Temple’s Ryquell Armstead played with a heavy heart in loss to Boston College

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Temple senior running back Ryquell Armstead was the most emotional he had ever been following the game. It wasn't all about football.

Armstead, who rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries during Temple's 45-35 loss at Boston College on Saturday, said he received news that his grandmother, Vickie Lawrence, has lung cancer.

"I never cried at a game in my life, and this is the first game I cried over, so it obviously meant something to me and I am sad, and disappointed.

"I didn't tell anybody, but I found out my grandmother got lung cancer [on Friday]," Armstead said. "I wanted to play for her. I thought I let her down."

The way he played, Armstead, who has rushed for 100 yards in four consecutive games, let nobody down.

A product of Millville, Armstead said his grandmother helped raise him.

"It was an inspiration, I wanted to come out and play for my guys and play for her," said Armstead, who has rushed for 535 yards (5.2 average) and five touchdowns for the 2-3 Owls.

Armstead said he talked to his grandmother after hearing about her medical news.

"She told me to go out and score touchdowns," Armstead said. "That is what I did."

William Thomas, a former Eagles linebacker, who was a Pro Bowl selection in 1995 and 1996, was the umpire in Saturday's Temple-Boston College game.

Thomas, 50, played 11 NFL seasons, the first nine with the Eagles and last two with the Oakland Raiders.

With Temple being thin at defensive end, Dan Archibong slid over defensive tackle to make the start. Junior Karomo Dioubate made his first career start at tackle. Dioubate has seen sufficient playing time, especially this year. This was his 29^th career game.

Both players were credited with one tackle.