Temple University Athletics
WASHINGTON SHINES AS OWLS LOSE OVERTIME HEARTBREAKER TO NO. 12 VIRGINIA TECH
11.15.03 | Football
Sophomore Walter Washington, in his third career start under center, kept the Owls in the game with 307 yards of total offense. Last year's National Junior College Player of the Year runner-up, Washington finished as Temple's leading rusher for the third-consecutive game, tallying 151 yards on 26 carries. It was the first time in school history that a quarterback reached the 100-yard rushing plateau. Washington was also solid through the air, completing 15-of-30 passing attempts for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Virginia Tech Heisman Trophy candidate Kevin Jones, a Chester, Pa. native and Cardinal O'Hara High School graduate, tallied 150 yards on 28 carries. It was his school-record seventh 100-yard game of the season. Bryan Randall, who scored the eventual game-winning touchdown, and Marcus Vick split time at quarterback for the Hokies.
Washington set the pace for the game early with a 39-yard run on the first play from scrimmage that advanced the Owls to Tech's 39 yard-line. Temple then turned the ball over after failing to convert on a fourth-and-three attempt.
Virginia Tech wasted little time opening up the scoring. With the Hokies facing third-and-one, Jones burst through the middle for his first big gain of the day, a 47-yard run. After a tough defensive stand by the Cherry & White, Carter Warley hit a 26-yard field goal to give Virginia Tech the lead. The score stood at 3-0 for the remainder of the first half.
Following a three-and-out by the Owls, Mike McLaughlin pinned the Hokies at the 10 yard-line with a 60-yard punt. Tech's offense recorded two first downs, but the defense held strong as the ball approached midfield. Temple had a chance on the next possession as Washington threw deep to Zamir Cobb inside the five yard-line, but the ball was dropped and McLaughlin came on for his second punt.
Vick found Ernest Wilford deep downfield for a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter, but the play was negated following a holding penalty.
After tight end Jeff King fell down in the end zone, Pete McBride picked the ball off and returned it to the 11 yard-line. Cols Colas sacked Washington at the two yard-line on the Owls first play of the next drive and the Owls were eventually forced to punt.
On the next possession, the Hokies faced third-and-29 after recovering their own fumble. Vick found Wilford downfield for a 26-yard gain that left Tech three yards shy of the first down. Vinnie Burns then nailed the ball at the one yard-line on the punt.
Virginia Tech mustered just the sole field goal on their first possession in the first half, their lowest-scoring half since September 21, 2002, when they scored three points in the first stanza against Texas A&M. The Cherry & White defense held Virginia Tech to 175 yards of total offense before intermission.
Coming out of the locker room, Tech marched down the field as Jones scored on a nine-yard run to increase the lead to 10-0.
Temple defensive end Christian Dunbar returned the ball 34 yards following a short kickoff by Warley. A 20-yard run by Ferguson put Temple in the opposition's territory, but the Owls failed to post their first points when Jared Davis' 40-yard field goal attempt fell short.
Temple's defense held their ground on the next possession, forcing a three-and-out. Cobb botched a fair catch attempt on the punt, but the Owls recovered at their own 23 yard-line to maintain possession. After a run for a loss, Phil Goodman stretched out for a 25-yard reception down the sideline. Virginia Tech's defense clamped down, though, to force McLaughlin's fifth punt of the afternoon.
The Hokies controlled the ball for a 10-play, 85-yard drive that spanned into the fourth quarter. Randall found Wilford for a 28-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to three scores with 14:23 remaining in regulation.
Facing a seemingly insurmountable 17-0 fourth quarter deficit, Temple responded with a 13-yard touchdown reception by Umar Ferguson to cut Tech's lead to 17-7 with 10:52 on the clock. Washington piloted the 11-play, 82-yard drive that featured two receptions by Goodman.
Once again, the Cherry & White defense held up their end of the bargain, forcing another punt by Burns that bounced in the end zone for a touchback.
Washington dazzled again on the ensuing drive, directing the Owl offense for 80 yards in less than three minutes. Goodman caught a pass in front of DeAngelo Hall on the sideline at midfield to keep the drive alive. Washington then dodged four Tech defenders before being brought down by Colas at the one yard-line. Ferguson punched a one-yard touchdown to bring the Owls to within three points with 5:08 remaining.
Cobb fielded Burns' punt at Temple's 29 yard-line after another three-and-out by the Hokies. With nine yards to go on third down, Washington found a diving Cobb on a pass that was ruled to have hit the ground before its completion. Facing fourth-and-nine, Goodman reached over Tech cornerback Vincent Fuller for a 30-yard catch that advanced the Cherry & White to the 25 yard-line. On second-and-six, Washington again looked deep but overthrew Goodman in the end zone. A one-yard run by Washington spotted the ball in the middle of the field to set up at 37-yard field goal attempt. Davis split the uprights with 40 seconds on the clock after a Virginia Tech timeout.
On the Hokies' ensuing possession, Johnathan McPhee intercepted Randall's pass and left the Owl offense with eight seconds in regulation. Washington's pass fell just beyond the outstretched hands of Cobb in the end zone. After Davis missed a desperation 50-yard field goal, the Owls won the coin toss for overtime and deferred the ball.
Virginia Tech started the overtime with a two-yard run by Jones, followed by a 23-yard touchdown scamper by Randall. Carter Warley connected on the point-after attempt to give the Hokies a 24-17 advantage.
The Owls responded with a short Ferguson run and Washington incompletion to open their retort. Washington then found Cobb for a 22-yard touchdown catch to bring the hosts within one. Davis' extra-point attempt sailed wide left to conclude the game.
Playing without starting quarterback Mike McGann and running back Makonnen Fenton, the Owls still managed 393 yards of total offense, including 237 yards rushing. Ferguson filled in admirably for Fenton, gaining 73 yards on 15 carries. He also caught two passes for 21 yards. Goodman finished the afternoon with eight receptions for 89 yards, including four catches in the final period. Washington's 151 yards on the ground is a school rushing record for quarterbacks.
The Owls host Pittsburgh and Heisman Trophy candidate Larry Fitzgerald next Saturday, November 23, on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.
