College football

Up 27, Boston College holds off Boise State

BOISE, Idaho - Matthew Ryan and Ryan Glasper spoiled Boise State coach Dan Hawkins' last game with the Broncos, leading No. 19 Boston College to a 27-21 victory Wednesday in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Ryan threw three first-half touchdowns, and Glasper intercepted Jared Zabransky's pass in the end zone with 37 seconds left as the Broncos tried to complete a rally from a 27-0 deficit.

The Eagles (9-3) extended the nation's longest bowl winning streak to six and snapped Boise State's 31-game home winning streak. BC's last bowl loss was to Colorado in the 1999 Insight Bowl, and Boise State's last home loss was in 2001 - a 41-20 loss to Washington State.

The game was Hawkins' last with the Broncos (9-4), who failed to win 10 games for the first time since 2001. He's headed to Colorado.

"It came down to one play against a very good football team. They made the play and we didn't," Hawkins said. "I would have loved to have a win for seniors and the effort they put forth but I told them they can hold there heads up I was proud of them."

Boise State started its final possession at the BC 47 with 1:56 left, and Zabransky completed a 32-yard, fourth-down pass to Vinny Perretta to the BC 14.

A pass-interference penalty moved the ball to the 5, but Zabransky was sacked by Nick Larkin, and then Glasper came up with his interception.

"I just want that throw back," Zabransky said.

Zabransky's had a 2-yard TD run early in the fourth, the Broncos' second score in 2:09. He threw a 53-yard TD to Drisan James with 1:24 left in the third.

The Broncos got to 27-21 with 3:51 left after Quinton Jones returned a punt 92 yards for a TD. Jones broke two tackles inside his own 10, broke two more and traversed the field for the longest punt return in the bowl's history.

Ryan was rarely pressured and the sophomore picked apart Boise State's secondary. He threw for 178 yards in the first half and finished with 256 on the famed blue turf that had a slight coat of white after a brief hail and sleet storm in the third quarter.

By the time Will Blackmon outmaneuvered three Boise State defensive backs for a 35-yard TD reception with 1:16 left in the first half, Boise State fans were already headed to the tent vendors outside the stadium.

It almost became 31-0. On the last play of the half, Ryan completed a 52-yard pass to Blackmon. He caught it at the 6, but was tackled by at the 1.

Blackmon finished with five catches for 144 yards.

Some Eagles said they were motivated by what happened at a pregame banquet.

"We go to a banquet that turns into a pep rally; I didn't have to say anything to this team. I ought to thank the mayor and the people of Boise for getting this team ready to play," Boston College coach Tom O'Brien said.

Boston College players said MPC Computers CEO Mike Atkins made fun of defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka's name during the Monday night banquet.

"As far as motivation goes, if we didn't have it before two days ago, we definitely found it," Kiwanuka said.

[Last modified December 29, 2005, 00:52:13]