'Canes Stomp Eagles In Big East Home Opener
Sept 21, 2002
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) – Larry Coker has learned not to panic with his top-ranked Miami Hurricanes.
Willis McGahee had 221 total yards, and Miami erased a sluggish start with a frenzied finish to beat Boston College 38-6 Saturday night and extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 26 games.
“Just another day at the office,” said Coker, whose team trailed Florida 10-6 two weeks ago and led just 21-14 last week against Temple before blowing both games open.
The Hurricanes (4-0, 2-0 Big East) trailed Boston College 6-3 in the second quarter but scored three touchdowns during a three-minute span of the fourth quarter to hold off the Eagles (2-1, 0-1) in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.
“They got the momentum on their side, and it was like a freight train running downhill,” Boston College quarterback Brian St. Pierre said. “It’s tough to stop, but we put them in that position. We have to blame ourselves.”
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If we learned one thing as coaches, it’s don’t panic. We were supposed to win this game and we did. The coaches didn’t panic and the players didn’t panic. Larry Coker |
McGahee ran 17 times for 135 yards and caught three passes for 86 yards. He had three huge plays that led to three of Miami’s five touchdowns. McGahee, who ran for 204 yards at Florida, now has 533 yards rushing in four games.
Ken Dorsey finished 13-of-26 for 202 yards and two touchdowns as Miami won its 19th straight conference game and 13th straight over Boston College.
The Eagles nearly upset the ‘Canes last season, but Matt Walters intercepted a pass on a first-and-goal play with about 30 seconds to play. Ed Reed grabbed the ball from Walters and ran 80 yards for a touchdown and an 18-7 victory.
The win propelled the Hurricanes to the Rose Bowl, where they beat Nebraska to win their fifth national championship.
VIDEO FROM  |
| Larry Coker can’t ask for much more then a 4-0 start. 56k | 100k | 300k Willis McGahee’s two TD’s lead the Hurricanes to victory. |
The loss stayed with the Eagles throughout the offseason, and they were prepared to give Miami another scare Saturday night.
Led by St. Pierre, who finished 14-of-24 for 138 yards, Boston College used a good mix of runs and passes to keep Miami’s talented defensive line off balance and out of the backfield.
The Eagles had scoring drives of 11 and eight plays, but both ended with field goals. They also constantly pressured Dorsey: He was sacked just once but was hurried, harassed and hammered several times.
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Willis McGahee runs for a 77-yard gain against BC in the second half. |
The result was a 6-3 lead late in the second quarter. That’s when McGahee took over.
“If we learned one thing as coaches, it’s don’t panic,” Coker said. “We were supposed to win this game and we did. The coaches didn’t panic and the players didn’t panic.”
With Miami on the verge of trailing at halftime for the first time in two years, McGahee broke four tackles and ran 48 yards to set up a first-and-goal at the Boston College. 1-yard line with less than a minute left. He scored on the next play to give Miami a 10-6 lead at halftime.
On Miami’s second play of the third quarter, McGahee started right, cut back to the left and ran 32 yards to set up a first-and-10 from the 18. He scored five plays later.
Then in the fourth quarter, McGahee took a screen pass in the right flat and ran 77 yards to set up a first-and-goal at the 3. Dorsey hit Kelley Winslow Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown three plays later.
The Hurricanes added two more touchdowns in the next three minutes.
D.J. Williams caused a fumble, and fellow linebacker Jonathan Vilma picked it up and ran 2 yards for a score and a 31-6 lead.
On the Eagles’ next possession, Maurice Sikes caused another fumble and Antrel Rolle recovered at the Boston College 30. Dorsey hit Andre Johnson on the next play for a touchdown.
“Their explosiveness and big plays beat us,” Eagles coach Tom O’Brien said. “I think they’re more explosive on offense (than last year), especially with that tailback. That tailback is a difference-maker. When he gets in the open field, he accelerates. He takes off.”
