College football

ACC: BC cruises past Temple, moves to within one win of BCS

PHILADELPHIA - L.V. Whitworth ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help Boston College take another step toward its first BCS berth with a 34-17 win over Temple on Saturday.

The Eagles are tied for first with West Virginia and win the conference title, and accompanying BCS berth, by beating Syracuse on Saturday. BC beat West Virginia 36-17 on Nov.13.

BC, however, will be without quarterback Paul Peterson, who left late in the first half with a broken right hand sustained on a sack. Peterson (12-for-15 for 115 yards and a touchdown) could return for a bowl game.

Freshman Matt Ryan filled in, going 8-for-15 with a 32-yard touchdown to Larry Lester in the third.

"You just have to look at it as one game," said Ryan, who had attempted three passes entering the game, on facing the Orange. "It is a big game, but you have to view it as if you're playing any other game."

Whitworth, who missed three games this seasons with a knee injury, was the third consecutive back to gain at least 140 yards against the Owls.

He broke left for a 29-yard touchdown. Then Peterson rolled right and hit Chris Miller for a 3-yard touchdown to give BC a 17-3 halftime lead.

UCONN 29, BUFFALO 0: Cornell Brockington rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns for the host Huskies, who became eligible for their first bowl in their fifth season of I-A.

The Bulls had five first downs and 96 yards of offense. After Brockington's 7-yard run made it 7-0, he sealed it with a 43-yard touchdown in the third that made it 22-0.

NAVY 54, RUTGERS 21: Aaron Polanco ran for two touchdowns and threw for one for the host Midshipmen. Kyle Eckel rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns for Navy, which gained 613 yards, 357 during the first half.

Navy went up 21-7 late in the first quarter on David Mahoney 18-yard interception return for a touchdown, its first since 1999.

Rutgers backup quarterback Terrence Shawell fumbled on his second play, and Navy recovered at the Rutgers 35. Two plays later, Polanco ran in from the 1 for a 27-7 lead.

[Last modified November 21, 2004, 00:16:21]