Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE FOOTBALL: OWLS LOOK TO TAME HUSKIES IN STORRS
10.14.02 | Football
Temple is coming off a 17-16 win over Syracuse at Veterans Stadium last Saturday. The Owls entered the game on a four-game skid. The win was Temple's first over the Orange since 1983, breaking a string of 16 straight losses. With the win, the Owls have defeated every big East team under Wallace except Miami. Temple generated 500 yards of total offense against Syracuse, its most since totaling 544 yards versus UConn last season. Sophomore quarterback Mike McGann rallied Temple from a 10-3 fourth quarter deficit, throwing two touchdown passes of over 50 yards to finish with a career-best 340 yards passing, the third most in Temple history and the largest output for a TU signal caller since 1996. McGann was named the Big East's Co-Offensive Player of the Week, with Miami QB Ken Dorsey, for his performance. He was joined in the league's weekly awards as by fellow quarterback Mike Frost (Special Teams Player of the Week), who punted for the first time in his collegiate career and helped keep Syracuse's league-leading punt return unit off-balance. Frost punted four times, all were inside the 30-yard line, including two inside the 20. None were returned.
Senior superback Tanardo Sharps moved into second-place all-time at Temple behind all-time leader Paul Palmer (4,895) with 2,647 career rushing yards, surpassing Anthony Anderson (2,610) with a 29 carry, 124-yard performance versus the 'Cuse. Sharps also caught three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown to finish the game with 215 total yards. Sharps ranks third in the Big East and 22nd nationally with 109.0 rushing YPG.
Connecticut is coming off a bye week after losing, 48-14, at Miami on Oct. 5. The Huskies have lost two straight after defeating Ohio, 37-19, at home on Sept. 21. Saturday's game will be UConn's third against a Big East team. The Huskies opened the seaaon with a 24-16 loss at Boston College. Freshman tailback Terry Caulley is averaging 111.5 rushing YPG to pace a Husky offense averaging 309.8 total YPG.
