|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
HONOLULU (AP) -- Don't pack those bags just yet for Tom O'Brien.
The Boston College coach has been prominently mentioned for the
vacancy at Virginia, but O'Brien doesn't want to rush things.
"There is a future for this program, a great future," he said
after the Eagles beat Arizona State 31-17 in the Aloha Bowl on
Monday.
When asked if there was a future for him at BC, O'Brien
succinctly answered, "Yes, absolutely."
|  | | Flanked by his players, Arizona State's Bruce Snyder walks off the field following his final game as coach. |
Tim Hasselbeck threw two long second-half touchdown passes and
Cedric Washington scored on an 11-yard run, all in the second half,
for the Eagles (7-5).
On the other side, the game marked the end of Bruce Snyder's
term at Arizona State. He was fired late in the season and will be
replaced by former Boise State coach Dirk Koetter.
"I just got through speaking to the players," Snyder said.
"This is really an important team to me, a real special team. It's
not one of those teams that wins every game.
"They're really loyal and together and I wish them well for
their future."
With the teams playing to a 10-10 tie at the half, Boston
College scored twice in a two-minute span of the third quarter to
break the game open.
The scores came on Hasselbeck's passes of 58 yards to Dedrick
Dewalt and 40 yards to Ryan Read. Two series later, Washington put
the game out of reach with his 11-yard run.
Hasselbeck did not post impressive numbers, going only 9-of-21,
but the long-gainers more than offset the low passing percentage.
The Eagles also got a strong performance out of Washington, who
picked up 109 yards on 22 carries while filling in for suspended
starter William Green.
The first half was one of missed opportunities.
Arizona State (6-6) got on the board on its first possession
with Tom Pace capping a 46-yard drive with a 14-yard run.
The Eagles moved ahead Washington's 10-yard run and Mike
Sutphin's career-best 50-yard field goal, but Mike Barth countered
with a 28-yard field goal to tie it.
But both teams failed to take advantage of good field position.
The Sun Devils got to the BC 19, but Willie Poole picked off
Jeff Krohn's pass in the end zone. They got to the Eagles' 1 in the
second quarter, but Griffin Goodman fumbled and Paul Cook pounced
on it for Boston College. It was one of five Arizona State
turnovers in the game.
Goodman was inserted into the lineup after Krohn dislocated his
right shoulder in the second quarter.
The Eagles got to the Arizona State 7 in the first half, but a
fake field goal went awry.
Arizona State's final score came with 51 seconds left, with Matt
Cooper hitting Ryan Dennard.
The Sun Devils had better game numbers -- 81 plays to 56 and
35:33 to 24:27 in time of possession -- but they were hampered by
five turnovers that led to two field goals and a touchdown.
"We tried to make this a four-quarter game because we knew we
couldn't match up with their speed," O'Brien said. "We knew their
speed would have to come back to us in the fourth quarter.
"It came back a little sooner than that. We knew we would get
stronger as the game went on and we were able to do that."
That's when Hasselbeck hit for his two scores and Washington ran
in his second TD.
For Arizona State, the coaching situation made for a difficult
week.
"It was a real distraction having to be loyal to this coaching
staff knowing another coaching staff was coming in," center Scott
Peters said. "It wasn't a distraction for me, but I think it was
for some of the guys."
|
|
ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
AUDIO/VIDEO
 BC's Tim Hasselbeck finds Dedrick Dewalt downfield for a 58-yard touchdown strike.
avi: 856 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Boston College QB Tim Hasselbeck goes 52 yards on a quarterback draw to set up a Cedric Washington TD.
avi: 1051 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tom Pace breaks tackles on way to a 14-yard ASU touchdown.
avi: 839 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The Eagles' Ryan Read stretches out to haul in a 40-yard TD pass from Tim Hasselbeck.
avi: 762 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
BC linebacker Ryan Burch picks off Griffin Goodman to set up an Eagles' score.
avi: 911 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Bruce Snyder addresses his Sun Devils before their Aloha Bowl game against Boston College. (Courtesy ABC Sports)
wav: 97 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Bruce Snyder is disappointed to not get a win in his last game as coach of the Sun Devils.
wav: 437 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Tom O'Brien and his BC Eagles are happy to accept the Aloha Bowl trophy.
wav: 307 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
