Temple University Athletics
NO. 2 MIAMI DEFEATS TEMPLE 52-14 AT THE ORANGE BOWL
10.18.03 | Football
Miami (7-0, 3-0) gained 342 yards on the ground and had two players hit the century mark, as senior Jarrett Payton gained 115 yards on 16 carries, including two TDs, and freshman Tyrone Moss produced 135 yards and a score on 15 attempts. The Hurricanes also had five receivers with forty yards or more. UM junior QB Brock Berlin completed 16 of 26 passes for 187 yards and two TDs before being relieved by Derrick Crudup late in the third quarter.
Temple's top statistical performer of the afternoon was sophomore punter Mike McLaughlin. McLaughlin punted seven times for 322 yards and a 46.0 average, including two punts inside the 20 and a long of 61 yards. TU sophomore LB Rian Wallace made a game-high 10 solo tackles and recovered a fumble.
Temple (1-6, 0-2) posted the game's first points. After the Owls' initial drive stalled, McLaughlin's 45-yard punt was fielded by Miami's Antrell Rolle at the Hurricane's 37-yard line. Rolle returned the kick 14 yards before meeting Temple LB Troy Bennett, whose hit jarred the ball loose. Wallace recovered the fumble at the UM 38 and returned the drop three yards. The Owls were in the possession of the ball and the momentum.
Junior QB Mike McGann, who completed five of 11 passes on the day, took advantage of the miscue, leading the Owls on a seven play, 35-yard drive to pay dirt. A key roughing the passer call on Miami after Temple failed to convert a third-and-two at the UM 27-yard line paved the way for a Jamil Porter two-yard scoring run five plays later. A Jared Davis extra point gave the Owls a 7-0 lead with 10:00 minutes on the first quarter clock.
Miami answered the score quickly and definitively. Berlin engineered an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive after the Hurricanes started at their own 35-yard line courtesy of a Temple kickoff that went out-of-bounds. Payton had five rushes in the series, including an eight-yard TD scamper to cap it off. The score began a string of 24 consecutive points for the home team.
After forcing a three-and-out, Miami rushed-out to a 14-0 advantage courtesy of Payton, who carried four times for 47 yards on Miami's five offensive plays of the series. The son of the late Chicago Bears' great Walter Payton tallied his second score on a 14-yard jaunt with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter.
The Owls offensive struggles continued as a bad snap got away from freshly inserted QB Walter Washington on Temple's ensuing possession and was recovered by Miami LB Jonathan Vilma at the TU 23-yard line late in the initial stanza. The Hurricanes were forced to settle for a 21-yard Jon Peattie field goal, however, early in the second quarter after the Owl defense held tough.
Miami increased its first half lead to 24-7 on a 10-play 65 yard drive. Berlin completed five passes in the series, including a 15 scoring toss to Jason Geathers at the 8:44 mark of the second quarter.
The Hurricanes had the Owls reeling but the Cherry & White chose to stand up rather than lie down. Junior RB Jamil Porter snapped-off a 69-yard scoring run on the first play of Temple's next series. It marked the longest run of the season for Temple and the longest of Porter's career. Davis provided the extra point to decrease the deficit to 24-14 with 8:29 remaining in the half. It was the final score before intermission.
After the break, Miami reached into its bag of tricks to extend its lead. Faced with a fourth-and-one at its own 39-yard line the Hurricanes punting unit took the field. The snap went directly to D.J. Williams, however, who rushed 61 yards to end zone at the 13:11 mark of the third quarter to begin a deluge of 28 Miami second-half points.
Kevin Everett had a three-yard TD reception from Berlin and Geathers had a two-yard scoring carry with 0:18 seconds remaining in the third stanza to send the Owls to the fourth quarter facing a 45-14 deficit. The Owls were unable to produce a first down on their two, third quarter possessions.
Moss concluded the scoring with a nine yard run with 5:19 remaining in the contest.
Temple (1-6, 0-2) returns to the gridiron next Saturday, October 25, at Lincoln Financial Field versus Big East and regional rival Rutgers. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Owls have a four game winning streak against the Scarlet Knights.
