DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709280231

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                      LENGTH:   56 lines

PORCH MAKES AMENDS FOR FUMBLE, CARRIES THE TRIBE PAST BOSTON U HE RUSHES FOR 186 YARDS, 69 COMING IN THE FINAL 3 MINUTES.

Alvin Porch can now put memories of last week to rest.

His fumble with six minutes left set up New Hampshire's winning field goal last week in a 24-22 loss. Saturday, he made amends.

The William and Mary back rushed for 186 yards - 69 coming in the last three minutes - to help preserve the ninth-ranked Tribe's surprisingly close 20-17 win over Boston University on Saturday at Zable Stadium.

Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock knew the best way to make Porch forget his fumble.

``It was by design that I gave the ball to Alvin on the first play of the game,'' Laycock said. ``I wanted to go right back to him. At the end, everyone was pulling for him.''

It wasn't as though Porch was looking for a tall bridge to jump off of after last week's loss, but he admitted Saturday's performance made it easier to deal with.

``Coach (Laycock) talked to me before the game, and I knew I'd still get the ball,'' Porch said. ``I wasn't down in the dumps after last week, and I'm not jumping up and down today, but it helps to do well.''

Statistically, the game wasn't that close. William and Mary (4-1, 1-1 Atlantic 10) held a 435-278 yardage advantage and a 20-7 first-down lead.

But the Tribe didn't take the lead for good until Daron Pope threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to fullback William Brown with 13:27 left in the game. And until Porch's last-drive performance, the outcome was in doubt the whole day.

Credit Roger Harriott for part of that. The Terrier back - who finished with 149 yards on 14 carries - broke off touchdown runs of 74 and 51 yards to give the Terriers (0-3, 0-1) leads on two separate occasions.

And helping to keep things close was . . . the punter.

Brad Costello averaged better than 47 yards on 10 punts, twice forcing the Tribe to start from behind their own 15-yard line in the fourth quarter.

``With Brad, we were winning the field-position battle,'' BU coach Tom Marsella said. ``He's an All-American kicker, but this was the first time this season we've gotten him to do what we need him to do for us.''

Ron Harrison returned a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown with 7:48 left in the second quarter to tie the score at 10 after Harriott's first score. It was the first defensive touchdown for William and Mary this year.

The fumble also steeled the Tribe defense's resolve; BU was held to -4 yards the rest of the quarter.

NOTES: Pope's touchdown pass extends William and Mary's consecutive games with a touchdown pass streak to 21 ... Pope was replaced by Steve Fill with 6:15 left in the game because, according to Laycock, ``Daron was making some uncharacteristic decisions out there.'' Fill, who started the season as the No. 2 quarterback and missed the New Hampshire game with a sprained ankle, is close to 100 percent. Laycock said he's unsure who will start at Northeastern on Oct. 4 ... Porch's 186-yard effort is his ninth 100-yard game ... It doesn't get easier for the Terriers. BU hosts No. 10 Delaware on Oct. 4, playing a top 10 team for the third straight week. The Terriers lost to second-ranked Youngstown State 28-7 on Sept. 20.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu