PHILADELPHIA -- Senior QB Josh Betts passed for 379 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Miami Red Hawks to a 41-14 win over Temple Saturday afternoon. Betts, who passed for 297 yards in the first half alone, spoiled the Owls' Senior Day and the final home game at Lincoln Financial Field for the 28 senior members of the team as well as eighth-year head coach Bobby Wallace.
"I'm just real disappointed," said Wallace. "I thought we were ready to play, and I thought we had tremendous momentum when we recovered the fumble on the kickoff. But then we threw an interception, and then we gave up a big pass and just gave it right back to them. It is very, very disappointing. We should have competed better, we should have played better, and we should have coached better."
Miami (5-3, 3-2 MAC), who led 24-14 at the half, scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to break open the contest. Sophomore TB Brandon Murphy rushed in from seven yards out on the Red Hawks opening drive of the third quarter. Following a fumble by TU sophomore FB Josh Bundy, Miami drove 39 yards to the Temple four yard-line before settling on a Todd Soderquist 21-yard FG to make it 34-14 with 7:22 on the clock. After the Owls went three-and-out, Betts six-of-nine passes for 38 yards, hitting junior WR Ryne Robinson for an eight-yard TD. That made the score 41-14 and ended Betts' day.
Robinson, ranked among the nation's Top 15 receivers, had a career day, making 10 catches for 148 yards, just three yards shy of his career high. Senior WR Nance Martin, also ranked in the nation's Top 15, made six catches for 96 yards and one TD. All told, eight different Red Hawk receivers caught passes in the contest.
Senior RB Umar Ferguson led the Temple offense, accounting for 120 yards of total offense. Ferguson rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries while making three catches for 72 yards. Senior QB Mike McGann, who replaced freshman Joe DeSanzo after Temple's first series, completed six-of-12 passes for 94 yards. He was also intercepted twice. DeSanzo (4-of-12, 26 yards) returned to the lineup in the fourth quarter
Betts led Miami on an eight-play, 58-yard drive capped by a Murphy one-yard TD run to open the contest. Betts found senior Nance down the middle of the field for a 37-yard pass play to the TU 21. He then hit Robinson on seven and nine yard receptions before Murphy carried it in for the first of his two rushing touchdowns.
DeSanzo made the start at quarterback for the Owls despite nursing sore ribs during the week. DeSanzo was ineffective on the opening drive and did not return until the fourth quarter.
After senior SS Justin Johnson recovered a fumble at the Miami 30 that was forced by junior CB Chris Page, the Owls were able to tie the game. McGann, in his first series at the controls, mounted a four-play scoring drive spearheaded by Ferguson. The senior running back picked up 20 yards on a screen pass before running the ball in from the one yard-line for the first of his two rushing touchdowns to make it 7-7 with 7:44 remaining in the opening quarter.
Miami took the lead for good on its next possession. The Red Hawks drove 55 yards on 11 plays before settling on a 31-yard Soderquist FG that made it 10-7.
McGann then had his pass picked off by Darrell Hunter at the Miami 41. It was the first of three Owl turnovers that led to 17 Red Hawk points.
Betts again marched Miami on an 11-play drive, this time finding junior WR R.J. Corbin in the end zone for a three-yard TD pass, making it 17-7. Betts completed long passes to Murphy (16 yards) and Josh Williams (24 yards) to set up the score.
Temple came right back with an 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive of its own as Ferguson broke a screen pass down the right sideline for 45 yards to the Miami five. Ferguson, who turned in a solid performance in his final home game, carried it into the end zone two plays later from two yards out to make it 17-14 with 7:03 remaining in the half.
The Owls looked to have caught a break as junior FS Garrett Schultz forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by senior DE Christian Dunbar at the Miami 34. McGann, however, threw his second interception, this one picked off by Frank Wiwo at the four yard-line.
After two Murphy rushes, Betts hit a wide open Robinson on a 79-yard pass play to the Temple six. After an illegal procedure penalty, Betts connected with Martin for a 12-yard TD to make it 24-14. That would be how the half would end.
Senior LB Manuel Tapia, Temple's leader in total tackles entering play, made a team-high 12 stops, including six unassisted. Schultz also accumulated double digit tackles with 11, including a team-high nine solo tackles. Dunbar and senior RE Mike Mendenhall each had a sack.
The Owls (0-9) will now take to the road for their remaining two games. Temple travels to Virginia next Saturday for a 3:30 PM kickoff.
