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Ryan's 3 TDs Lift BC

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The Associated Press

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 12:22 am

ORLANDO - Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes, two to Rich Gunnell, and No. 14 Boston extended the nation's longest bowl winning streak to eight with a 24-21 win against Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl on Friday.

The Eagles (11-3) won 11 games for the first time since 1940.

Ryan finished 22 of 47 for 249 yards, but he also had an interception and a costly fumble.
Gunnell had six catches for 138 yards, including TD receptions of 29 and 68 yards. Both catches came against Michigan State freshman Chris Rucker, who was playing for the first time since having three medical procedures in the last two months to correct a detached retina.

BC All-America safety Jamie Silva had two interceptions and was the game's most valuable player.

The Eagles sealed the win with their fourth interception of the game. Paul Anderson picked off Brian Hoyer's pass and returned it to the Michigan State 29 with 2:29 remaining.

The Eagles ran out the clock from there.

TCU 20, HOUSTON 13: Andy Dalton ran for a touchdown and Justin Watts had the go-ahead score to help TCU beat Houston (8-5) in the Texas Bowl in Houston.

It is TCU's third bowl victory in as many years, the first time since 1936-39 the Horned Frogs have achieved the feat.

TCU (8-5) took its first lead of the game when Watts wove through the defense and danced into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown that made it 17-10 early in the fourth.

OREGON ST. 21, MARYLAND 14: Yvenson Bernard rushed for 177 yards and a TD in his final college game, and Oregon State grinded out a victory over Maryland in a rain-soaked Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.
James Rodgers rushed for 115 yards, caught an early TD pass and recovered Bernard's fumble for the second half's only score as the Beavers (9-4) won their fourth consecutive bowl game under Mike Riley.

Late Thursday

TEXAS 52, ARIZONA ST. 34: Now this was a Holiday Bowl to remember. Texas coach Mack Brown's stepson Chris Jessie sure won't forget it, after he reached out to touch a live ball and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that took away a big turnover.

Colt McCoy won't either, because how often does a quarterback fumble four times and lead his team to a win? McCoy led the way as the No. 17 Longhorns beat the 12th-ranked Sun Devils in the first game between the schools and their successful coaches.

McCoy threw for a touchdown, ran for another and fumbled into the end zone at the end of a 30-yard run, with tight end Jermichael Finley recovering for a score. The Longhorns recovered two other fumbles by McCoy, with ASU (10-3) getting one. Jamaal Charles carried 27 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns (10-3).

TEXAS A&M: The school apologized to Penn State after a student leader mocked Joe Paterno by telling a crowd in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl that the 81-year-old coach needs "a casket."

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Hired former North Dakota coach Dale Lennon as its new coach. He signed a five-year contract that will pay him $200,000 a year.

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