Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE DEFEATS THE MOUNTAINEERS, 17-14, IN MORGANTOWN, WV
11.17.01 | Football
West Virginia (3-7, 1-5) came into the game having beaten Temple (3-7, 2-5) in the last 10 meetings and in 14 of the last 15 contests between the schools. The last time the Owls defeated WVU was by a 19-17 score at Veterans Stadium in 1984.
It was a much needed win for our program," said Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. "I can't rank the biggest wins in my career, but this may have been one of the most needed wins we've ever had."
For the first time since October 13 against Rutgers, Temple got on the scoreboard first. After recovering an Avon Cobourne fumble at the West Virginia 35-yard line, the Owls drove 19 yards on five plays to set up place kicker Cap Poklemba. The junior nailed the 33-yard attempt for his seventh field goal of the season, putting the Owls ahead by a 3-0 margin.
On West Virginia's next possession, the Mountaineers coughed up the ball once again. Free safety Jamal Wallace forced the fumble, which was recovered by Raheem Brock at the WVU 45-yard line. The Owls, however, could not captitalize on the opportunity, as DeVito was sacked on a second-and-seven play at the Mountaineer 18 and fumbled. WVU recovered at its own 36-yard line. WVU then drove the length of the field but could not convert a 24-yard field goal by back-up place kicker Todd James.
After a three-and-out by the Temple offense on the next series, West Virginia moved the ball to the Temple 21-yard line. Faced with a fourth-and-goal at the Temple 21 after an illegal block penalty, James's second field goal attempt of the day, a 38-yarder, went wide left. Temple exited the first quarter with a 3-0 lead. The Temple offense generated just 22 yards on 11 plays in the opening stanza.
West Virginia got on the board at the 6:26 mark of the second quarter after a 10-play, 84-yard drive culminating in 23-yard touchdown pass from Rasheed Marshall to A.J. Natasi. The big play of the drive was an 18-yard run by Cobourne to the Temple 31.
Temple had an opportunity to cut the lead to one late in the second quarter, but a 45-yard field goal attempt by Poklemba went wide left. A last second Hail Mary pass by Marshall was intercepted by Chonn Lacey at the Temple five-yard line and Temple entered the locker room at the midpoint facing a four-point deficit. The interception was Lacey's second of the season and the eighth of his career.
After the break, the Temple offense came to life behind the running of Sharps. The junior had a 37-yard run in the Owls first possession of the half, which stalled at the West Virginia 43. On the their next possession, Poklemba hit his second field goal of the day, a 30-yarder to bring the Owls within one at 7-6.
After stopping West Virginia at the Temple 35 on a fourth and six, the Owls drove 65 yards in 0:59 seconds to take the lead. Following a 42-yard Sharps run, Lester Trammer bulled in from two yards out with 1:58 left in the third quarter. DeVito hit Krishan Lewis on the two-point conversion to give the Owls a 14-7 lead.
In the fourth quarter, West Virginia tied the game on a four-yard scoring run by Marshall with 12:41 remaining. The touchdown capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive. Temple answered, however, with Poklemba's third field goal of the day, a 35-yarder to give the Owls a 17-14 lead with 9:58 showing on the clock.
The Temple offense succeeded on two fourth-down attempts on the day, including a critical conversion at midfield late in the final quarter.
Temple's defense held tough. With time running out, Lacey picked off a deflected Marshall pass, his second interception of the day, to close the door on the Mountaineers and give the Owls a 17-14 win. Owlback Jairo Almonte got a piece of the pass that Lacey pulled in at the WVU 35-yard line. With that, DeVito took a knee on three plays and ran out the clock.
West Virginia had 10 penalties in the game for 120 yards.
"It might be the toughest loss I've had as a coach," said West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Temple concludes its 103rd season of football Saturday versus Connecticut at 12 noon within the historic confines of Franklin Field. The game was originally scheduled for September 15, but was postponed due to the terrorist attacks on September 11.
