Temple University Athletics
Temple University
*SOUTH FLORIDA [Homecoming]
Temple Defeats South Florida, 37-28 to Win its BIG EAST Opener
10.6.12 | Football
Harris Scores Two TDs in 4th Quarter
Boxscore
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
VIDEO
Hall of Fame Induction
Addazio
Coyer
Harris
Matakevich
Smith
PHILADELPHIA - Temple rejoined the BIG EAST in grand fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating visiting South Florida, 37-28, in its conference opener in front of a homecoming crowd of 25,796 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls improve to 2-2, 1-0 while the Bulls fall to 2-4, 0-2.
"We are very proud of how our kids played," said Temple head coach Steve Addazio. "I told our kids we have to go out there and fight, scratch, claw and play with passion and enthusiasm for this game. I thought our kids came out and kept scratching and fighting and clawing as hard as you can possibly play and tried to have more will and determination, and as the head coach I am real proud of our kids.”
There were many stars in the thrilling victory that saw four lead changes and a game-saving blocked field goal by senior DE Marcus Green with 1:19 remaining in the game and Temple holding on to a 30-28 lead. One play later, the Owls' main star, senior RB Montel Harris, iced the game with a 35-yard touchdown run, to account for the final score. It was the Boston College transfer's second TD as an Owl with both coming in the fourth quarter.
Harris, hampered by a hamstring injury suffered at the end of training camp, had 24 carries for 133 yards. He entered play with only 35 yards rushing on the season.
Senior RB Matt Brown, who helped set up the Owls first score with two first down receptions, put Temple ahead for good in the third quarter with a 15-yd touchdown run to make it 16-14. Brown's score followed USF's opening drive of the second half that ended with a Lindsey Lamar 19-yd touchdown run that gave the Bulls a 14-9 advantage.
Temple forced three turnovers in the contest, one by senior DE John Youboty on USF's next possession. Youboty stripped Demetrius Murray at the Bulls 32 with redshirt freshmen NT Hershey Walton recovering the ball. Three plays later junior QB Chris Coyer connected with junior TE Cody Booth on a nine-yard TD pass to make it 23-14.
USF, picked to finish second in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, was not going to go away quietly. Redshirt senior QB B.J. Daniels led the Bulls on a nine-play, 75-yard drive which culminated in a Murray four-yard TD run to cut the Owls' lead to 23-21 with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The teams traded punts before Coyer took Temple on a long scoring drive at the start of the fourth quarter. The TU signal-caller, who completed 16-of-20 passes for 167 yards and a TD, only threw one pass on the drive, that a 21-yarder to sophomore WR Jalen Fitzpatrick on a huge third-and-seven play from the USF 30. Harris, who rushed for 49 yards on the drive, scored from three yards out to cap the drive.
USF answered quickly as Daniels capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:10 off the clock with a Daniels one-yard TD rush to make it 30-28 with 5:19 remaining.
The Bulls defense held the Owls to a three-and-out possession, to give their offense plenty of time to drive for the winning score.
Temple's defense appeared to have made its stop as junior LB Gary Onuekwusi broke up a Daniels pass on four-and-five, but the Owls were called for roughing the passer, and then were hit with a delay of game penalty that gave USF the ball on TU's 32 yard-line.
True freshman Tyler Matakevich made a huge defensive play, tackling Murray for a five-yard loss on a third and one play. It was Matakevich's 12th solo tackle of the game and 15th overall. That set up Maikon Bonani's 45-yard field goal attempt, which Green rejected to preserve the Temple win.
Temple's defense limited Daniels, who entered the game third in the conference in total yards (311.2 ypg.), to 99 total yards (6-of-10 passing for 88 yards, 4 rushes for 11 yards). Besides Walton's fumble recovery, redshirt freshman Brandon Chudnoff recovered a fumble and sophomore SS Chris Hutton had an interception.
Senior PK Brandon McManus, who had his streak of 59 made PATs snapped in the first quarter and missed a 22-yard field goal, connected on a big 50-yard field goal to end the half and give the Owls a 9-7 edge at intermission. McManus also had seven punts for a 42.9 average with two landing inside the 20.
The Owls next travel to Connecticut (3-3, 0-1) for a 1:00 pm kickoff on October 13. The game will be televised by ESPN3 and broadcast live on 1210 AM WPHT.
