Top-Ranked Miami Looks To Extend Winning Streak Against Boston College
Sept 17, 2002
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP MegaSports Writer
Despite being the top-ranked team and holding the nation’s longest winningstreak, the Miami Hurricanes aren’t satisfied with the way they are playing,and have something to prove against Boston College on Saturday.
The Hurricanes have won their last 25 games, including a 44-21 victory overTemple last Saturday.
“When we had an opportunity to put the hammer down, we didn’t,”quarterback Ken Dorsey said. “You want to put a team away when you can.”
Miami jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but let Temple get within 21-14 beforeputting the game away.
“We didn’t have a letdown, but we lost a little of a mental edge,”Hurricanes coach Larry Coker said.
Miami (3-0, 1-0 Big East), which had no problem beating Florida two weeksago, is in the midst of an easy stretch in its schedule with games against theEagles and Connecticut before a showdown with Florida State.
The Hurricanes’ toughest game during their current 25-game run was againstlowly Boston College last season. Miami escaped with a 18-7 victory as theHurricanes picked off Eagles quarterback Brian St. Pierre with 13 seconds leftand Boston College driving.
A big part of the Hurricanes’ success this season has been the emergence ofrunning back Willis McGahee, who replaced current Denver Broncos running backClinton Portis. McGahee matched the school record with four rushing touchdownsagainst Temple.
“I didn’t know I had four,” said McGahee who has 338 rushing yards thepast two games. “I just put my head down and try to make plays.”
Boston College (2-0, 0-0) has had two weeks to prepare for the nation’s topteam. The Eagles are coming off a 34-27 comeback victory over Stanford on Sept.7.
Boston College scored 17 unanswered fourth-quarter points to rally for thewin. Junior running back Derrick Knight had two TDs in the fourth, including a12-yard scamper with 36 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Knight, who lostthe starting job during preseason, came off the bench and ran for 104 yards on21 carries. It was his second straight 100-yard rushing game.
St. Pierre continues to be plagued by turnovers as he was intercepted threetimes by Stanford.
Miami leads the all-time series 20-3, including victories in the last 12meetings. Boston College’s last victory came in 1984 as Doug Flutie completed a”Hail Mary” pass with no time left to give the Eagles a 47-45 win.
