Temple University Athletics
#16 VIRGINIA DOWNS TEMPLE, 44-14, IN FOOTBALL OPENER
9.4.04 | Football
PHILADELPHIA -- Junior tailback Wali Lundy scored three first half touchdowns to lead the 16th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers to a 44-14 win over the Temple Owls in front of 20,145 fans at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday afternoon. It was the season-opener for both teams.
Lundy, who led the Cavaliers in rushing in each of his first two seasons, carried the ball 25 times for 104 yards. Four other UVA backs rushed for at least 20 yards as the Cavaliers accumulated 286 yards of net rushing to Temple's 128. All told, Virginia compiled 504 total yards on offense to nearly double Temple's output (260).
Junior Marques Hagans, making just his third start at quarterback after playing wide receiver most of last year, had a stellar outing. He completed 17-of-22 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown.
The Owls hurt themselves in the early going, fumbling on each of their first two possessions. Junior quarterback Walter Washington fumbled on the Owls' second possession, a third-and-one play from the Temple 38 yard-line. That led to a 39-yard field goal by Connor Hughes to put Virginia on top, 3-0.
The second fumble came on the first play of the ensuing possession as junior college transfer Tim Brown (9 carries, 45 yards) fumbled after receiving a Washington pass. That led to a five-play, 32-yard drive Virginia drive capped by a three-yard Lundy touchdown run.
"They jumped on our mistakes," stated Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. "You can't turn it over.
"I thought that our defense played fairly well early and I thought offensively we were moving the football by running it. I think upfront they whipped us on both sides of the ball badly," added Wallace.
Hagans had two big pass plays on the next UVA possession. First he connected with Alvin Pearman for a 21-yard strike. Then he hooked up with Michael McGrew for a 44-yard completion to the Temple two-yard line. Lundy then finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown carry to make it 17-0 with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Pearman then opened the second quarter by returning a Mike McLaughlin punt 70-yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0 with 14:01 remaining in the half. It was the longest punt return for the Cavaliers since Tiki Barber's 74-yard return for a TD against NC State in 1996.
Temple linebacker Troy Bennett gave the Owls an offensive lift, rushing for 26 yards and a first down on a fake punt on the next possession. The drive, however, stalled at midfield as Washington was sacked on two of the next three plays. McLaughlin, who averaged 42.4 yards on seven punts, booted a 35-yarder to the Virginia 23.
The Cavaliers then marched down the field on a 14-play, 77-yard drive with Lundy crossing the goal-line again on a six-yard run to make it 30-0. The Cavalier tailback rushed for 38 yards on seven carries in the possession.
Temple's final possession of the half brought the Owls to the Virginia 34-yard line. Junior college All-America kicker Ryan Lux attempted his first field goal as an Owl, but was wide-right on the 52-yard attempt.
The Owls finally got on track offensively in the third quarter. Washington capped a 12-play, 74-yard TU scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 30-7 with 5:51 on the clock. The big play in the drive was a 26-yard reception by Brown on a third-and-nine play from the Temple 49-yard line.
Unfortunately, Virginia was not done. The Cavaliers marched down the field on their next possession with Hagans completing a 15-play, 71-yard drive with a one yard plunge into the end zone.
UVa made it 44-7 as Hagans hit preseason All-America tight end Heath Miller with a four-yard touchdown pass with 9:40 remaining in the contest.
The Owls answered back as Washington and senior wide receiver Phil Goodman (5 receptions, 75 yards) connected on a 45-yard pass play to put Temple on the Virginia two yard-line. Washington, who rushed for 28 yards on 19 carries, scored two plays later to account for the game's final scoring.
Washington had a tough day, completing 11-of-23 passes for 132 yards while being sacked four times for 41 yards by an attacking Cavalier defense. His rushing numbers were deceiving as he gained 85 yards, but his net was just 37 as he lost 48 yards.
The Owl linebacker tandem Bennett and Rian "Goo" Wallace led the Cherry & White defense with 14 and 10 tackles, respectively. Sophomore free safety Durrell Davis also had a strong day with 11 tackles (10 solo).
One plus that came out of the contest was the fact that Temple was not called for a single penalty on the day. The last Temple temple was not penalized was versus East Carolina in 1988.
The Owls take on another nationally-ranked ACC school next weekend when they travel to Maryland for a 6:00 p.m. game on September 11.
TEMPLE GAME NOTABLES
Temple had 17 players compete in their first collegiate I-A game, including four starters (RB Tim Brown, CB Andrew Turner, OG Stephen Bell and CB Jermaine Hargraves).
Four true freshman played, as did four first semester JUCOs.
Senior LB Troy Bennett made a career 14 tackles (six solo) and a career-high 2.5 TFLs. Bennett also rushed for 26 yards and a first down on a fake punt.
Sophomore FS Durrel Davis made 11 tackles (10 solo) in his first career start.
Junior LB Rian "Goo" Wallace posted double digit tackle (10) totals for 13th time in 25 career games, including 11 of the last 12.
QB Walter Washington rushed for two TDs. Washington has rushed for seven TDs in his last three games. Washington has also accounted for 13 TDS (8 rushing, 5 passing) in his last six games.
Lundy, who led the Cavaliers in rushing in each of his first two seasons, carried the ball 25 times for 104 yards. Four other UVA backs rushed for at least 20 yards as the Cavaliers accumulated 286 yards of net rushing to Temple's 128. All told, Virginia compiled 504 total yards on offense to nearly double Temple's output (260).
Junior Marques Hagans, making just his third start at quarterback after playing wide receiver most of last year, had a stellar outing. He completed 17-of-22 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown.
The Owls hurt themselves in the early going, fumbling on each of their first two possessions. Junior quarterback Walter Washington fumbled on the Owls' second possession, a third-and-one play from the Temple 38 yard-line. That led to a 39-yard field goal by Connor Hughes to put Virginia on top, 3-0.
The second fumble came on the first play of the ensuing possession as junior college transfer Tim Brown (9 carries, 45 yards) fumbled after receiving a Washington pass. That led to a five-play, 32-yard drive Virginia drive capped by a three-yard Lundy touchdown run.
"They jumped on our mistakes," stated Temple head coach Bobby Wallace. "You can't turn it over.
"I thought that our defense played fairly well early and I thought offensively we were moving the football by running it. I think upfront they whipped us on both sides of the ball badly," added Wallace.
Hagans had two big pass plays on the next UVA possession. First he connected with Alvin Pearman for a 21-yard strike. Then he hooked up with Michael McGrew for a 44-yard completion to the Temple two-yard line. Lundy then finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown carry to make it 17-0 with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Pearman then opened the second quarter by returning a Mike McLaughlin punt 70-yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0 with 14:01 remaining in the half. It was the longest punt return for the Cavaliers since Tiki Barber's 74-yard return for a TD against NC State in 1996.
Temple linebacker Troy Bennett gave the Owls an offensive lift, rushing for 26 yards and a first down on a fake punt on the next possession. The drive, however, stalled at midfield as Washington was sacked on two of the next three plays. McLaughlin, who averaged 42.4 yards on seven punts, booted a 35-yarder to the Virginia 23.
The Cavaliers then marched down the field on a 14-play, 77-yard drive with Lundy crossing the goal-line again on a six-yard run to make it 30-0. The Cavalier tailback rushed for 38 yards on seven carries in the possession.
Temple's final possession of the half brought the Owls to the Virginia 34-yard line. Junior college All-America kicker Ryan Lux attempted his first field goal as an Owl, but was wide-right on the 52-yard attempt.
The Owls finally got on track offensively in the third quarter. Washington capped a 12-play, 74-yard TU scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 30-7 with 5:51 on the clock. The big play in the drive was a 26-yard reception by Brown on a third-and-nine play from the Temple 49-yard line.
Unfortunately, Virginia was not done. The Cavaliers marched down the field on their next possession with Hagans completing a 15-play, 71-yard drive with a one yard plunge into the end zone.
UVa made it 44-7 as Hagans hit preseason All-America tight end Heath Miller with a four-yard touchdown pass with 9:40 remaining in the contest.
The Owls answered back as Washington and senior wide receiver Phil Goodman (5 receptions, 75 yards) connected on a 45-yard pass play to put Temple on the Virginia two yard-line. Washington, who rushed for 28 yards on 19 carries, scored two plays later to account for the game's final scoring.
Washington had a tough day, completing 11-of-23 passes for 132 yards while being sacked four times for 41 yards by an attacking Cavalier defense. His rushing numbers were deceiving as he gained 85 yards, but his net was just 37 as he lost 48 yards.
The Owl linebacker tandem Bennett and Rian "Goo" Wallace led the Cherry & White defense with 14 and 10 tackles, respectively. Sophomore free safety Durrell Davis also had a strong day with 11 tackles (10 solo).
One plus that came out of the contest was the fact that Temple was not called for a single penalty on the day. The last Temple temple was not penalized was versus East Carolina in 1988.
The Owls take on another nationally-ranked ACC school next weekend when they travel to Maryland for a 6:00 p.m. game on September 11.
TEMPLE GAME NOTABLES
Temple had 17 players compete in their first collegiate I-A game, including four starters (RB Tim Brown, CB Andrew Turner, OG Stephen Bell and CB Jermaine Hargraves).
Four true freshman played, as did four first semester JUCOs.
Senior LB Troy Bennett made a career 14 tackles (six solo) and a career-high 2.5 TFLs. Bennett also rushed for 26 yards and a first down on a fake punt.
Sophomore FS Durrel Davis made 11 tackles (10 solo) in his first career start.
Junior LB Rian "Goo" Wallace posted double digit tackle (10) totals for 13th time in 25 career games, including 11 of the last 12.
QB Walter Washington rushed for two TDs. Washington has rushed for seven TDs in his last three games. Washington has also accounted for 13 TDS (8 rushing, 5 passing) in his last six games.
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