COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : West Virginia Stays Perfect With Late Rally

Unbeaten and fifth-ranked West Virginia stayed in the hunt for the national title Friday with a 17-14 comeback victory over an 11th-ranked Boston College team that ran out of last-minute rallies.

A 24-yard touchdown pass play from Darren Studstill to Ed Hill with 1:08 left gave the Mountaineers the victory at Boston.

Boston College (8-3) could not match its winning comeback at Notre Dame six days earlier when the Eagles drove to a last-play field goal and a 41-39 upset of the previously top-ranked Fighting Irish.

Defensive back Mike Logan, whose fumble recovery started West Virginia’s winning drive, ended the last threat with an end zone interception of a pass by Glenn Foley on the final play.

The victory left West Virginia (11-0) and Nebraska as the only unbeaten teams eligible for a bowl game. Nebraska, which defeated Oklahoma, 21-7, earlier Friday, is already committed to the Orange Bowl.

“This team has won every single game, including four against bowl teams,” West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen said. “We should play Nebraska for the national championship. If us two don’t play, it’s strictly political.”

Boston College, whose eight-game winning streak ended, is expected to go to the Carquest Bowl at Miami on Jan. 1.

No. 13 North Carolina 38, Duke 24--Leon Johnson of North Carolina rushed for 142 yards and scored four touchdowns at Chapel Hill, N.C., to break the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season freshman scoring record.

North Carolina, 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the ACC, finished second in the conference for the first time since 1986. The Tar Heels, who may go to the Fiesta, Sugar or Gator bowl, won 10 games for only the fifth time in 103 years.

Coach Barry Wilson, who announced Nov. 1 he would resign, completed his four years at Duke with a 13-30-1 record. Duke finished 3-8, 2-6.

Johnson, who rushed 24 times, scored on a 29-yard pass play in the first quarter and on runs of nine, 10 and five yards. His last two touchdowns came in the third quarter after Duke had pulled to within 21-14 at halftime.

Johnson’s 16 touchdowns and 100 points broke the mark of 84 points, set by North Carolina State’s Ted Brown in 1975.

Syracuse 31, Rutgers 18--Marvin Graves passed for two touchdowns as Syracuse (6-4-1, 3-4) avoided its first non-winning season since 1986 with the Big East victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

Graves completed 15 of 19 passes for 275 yards. He has 48 touchdown passes in his career, breaking the mark he shared with Don McPherson.

Rutgers finished 4-7 and 1-6.

Rice 37, Houston 7--Rice’s Bert Emanuel and Josh LaRocca each passed for two touchdowns as the Owls took advantage of eight Houston turnovers for the Southwest Conference victory at Houston.

Rice (6-5, 3-4) had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1960-61. Houston (1-9-1, 1-5-1) closed out its season with six losses and a tie.