OWLS SUFFER 46-20 BIG EAST CONFERENCE LOSS TO WEST VIRGINIA ::

Temple (3-6, 1-3), despite holding West Virginia running back Avon Cobourne to a season-low 3.2 yard-per-carry average, was unable to overcome a disastrous first half in a 46-20 Big East Conference loss to West Virginia (6-3, 3-1) before 15,042 fans at Veterans Stadium on Saturday, November 2, 2002. The Owls committed five turnovers, three contributing to 21 Mountaineer points, and gained only 52 yards rushing.

"I'm really disappointed and embarrassed at the job I did preparing our team to play in the ballgame, said Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. " I don't know if I've ever seen a worse first quarter. I have to take all the blame. It wasn't one thing -- it was everything."

Things started bad for the Owls and got progressively worse in the first half. West Virginia drove 81 yards in 13 plays on the game's opening possession. A two-yard Cobourne touchdown run gave WVU a 7-0 lead at the 9:11 mark of the first stanza. After a Temple fumble on its first offensive play from scrimmage was recovered by West Virginia at the 15-yard line, Cobourne entered the end zone once again - this time on a one yard jaunt - to give the visitors a 14-0 advantage with 7:49 showing in the opening quarter.

WVU extended its lead to 21-0 on a four-yard Quincy Wilson scoring run at the 1:40 mark of the first stanza to cap a six play, 34-yard drive. The drive was a result of a Mike McGann pass that was intercepted Jahmile Addae at the Temple 34-yard line.

After a three-and-out by the TU offense, one of seven on the day, West Virginia found itself with good field possession once again. Todd James kicked a 41-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 30-yard drive to give WVU a 24-0 lead with 13:24 showing on the second quarter clock.

In an effort to spark a stagnant offense, senior quarterback Mike Frost entered the game for the first two offensive series of the second quarter. On a second and eight play from the TU 25, a Frost pass was intercepted by Grant Wiley and returned to the nine-yard line. Four plays later, the Temple defense stopped WVU on a fourth and goal attempt from the one to put the Temple offense back on the field. On the ensuing series, however, Frost was hit in the pocket by WVU defensive end Jason Davis and fumbled. The fumble rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Temple center Donny Klein. The result was a safety and a 26-0 West Virginia lead with 8:25 remaining in the first half.

WVU concluded the first half scoring with a 28-yard Rasheed Marshall touchdown run at the 5:22 mark of the second quarter to cap a five-play, 47-yard drive.

The Mountaineers scored on five of their first seven possessions and led 33-0 at the midpoint.

WVU scored first in the second half. After a McGann pass was intercepted by Lance Frazier at the TU 45 and returned 29 yards to the Temple 16-yard line, Marshall carried 15 yards, fumbled at the one, and recovered his own drop in the end zone to give the visitors their biggest lead of the game, 40-0.

Temple finally got on the scoreboard with 3:25 showing in the third quarter. Krishan Lewis caught a four-yard scoring aerial from McGann to conclude a nine play, 80-yard drive.

The Owls scored again on their first possession of the fourth quarter when McGann connected with junior Terrence Stubbs on a 21-yard strike with 12:22 to go in the game to make the score 40-14.

McGann threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 24-yarder to true freshman wideout Sean Szarka, with 6:47 showing in the final stanza to reduce the lead to 40-20 after a missed PAT.

West Virginia closed out the scoring on a 13-yard Quincy Wilson touchdown run, his second of the day, with 0:18 seconds remaining in the contest. The Mountaineers exited the Vet with a 46-20 victory after the missed PAT.

Post Game Note: In the first annual "Battle of the Badge," the Philadelphia Police defeated the Firefighters, 27-0.