Temple University Athletics
FOOTBALL: OWLS SWOOP INTO CINCINNATI SEEKING FIRST WIN OF 2003 CAMPAIGN
9.15.03 | Football
The game marks the 14th meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1973, with the Owls holding a 9-3-1 advantage. The Bearcats defeated Temple 35-22 at Franklin Field last season in the most recent meeting.
Temple senior WR Zamir Cobb is second in the Big East and 15th nationally in receiving, averaging 108.0 yards per game. Cobb is also second in the league and 21st in the country in receptions per game, averaging seven grabs per contest. Junior OS Lawrence Wade is also ranked among the nation's stat leaders. Wade is third in the Big East and 18th in Div. I-A in kickoff returns with a 27.67 average.
Temple is coming off the first of its two bye weeks after a 23-20 double-overtime loss to Villanova on Sept. 6. The Owls' inaugural game at Lincoln Financial Field turned into the school's first-ever overtime contest after senior Jared Davis sent the game into extra time with a 37-yard FG with :02 seconds in regulation. After the teams traded TDs and extra points in the first overtime, 'Nova took home the victory with a 37-yard FG after the Owls' failed on their preceeding 47-yard attempt.
Cobb and junior Phil Goodman each eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark versus Villanova, making eight catches for 111 yards (1 TD) and eight receptions for 139 yards, respectively. It marked the first time since 1994 that Temple had dual players reach the receiving century mark. On Oct. 29, 1994 at Pittsburgh, Henry Burris threw for 336 yards and two scores, connecting with Van Johnson (6-103) and Marc Baxter (3-102) in a 45-10 loss to the Panthers.
Cincinnati is coming off a 15-13 win over Big East-member West Virginia in Morgantown last Saturday. Chet Ervin hit a 37-yard field goal with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter to give UC the edge it needed. Ervin made all three of his field goal attempts, also connecting from 44 and 43 yards. The Bearcats generated 311 total net yards and held the host Mountaineers to 243 total net yards.
