Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE FOOTBALL DROPS 35-22 DECISION TO CINCINNATI AT FRANKLIN FIELD
9.28.02 | Football
"Emotionally, we're fragile right now," said Wallace after the game. "I know I am. If you lose four weeks in a row, it gets you down. You have to keep everything in perspective. More than likely, all four teams we've lost to will go to bowl games. I think Cincinnati's got a very good football team."
Things started off on a sour note for Temple. A fumble forced and returned 39 yards by UC senior defensive end Antwan Peek on the game's opening series gave the Bearcats the ball on the TU 14-yard line. Senior running back DeMarco McCleskey promptly found the end zone on UC's first offensive play to give the visitors a 7-0 advantage with 12:22 remaining in the opening stanza.
After the teams traded punts, Temple drove the ball to the Cincinnati three-yard line but was unable to find the end zone. A four-yard loss on a third-and-goal play led to a 24-yard Cap Poklemba field goal attempt that went wide left. The missed kick was the first of three miscues on the day for Poklemba.
Cincinnati extended its lead, 14-0, early in the second quarter on the first of three Guidugli scoring tosses, as the sophomore found senior wideout LaDaris Vann from four yards out at the 14:20 mark of the second quarter.
Temple found the end zone for the first time with 11:39 remaining in the second stanza. Freshman Mike Holley made his first career interception and returned it 15 yards to the UC 22-yard line. Three plays later, sophomore signal-caller Mike McGann hit Zamir Cobb for his team-leading fifth touchdown reception of the season. After an unsportmanlike conduct penalty pushed the extra point attempt back 15 yards, however, Poklemba was unable to convert and Temple trailed 14-6.
Poklemba did convert on the Owls' next series, hitting a 36-yarder to bring the Owls within five, 14-9, with 6:44 remaining in the second quarter. But for the third time this season, a Temple opponent answered by putting points on the board with under :30 seconds remaining in the first half. This time, it was UC's McClesky doing the damage, rushing for his second score of the day, this time from two yards, to give Cincinnati a 21-9 advantage at the midpoint.
The Owls lost two defensive starters in the first half to injuries. Senior linebacker J.D. Nichols and redshirt freshman defensive end Rodney Wormley were forced to exit the game with sprained ankles.
The third quarter belonged to Temple. After a junior Yazid Jackson blocked a punt and Temple recovered at the Cincinnati 14-yard line, Tanardo Sharps capped a short drive with a one-yard scoring run. Poklemba converted the extra point and Temple trailed 21-16 at the 10:51 mark of the third quarter. Sharps rushed 21 times for 103 yards on the day, his 12th career 100-yard rushing effort.
An errant exchange between the holder and snapper on a 34-yard Cincinnati field goal attempt provided the Owls additional momentum in the third stanza. After Temple recovered the missed exchange, McGann drove Temple 74 yards before sneaking in to the end zone from two yards out to cap a seven play, 76-yard drive. The extra point attempt, however, was no good. Temple had its first lead, 22-21, of the game and its first since its season-opening win over Richmond.
The fourth quarter, and the game, belonged to Cincinnati. Guidugli connected with Jon Olinger on a 32-yard touchdown pass at the 10:19 mark of the final quarter before finding Vann for the second time, this time on a 27-yard scoring aerial with 6:11 remaining in the contest. As a result, Cincinnati exited the historic confines of Franklin Field with a 35-22 victory, breaking a string of six consecutive losses by the Bearcats to Temple in the City of Brotherly Love.
"I just want to congratulate our kids on showing the heart of a champion again," said UC head coach Rick Minter after the game. "We had to rebound against a good, quality Temple football team. I wish Bobby Wallace well. Bobby's done a very good job with this program. I know he doesn't necessarily have the wins to show for it, but his kids played extremely hard. They're very well coached. They gave us all we wanted today. We were lucky to get out of here with what we got."
After a bye week, Temple returns to the gridiron on Saturday, October 12, with a 12 noon game against Syracuse at Veterans Stadium.
