Temple University Athletics
OWLS MEET NO.24 WEST VIRGINIA SATURDAY IN MORGANTOWN
11.24.03 | Football
Temple and West Virginia are meeting for the 35th time in a series that dates back to 1932, with WVU holding a 22-12 advantage. Three of the last four meetings between the schools have been decided by five points or less. The Owls' last win in the series was a 17-14 victory at Mountaineer Field on Nov. 17, 2001. The win snapped a streak of 10 straight Mountaineer victories over Temple and was the first TU series victory in 17 years (19-17, 1984).
Temple leads the Big East in opponent fourth down conversions (25.0 pct.) and kickoff coverage (13.1 avg.). West Virginia leads the league in Interceptions (18), turnover margin (1.45 mar./game), turnovers gained (32), fumbles recovered (14) and opponent penalties (68.8 avg./game).
Temple is coming off a 30-16 loss last Saturday to No. 21 Pittsburgh at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite scoring two TDs in the final 15 minutes, the Owls failed to erase a 21-3 halftime deficit in their home finale. Zamir Cobb, the Owls' career reception king, caught two passes in the first quarter to become Temple's all-time single-season reception leader, surpassing Clint Graves' mark of 63 catches set in 1972. Cobb finished the afternoon with eight receptions for 92 yards, bumping his season-total to 71 catches. He has 828 yards this year, fourth on the TU season record chart. In his fourth start of the season, sophomore Walter Washington passed for a career-high 278 yards on 24-of-40 attempts. He also finished as Temple's leading rusher for the fourth straight game, finishing with 26 carries for 72 yards. Washington was responsible for 350 of Temple's 370 total offensive yards. Defensively, sophomore LB Rian Wallace, who is ranked among the nation's leaders in solo tackles (5th, 8.55), total tackles (T-5th, 12.55), as well as tackles-for-loss (T-15th, 1.59), made a game-high 15 stops (10 solo) and three TFLs.
Washington has 657 total yards with one rushing and three passing TDs in his last two games.
West Virginia is coming off a 34-23 win at Syracuse last Saturday. Sophomore Chris Henry posted a school-record 209 receiving yards on six receptions. He had TDs of 67 and 24 yards - both on third down - en route to his fourth 100-yard receiving effort of the season. The victory was West Virginia's first win at the Carrier Dome since 1993. The Mountaineers are 11-2 in Big East play over the last two seasons, with both losses to Miami. Overall, WVU has won 16 of its last 24 games.
