derrick Knight's 11-yard scamper around right end. The Eagles increased the margin to 17-7 less than five minutes later, when Sandro Sciortino made good on a 43-yard field goal attempt with 6:02 remaining in the first half.
The Temple defense staged valiant efforts and forced BC to settle for Sciortino field goals measuring 32 and 38 yards through the midpoint of the third quarter. But at the 5:51 mark, a McGann pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by BC's Mathias Kiwanuka at the Owl 23. On the second play from there, the Temple defense broke down, as Brokaw skirted right end untouched to put the game out of reach at 30-7 with 5:11 remaining in the period.
Temple safety Jamal Wallace set up the Owls' final score of the season with an interception and 29-yard return to the BC 10 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. McGann ran it in himself on the following play, and Cap Poklemba's point after touchdown brought the Owls to within 30-14. With six minutes to play in the final period, BC linebacker Vinny Ciurciu intercepted a McGann pass at the Owl 16 and returned it to the nine, setting up the final score of the game. Brokaw's third touchdown from two yards out ended the scoring at 36-14.
Temple played the second half without the services of Sharps, its leading rusher, and starting center Donny Klein, both of whom suffered injuries prior to the intermission. A total of 22 Temple seniors played in their final game for the Cherry & White and were honored prior to the kickoff. Among that group was Dillard, who became the program's all-time leader in pass receptions; Sharps, the program's second-leading rusher of all-time; defensive tackle Dan Klecko, the only unanimous All-Big East selection in school history; and defensive tackle Rob Sack, who set a Temple career record by appearing in his 47th career game.
