Temple University Athletics
OWLS BATTLE THIRD-RANKED VIRGINIA TECH TO 20-10 BIG EAST CONFERENCE LOSS
10.26.02 | Football
A nearly 30-point underdog, Temple (3-5, 1-2 Big East) battled hammer and tong with the undefeated Hokies (8-0, 3-0) from the opening kickoff to the final gun. Playing against the top scoring and rushing defense in the nation, the Owls gained 269 yards and made 12 first downs. But it was the Temple defense that sparkled, forcing a vaunted Tech rushing attack to the air and holding the Hokies 14.6 points under their season scoring average.
Other than Virginia Tech's first possession, the Owls played on even terms in the first half. After Temple received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out from its own 20, Tech drove 57 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead on Lee Suggs' four-yard touchdown run. The big play was an 18-yard pass from quarterback Bryan Randall to Richard Johnson on third and nine from the Owl 22. It was all that Temple would allow in the quarter.
Although Temple was limited to 60 total yards in the first half, the Owls had two opportunities to score. A 25-yard pass from Mike McGann to Sean Dillard set Temple up with a first down at the Hokie 36, but the Owls were driven back to the 41 and forced to punt. On the ensuing possession for Tech, Dan Klecko's jarring tackle on Kevin Jones forced a fumble at the Hokie 31 that was recovered by Temple's Troy Bennett. From there, the Owls drove to the 19, but a false start on second and 10 moved the ball back to the 24. On the next play, McGann's pass was intercepted by Vincent Fuller at the eight, ending the threat.
A Temple miscue late in the second period accounted for Virginia Tech's 10-0 halftime lead. At the 5:43 mark, the Owls elected to accept a holding penalty on the Hokies during a 44-yard punt by Garvin Ringwelski from the Owl 28. However, the 10-yard penalty did not yield a first down. From the 38, Ringwelski fumbled the snap and was captured in the backfield, giving the Hokies a first down back at the Temple 28. The defense staged a courageous stand and Tech settled for a 21-yard field goal by Nic Schmitt with two seconds remaining.
Klecko sustained a neck strain during the Hokies final offensive series of the first half. Precautionary X-rays were negative, but the senior All-America candidate did not return in the second half.
Temple scored first in the second half, as Cap Poklemba booted a 36-yard field goal at the 8:51 mark of the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 10-3. The kick culminated a seven-play, 71-yard drive that featured a 58-yard screen pass to Sean Dillard. Tech's next possession lasted for 13 plays and consumed over seven minutes, but the Owls refused to yield any points when Schmitt's field goal from 42 yards out was wide. Five plays later, however, the Owls gave it back, when DeAngelo Hall intercepted McGann's pass in the left flat at the Temple 41. From there, the Hokies scored in two plays, as Randall connected with Doug Eastlick on a 32-yard touchdown pass and a 17-3 Hokie lead.
The Owls refused to buckle and won the fourth quarter, 7-3. All the Hokies could muster in the final period was 22-yard field goal by Schmitt at the 10:05 mark. An interception and 27-yard return to the Tech 26 by Owl cornerback Yazid Jackson set up the Owls' lone touchdown of the day. The scoring play was a 13-yard slant pass from McGann to Sean Szarka with 1:48 remaining. Temple's on-side kick attempt was recovered by Tech at midfield and the Hokies ran out the clock.
Temple continues its Big East Conference season with a 12-noon kickoff versus West Virginia at Veterans Stadium next Saturday.
