Temple University Athletics
OWLS OPEN 2002 SEASON WITH 34-7 WIN OVER RICHMOND
8.29.02 | Football
The Owls (1-0) earned their third-straight win ---the team finished the 2001 season with back-to-back wins over West Virginia and Connecticut -- as Head Coach Bobby Wallace opened his fifth year at the Temple helm. The contest was typical of season openers, as the two teams combined for 15 penalties and nine turnovers. Richmond (0-1) was on the short end of the giveaways, committing five.
The Temple defense kept the Owls in the game in the early going and ultimately accounted for 21 of the team's 34 points. For the game, Temple limited the Spiders to just 204 yards and 12 first downs on 59 snaps. The Owls forced six Richmond fumbles and recovered three, in addition to intercepting two passes. Lineman Tyrone Ditzel each finished with a team-high 10 tackles (seven solo) and two fumble recoveries.
Temple's new spread offense was effective from the early stages of the game. Senior tailback Tanardo Sharps paced the attack, rushing for a game-high 121 yards on 30 carries. Although he did not score, Sharps bolted for a sensational 54-yarder in the second period. Sophomore quarterback Mike McGann seemed to gain confidence as the game progressed, and finished passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns. McGann's key target was wide receiver Zamir Cobb, who hauled in five aerials for 89 yards and scored two touchdowns. Although errors at key junctures ended several scoring opportunities, the Owls traveled into Richmond territory on each of their 15 possessions.
Temple took a 3-0 lead on its second possession of the game, as senior kicker Cap Poklemba connected on a 31-yard field goal at the 6:11 mark of the first quarter after the Spiders thwarted a Temple drive that had reached the Richmond two following a failed punt attempt. Richmond rallied to take its lone lead of the game at 7-3 five minutes later, as quarterback D'Arcy Wills connected with Boyd Ouden on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 1:34 left in the opening stanza.
Poklemba pulled the Owls to within 7-6 with a 42-yard field goal at the 11:02 mark of the second quarter. Temple finished the first half on a high note, as McGann found Cobb for a 36-yard touchdown pass at the 1:44 mark. Temple held a 13-7 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Owls dominated play, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Jairo Almonte's interception and 38-yard return set the Owls up at the Spider 23 with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter. A 13-yard pass from McGann to Makonnen Fenton advanced the ball to the Richmond one, from where McGann sneeked in for a 20-7 lead.
The Owls broke the game open with 10:57 remaining in the fourth quarter, as senior defensive tackle Rob Sack scooped up a Willis fumble and lumbered 39 yards to his first-ever collegiate touchdown and a 27-7 bulge. Temple closed out the scoring at the 9:37 mark, when McGann and Cobb teamed for an 11-yard touchdown pass on the first play following Ditzel's recovery of a Kenny Dantzler fumble.
Temple All-America candidate Dan Klecko dressed but did not play in the game due to a right ankle sprain sustained in Tuesday's practice. The senior defensive lineman is expected back at full strength for next Thursday's game at Franklin Field against Pac-10 opponent Oregon State.
