Temple University Athletics
OWLS OPEN LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD WITH 23-20 DOUBLE OVERTIME LOSS TO VILLANOVA
9.6.03 | Football
One of the few bright spots for Temple was the play of its starting wideouts. In his second-ever Division I-A contest, junior Phil Goodman made eight receptions for 139 yards. His counterpart, senior Zamir Cobb, caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in his Lincoln Financial Field debut.
"I don't think there was any nervousness, in terms of playing in a new stadium," said Cobb. "The atmosphere may have been a little different...It didn't work to our advantage. We came out flat and unprepared, and it showed, especially with the offense in the first couple of series."
Villanova quarterback Joe Casamento completed 28 of 37 pass attempts for 347 yards and two scores without throwing an interception. Casamento completed his first six pass attempts of the afternoon in leading the Wildcats' initial drive as far as the Temple 20 yard line before a holding call sent Villanova backwards. Casamento threw his first incompletion of the day on fourth down. By halftime, the sophomore quarterback completed 14-of-15 passes - with the lone incompletion coming on the opening drive - for 151 yards.
"That was a tough game," said Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. "It was a tough loss for our kids and our program. I give Villanova a lot of credit. They played an outstanding game. We gave up too many yards throwing the football. They did a really good job with their passing game."
After recovering a Villanova fumbled snap, the Owls sustained a 45-yard drive, culminating with a two-yard touchdown run by Makonnen Fenton, the first regular season score in Lincoln Financial Field history. During the drive, Goodman hauled in two passes, including a 34-yard gain that advanced the Owls to Villanova's two-yard line.
On the third offensive play of the third quarter, Villanova's defense jarred the ball loose from Temple quarterback Mike McGann's hands and Brian Hulea recovered the ball on Temple's 23-yard line. Casamento needed just two plays to get the Wildcats into the end zone for the first time of the afternoon with a two-yard pass to Phil DiGiacomo.
Temple responded with a nine play, 55-yard drive that ended with a successful 42-yard field goal by Jared Davis.
In the fourth quarter, James converted on field goals attempts of 20 and 31 yards to propel the Wildcats to a 13-10 lead. Temple then started their final drive of regulation on its own 26 yard-line with 3:43 on the clock. McGann rallied the Owls to three quick first downs with passes to Cobb and Goodman. The Cherry & White offense then stalled momentarily and faced a fourth-and-one from the Wildcat 23 yard-line when reserve quarterback Walter Washington came in and ran the ball for 16 yards. Two ensuing false start penalties and a failed wide receiver reverse killed the Owl drive. Wallace's squad was then forced to settle for a 37-yard Davis field goal and overtime.
The Wildcats began the first overtime session with a six-play drive that culminated with a five-yard touchdown reception by Noble Champen. Temple responded with a 25-yard bomb from Mike McGann to Cobb to knot the game at 20-20.
Another false start penalty to open the second overtime drove the Owls back to the Wildcat 30-yard-line. McGann rattled off three consecutive incomplete passes before Davis fell short on a 47-yard field goal attempt, his third miss of the contest.
After a one-yard run, Casamento recovered his own fumble as Villanova faced third down and 16 yards to go. Casamento then found an open J.J. Outlaw for 11 yards to set up James' game-winning field goal.
Temple, which has yet to throw an interception this season, was hampered by penalties throughout the game. The Owls committed 13 miscues for 115 yards. Furthermore, Temple converted on just one of its 12 third-down attempts on the afternoon.
"We had our opportunities," said Wallace. "We had too many holding penalties and illegal procedures ... but we want to give Villanova a lot of credit."
