Temple University Athletics
TOP-RANKED HURRICANES DEFEAT DETERMINED OWLS, 44-21
9.14.02 | Football
Temple (1-2) played with a stubborn determination throughout the hard-fought contest, which lasted three-hours and 23-minutes. And although the Owls managed just 12 first downs and 222 total yards, they seized the momentum and thrilled the home-town crowd in a second quarter rally that actually had the defending national champions rattled.
For Miami (3-0), the game marked a national-best 25th straight victory, including 18 consecutive wins over Big East Conference foes. Second-year Hurricane head coach Larry Coker extended his perfect record at UM to 15-0, but even though Miami rolled up 477 total yards and 24 first downs, the win did not come easy.
The Hurricanes opened the game with convincing superiority. On its first possession, Miami drove 61 yards in 12 plays to the Owl 17, but Todd Seivers' 34-yard field attempt was wide left. On its second possession, Miami traveled 67 yards in just five plays, and scored on a one-yard plunge by Willis McGahee. Temple's Lawrence Wade fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the 'Canes were right back in business at the Owl 10 yard-line. Three plays later, quarterback Ken Dorsey connected with Kevin Beard for a touchdown and a 14-0 Miami lead at the 5:11 mark of the first period. Following another short Temple possession, Dorsey led the 'Canes on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by McGahee's second TD of the day, a six-yard bolt off left tackle. Dorsey completed passes of 25 and 30 yards to Roscoe Parrish on the excursion, the latter keeping the drive alive on third-and-15 from the Temple 41.
Then things got interesting. The Owl defense finally stiffened and forced a Miami punt from the Hurricane 39 with 9:04 remaining in the half. Punter Freddie Capshaw fumbled the snap and was buried at the Miami 21. From there, the Owls scored in seven plays, with tailback Tanardo Sharps doing the honors from a yard out with 5:53 remaining in the half. The key play was a daring two-yard shovel pass from quarterback Mike McGann to Makkonen Fenton on fourth-and-two at the Hurricane three. Fenton sprained his left ankle on the play and did not return, but his effort set up Sharps' touchdown. On the following possession for Miami, linebacker Troy Bennett's jarring tackle separated Jason Geathers from the ball and Terrance Leftwich recovered for the Owls at the 'Cane 16. The very next play, Shaprs roared around left end for an Owl touchdown that brought the crowd to its feet and cut the lead to 21-14.
But that was as close as the Owls would get to what might have been the greatest college football upset of all time. Miami drove to a 31-yard Seivers field goal on the final play of the half, and on Temple's first offensive play of the third quarter, a Sharps' fumble set up a five-play 24-yard Hurricane drive that put the game out of reach. Dorsey went on to complete 20-of-35 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while McGahee finished with 137 yards on 21 carries and four TDs. For Temple, Sharps carried 20 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while McGann connected on 15-of-20 passes for 36 yards. Back-up quarterback Mike Frost, who completed two-of-three passes for 65 yards, teamed with freshman wide-receiver Sean Szarka for Temple's final score of the day, a nifty 22-yarder with 3:55 remaining.
The crowd of 33,169 was Temple's largest since the Owls entertained over 38,000 fans against Penn State on Oct. 1, 1994, also at Franklin Field. Temple travels to Columbia, South Carolina for its next encounter, a non-conference match with SEC-member South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 21.
