Temple University Athletics
OWLS HOST 19TH-RANKED BOSTON COLLEGE IN SEASON FINALE
11.15.04 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple (2-8, 1-4), under the direction of seventh-year head coach Bobby Wallace, and No. 19 Boston College (7-2, 3-1), under the leadership of eighth-year head coach Tom O'Brien, meet Saturday at 12 noon on the natural grass of Lincoln Financial Field. Temple utilizes a spread offense and a 4-2-5 defense. The Eagles operate a multiple offense and a 4-3 defensive alignment. The game is being produced by ESPN Plus+ Television and will be broadcast in the Philadelphia region on WB 17 with Dave Sims calling the action and John Congemi providing the commentary.
The game will also mark the Owls' annual Senior Day. Prior to the contest, Temple's outgoing seniors will be introduced to the crowd and acknowledged for their contributions to Temple University both on and off the field.
Junior Walter Washington, the Big East Conference Co-Offensive Player of The Week with Pittsburgh QB Tyler Palko, tied the Temple record for TDs in a season with 15 after carrying into the end zone three times en route to 185 rushing yards in the Owls' 34-24 win over Syracuse last Saturday that snapped a six game losing streak and a string of 12 consecutive Conference losses. Washington, the nation's leading scorer among Div. I-A QBs with 92 points and a 9.20 average, is tied with former RB Paul Palmer, who had 15 TDs in 1986, in the Temple annals.
Washington, who is responsible for the last 14 Temple TDs, accounted for four scores versus the Orange, including a 24-yard TD toss. His 315 total yards last Saturday gives the Daytona Beach, Fla. native 2,740 total yards this year (816 rushing; 1,924 passing), breaking the Temple record for total yards in a season (2,577), set by QB Henry Burris in 1994. Washington's 816 rushing yards also breaks the Big East record for rushing yards by a QB in a season, previously held by WVU's Rasheed Marshall with 666 rushing yards in 2002.
Washington completed 10 of 19 passes for 130 yards versus Syracuse without an INT and engineered two TD drives of 80 yards, as well scoring drives of 71 (TD), 58 (FG), 52 (TD) and 15 (FG) yards.
Washington ranks first in the Big East and 11th nationally in scoring (9.20), first in the conference and 14th nationally in points responsibility (14.00) and third in the Big East and 15th nationally in total offense (274.0).
Washington has a Temple-record 495 total plays to his credit this season, which ranks third in the Big East record books behind former Pittsburgh QB Rod Rutherford, who posted 549 total plays in both 2002 and 2003.
The Owls were a perfect 4-4 in the red zone against a Syracuse team that entered the game with the top-ranked red zone defense in the Big East to improve to 13-2 under Wallace when scoring 30 or more points. Temple did not commit a turnover and owned a 35:29-24:31 advantage in time of possession, including holding the ball for 20 minutes, 29 seconds of the second half.
Boston College defeated then No. 13 West Virginia 36-17 last Saturday, bolstering its conference title hopes and a possible Bowl Championship Series berth. Senior Paul Peterson, who was 18-of-30 for 162 yards, threw two first half TD passes and the Eagles returned two punts for scores to win in Morgantown for the first time since 1990. BC also had several long kickoff returns and pinned WVU deep in its own territory on many punts and kickoffs. The Eagles rank second nationally in kickoff returns (28.57) and fifth nationally in scoring defense (13.22).
