MORGANTOWN, WV - Quarterback Walter Washington, battling a sore right throwing shoulder and a case of tonsillitis, generated 323 total yards (117 rushing, 206 passing) of offense but it was not enough as Temple fell to No 12-ranked West Virginia 42-21 Saturday afternoon. It marked the fourth career 100-yard rushing game for the junior, who carried for a pair of touchdowns for the sixth time this season and passed for another score before 52,108 fans at Mountaineer Field.
"I thought Walter played great," said Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. "He had his best game of the year today."
Washington has 2,425 total yards this season with two games to play, 152 yards shy of the Temple single season mark of 2,577 set by Henry Burris in 1994. His performance against West Virginia moved him past Matt Baker (1987-90, 3987) into sixth place in the school career books with 4,296 total yards in just two years on North Broad Street. Washington, who leads the Big East with 12 rushing touchdowns, is also just three short of the program record of 15 established by Paul Palmer in 1986.
West Virginia (8-1, 4-0), ranked 12th by the coaches and 15th by the AP in the polls, scored 21 consecutive points after halftime to defeat Temple (1-8, 0-4) on the heels of a hard fought first half that featured a 14-14 tie. The Owls, who were without starters Tariq Sanders (OT) and Rodney Wormley (DE) due to injuries, finished with a 443-411 advantage in total yards and won the time of possession battle but were unable to contain running back Kay Jay Harris. The senior rushed for two touchdowns and caught two others for a Mountaineer team that looks poised for a BCS bowl berth.
"Today, 80 percent of our team fought and competed," added Wallace. "I'm extremely disappointed in the other 20 percent."
Things looked good for the Owls early. Senior Jamil Porter, who entered the game with a 20.7 average on kick returns, raced the opening kickoff out of the end zone to the TU 38 yard-line. Washington proceeded to drive the Owls downfield, rushing three times, including a 23-yard dash facing a second and five at the WVU 33-yard line, to set up a first-and-goal from the home 10. Unfortunately, the Owls would be unable to advance the ball in the red zone and junior Ryan Lux missed a 22-yard field goal attempt wide left. It would be one of three costly miscues in the kicking game for the Owls during the first half.
The Mountaineers took the field looking to capitalize on the error. Senior signal caller Rasheed Marshall, known for this running ability but also the Big East Conference leader in passing efficiency, completed two passes for 36 yards and rushed for another seven yards on the team's opening drive as WVU faced a third-and-13 at the TU 13-yard line. All-American linebacker Rian "Goo" Wallace would then quiet the home crowd, recovering a fumble forced by junior cornerback Ray Lamb at the one-yard line after Marshall completed a pass to Eddie Jackson.
Backed-up deep in its own territory, Temple was unable to generate yardage and was forced to punt from its 11 yard-line. A bad snap from Jacob Simon was handled by junior Mike McLaughlin but it contributed to an 18-yard punt under pressure to give the Mountaineers a first-and-ten at the Temple 29. Three plays later, West Virginia cashed-in on its good field position, as Marshall connected with Harris on a five-yard toss to give the home squad a 7-0 lead with 3:52 showing on the first quarter clock.
Porter returned the ensuing kickoff from five yards deep in the end zone to the Temple 45-yard line. Four plays later, however, the Mountaineers regained possession when Jahmile Addae intercepted a Washington pass and returned it 47 yards to the Temple 33. The home squad wasted little time extending its lead, as Marshall connected with Harris for a second time through the air, this time on a 29-yard strike to register a 14-0 advantage with 1:37 remaining in the first quarter.
Looking at a two touchdown deficit in a hostile environment, Temple responded to the challenge. Starting from its 23-yard line, the Owls advanced to its 45 courtesy of three Umar Ferguson rushes and a pair of completions. Faced with a second-and-10, Washington eluded a West Virginia blitz and connected with wideout Phil Goodman at the WVU 25-yard line on a highlight reel play. The senior took flight for the end zone after the grab but was brought down at the one yard line by Addae, who grabbed Goodman's face mask and was accessed personal foul. With a first-and-goal opportunity from the one, Washington scored on the second of consecutive quarterback sneak attempts to register a 14-7 score at the 13:47 mark of the second stanza.
The defense proceeded to force a three and out and Temple gained possession at its 48 yard-line after a short punt. Washington connected with senior running back Tim Brown on a 10 yard toss and senior wide receiver Buchie Ibeh on a 14-yard pass in the midst of a six play drive that culminated in an 18-yard scoring scamper on a quarterback draw by Washington to knot the score at 14 with 9:40 remaining before the break.
The Mountaineers regained the lead with the help of good field position once again. An onside kick by the Owls was recovered by West Virginia at the Temple 48. Aided by personal foul and offside penalties, the Mountaineers took a 21-14 advantage after Harris carried to pay dirt from two yards for his third score of the game to cap an eight play drive.
The Owls had an opportunity to reduce the deficit before halftime, but a 34-yard field goal attempt by redshirt freshman Danny Murphy was wide right.
The Owls entered the locker room at the midpoint with 275-179 advantage in total yards and with more than an eight minute lead in time of possession. Washington generated 211 total yards (101 rushing, 110 passing) in the first half alone while completing nine of 12 passes.
The second half belonged to the Mountaineers, who wasted little time posting points after the break. Harris scored his fourth touchdown on a four yard run with 11:31 on the third quarter clock to extend the lead to two touchdowns before junior wide receiver Chris Henry provided a 40 yard touchdown reception from Marshall to put the game out of reach, 35-14, late in the third quarter. Henry was suspended for the first half by West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez due an ejection the prior week at Rutgers.
The Mountaineers completed its string of 28 unanswered points when freshman Pernell Williams entered the end zone on a six yard carry with 8:05 remaining in the game.
Temple closed out the scoring when Washington connected with Goodman on a 33-yard touchdown pass to cap a six-play, 79-yard drive. Goodman was the game's top receiver, catching four passes for 102 yards. It marked his fourth career contest with 100-plus receiving yards.
Defensively, Rian "Goo" Wallace was the game's top tackler, making 14 stops (nine solo), including two tackles-for-losses, to move into ninth place on the Temple career tackle chart with 307 total stops.
Temple returns to the gridiron next Saturday in a 12 noon contest against Syracuse at Lincoln Financial Field. The game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and will be shown in the Philadelphia region on UPN 57.
