Temple University Athletics
FOOTBALL FALLS TO RUTGERS, 30-14 AT LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
10.25.03 | Football
Walter Washington, who came in relief at quarterback for Temple after Mike McGann sustained an elbow injury in the second quarter, completed 15-of-28 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Washington also led the Owls in rushing, carrying five times for 30 yards and a score. Zamir Cobb, who entered the contest as the nation's 19th leading receiver, hauled in 10 catches for 91 yards.
Temple linebacker Rian Wallace, ranked 11th in the nation in total tackles and fifth in solo tackles, led the Cherry & White defense. Wallace amassed 18 total tackles, including eight solo.
Rutgers set the tone early when Joe Radigan's 51-yard punt after their first possession of the game was downed at the Scarlet Knights six-yard line. Consecutive Temple rushes resulted in negative yardage and Mike McLaughlin was forced to punt from inside the one-yard line. His 47-yard punt was returned for a gain of 18 yards to the 29 yard-line. After two completed passes, Leonard had a trio of carries that culminated with the one-yard touchdown plunge.
Facing a third-and-three at the Temple 44 yard-line, McGann's shovel pass was intercepted by DeVraun Thompson. After two runs and an incomplete pass for the Scarlet Knights, Yazid Jackson intercepted a Hart pass attempt on fourth down.
The ensuing Owls drive began with another McGann interception, this time by Grant Jones. Rutgers took advantage of the Temple miscue with a five-play, 44-yard drive. A seven-yard catch by Leonard gave the Scarlet Knights a 14-0 advantage.
A short kickoff was returned to Temple's 28 yard-line. After a Zamir Cobb 12-yard catch, a defensive pass interference call on Rutgers advanced the Owls to the opposition's 43 yard-line. Makonnen Fenton followed with a 12-yard run, but the Owls offensive progress halted thereafter. Rutgers regained possession after Jared Davis missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.
Hart completed all five of his pass attempts for 76 yards on Rutgers' nine-play, 76-yard drive. Leonard punched in his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon on a four-yard carry with 8:58 remaining in the second period.
After a three-and-out by Temple's offense, Sadeke Konte laid a jarring hit on a sack of Hart that jolted the ball loose, giving the Cherry & White possession on the Rutgers 23 yard-line. The Owls faced third-and-one after a four-yard rush by Jamil Porter and a five-yard catch by Cobb, but turned it over on downs at the Rutgers 15 yard-line after two failed rushes.
The Owls regained the ball at midfield after a Rutgers punt, but managed only five yards on the drive. At the 37 yard-line, McLaughlin's knee hit the ground on the punt attempt, giving the Scarlet Knights one more chance to score before intermission. Ryan Sands finished the 11-play drive with a 32-yard field goal 12 seconds before the break.
Sands converted again on a 49-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 42-yard drive to start the second half.
After another McLaughlin punt, Christian Dunbar sacked Hart to force the quarterback's second fumble of the game. Washington completed two passes to Cobb for 27 yards on the drive, including a 16-yard score.
Rutgers answered with a momentum-halting 15-play, 59-yard drive that chopped 6:16 off the clock. Sands came through with his third field goal on the afternoon to bring the Scarlet Knight lead to 30-7.
Washington directed Temple to its second score of the game with a nine-play, 86-yard drive in the game's final 1:36. The quarterback connected with five different Owl receivers on the drive before running in a two-yard touchdown as time expired.
The Scarlet Knights controlled the ball for nearly two-thirds of the contest, winning the time-of-possession battle 38:35-21:25. Rutgers gained 363 yards of total offense in the game to the Owls' 282 yards.
After an off-week, Temple travels to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse on November 8. The Owls return to Lincoln Financial Field for a November 15 match-up with nationally-ranked Virginia Tech.
