[Online Exlusive]: Cowan?s performance dwindles in second half @supost.com

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Date: Thu, Dec 28, 2006, 08:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO ? The regular season finale against USC was supposed to be quarterback Pat Cowan?s coming out party. After Wednesday?s game against Florida State, Cowan?s party came to an abrupt end. Cowan led the Bruins through the first half with 140 yards passing and two touchdowns, but fell apart in the second half as he threw two interceptions and the Bruins were outscored 31-7. ?We just didn?t execute,? Cowan said. ?It?s frustrating, because I was making my reads in the first half, but we just didn?t get the same results at the end of the game.? Afterwards, coach Karl Dorrell applauded Cowan for his efforts, despite the fact that he fell to 3-5 as the Bruins? starting quarterback. ?I thought Pat played solid,? Dorrell said. ?He made some throws towards the end that he didn?t need to make, but overall, I thought he played very well.? In the first half, Cowan, who finished the game with 240 yards passing on 15 of 36 attempts, was able to connect with wide receivers Marcus Everett and Brandon Breazell for plays of 78 and 38 yards, respectively. Coming out after halftime however, Cowan was either long on those deep throws or did not receive enough protection to make the proper passes. In the fourth quarter, with the Bruins down 37-27, Cowan?s struggles culminated in an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown that eventually sealed the Bruins? fate. ?That play was huge,? Everett said. ?We were moving down the field, and close to scoring, but after the interception, the opportunity was lost.? Cowan and the Bruins will now have eight months to think about Wednesday?s loss, and Cowan will have to wonder about his job security with redshirt sophomore quarterback Ben Olson waiting in the wings. Overall, Wednesday?s game was a step backward from the progress that was made in the victory against USC. ?It is really frustrating,? running back Chris Markey said. ?We wanted to win this game for the seniors, but we just gave it away.? MARKEY SHINES: Markey finished the game with 144 yards rushing on 19 carries, and had his first 100-yard output since rushing for 136 yards against California in the beginning of November. Markey?s only mishap on the day was a third-quarter fumble that was recovered by Florida State who scored a touchdown on the next play. ?I thought we moved the ball really well against them,? Markey said. ?My offensive line was a machine, and they were able to open up the holes.? ?It sucks that we had a few plays against us that end up costing us in the end.? With the 144 yards rushing on Wednesday, Markey finished with over 1,000 yards rushing for the season. BOOKER RETURNS: Florida State senior running back Lorenzo Booker made a successful return to California on Wednesday. Booker, the consensus Player of the Year as a high school senior at St. Bonaventure in Oxnard, finished with 121 yards rushing and 117 yards receiving in his return to the Golden State. During his four years with the Seminoles, Booker had been part of some of the worst Florida State teams in his history. ?Considering everything we have gone through, to finish this way is extremely gratifying,? Booker, the Emerald Bowl MVP, said. ?In my last game, in my home state, this is the way I wanted to finish.? ?SPECIAL? MISTAKES: The Bruins made some costly miscues on special teams and defense during Wednesday?s game. During the fourth quarter, running back Derrick Williams touched a kick-off at the 3-yard line instead of letting it go out of bounds, backing up the Bruins. Prior to that, punter Aaron Perez had a punt that was blocked in the third quarter, and returned for a touchdown. EXTRA POINTS: Wednesday?s attendance of 40,331 was an Emerald Bowl record, and the majority of the fans in attendance was wearing blue and gold. Williams set a career high with 142 return yards in the game. With his 46 and 19-yard field goals, redshirt senior Justin Medlock moved to No. 5 on UCLA?s all-time scoring list. <a href='; target='_blank'>;