Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE LOSES TO PITTSBURGH, 33-7, IN BIG EAST FOOTBALL CONTEST
10.27.01 | Football
Temple (2-5, 1-3 Big East) could muster just 204 total yards, even though freshman quarterback Mike McGann finished just one shy of the school record for passing attempts with 52 (53 by Henry Burris vs. Syracuse in 1994). He was also sacked a season-high nine times for 63 yards in losses, contributing to an all-time single game low of negative 36 yards in rushing. Temple ran off 82 offensive plays --its second highest total of the season (83 vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 22)-- but gained an average of just 2.5 yards per snap. Pittsburgh (2-5, 1-3) posted its first Big East Conference win of the season and ended a five-game losing streak in the process. The teams came out of the contest tied for fifth place in the Big East behind Miami, Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech.
Pittsburgh got off to a fast start, as quarterback David Priestley connected with wide receiver R. J. English down the middle for a 46-yard gain on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage. Six plays later, including a brilliantly executed 16-yard run by Raymond Kirkley, Pitt took a 7-0 lead. Priestely passed six yards to Antonio Bryant for the game's first touchdown at the 12:51 mark of the first period. The teams exchanged six possessions before Pitt doubled the deficit to 14-0 with a nine-play 57-yard drive, capped by Priestely's second touchdown pass, a five-yard pitch to wide-open fullback Lousaka Polite with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Although plagued by difficult field position, the Temple defense remained stubborn throughout the second and third quarters. During that span, Pitt ran the lead to 26-0 on four Nick Lotz field goals, measuring 26, 27, 37 and 23 yards. The 6-2, 210-pound senior tied a 26-year old Panther record with the performance (Carson Long vs. William & Mary in 1975). For the game, the Owl defense limited Pittsburgh to just 14 first downs and a total of 291 yards.
Temple held its own in the second half until the 7:06 mark of the fourth quarter, when on second-and-10 at the Panther 21, running back Tanardo Sharps was stripped of the ball by Panther linebacker Brian Guzek, who rumbled 80 yards for a touchdown that put the game out of reach. Trailing 33-0, the Owls mounted another drive on the ensuing possession behind the crisp passing of McGann. But on fourth-and-goal at the Pitt 10, McGann's pass to Chonn Lacey came up short and the Panthers took over on downs. On the next play, back-up quarterback Rod Rutherford fumbled the snap, which was recovered by the Owls' Yazid Jackson at the Pittsburgh three. Reserve tailback Lester Trammer bulled in for a touchdown over left tackle on the next play, breaking the shutout. Cap Poklemba's conversion made the final score 33-7.
The Owls continue their Big East Conference campaign against league-leading and nationally No. 1 ranked Miami at the Orange Bowl next Saturday.
