Temple University Athletics
LAST SECOND FIELD GOAL LIFTS WESTERN MICHIGAN TO 19-16 WIN OVER OWLS
9.24.05 | Football
PHILADELPHIA -- Junior kicker Nate Meyer connected on a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift visiting Western Michigan to a 19-16 win over
"It's a very tough loss, said Wallace. "I thought defensively we fought hard. We got five turnovers; it ought to win the game for you. Offensively we couldn't execute, especially in the second half. We had chances. We had a chance to score a touchdown and fumbled the ball at the 6-inch line. We had a chance to do other things too, but just didn't get it done."
Meyer's kick also made this a successful homecoming for WMU first-year head coach Bill Cubit. The former Widener head coach (1992-96) is a native of Sharon Hill, Pa. His son, senior QB Ryan Cubit helped his father pick up the win, completing 18 of 29 passes for 191 and one TD before leaving the game late in the third quarter due to an injury.
Senior RB Umar Ferguson had a solid game in his return from a rib injury that sidelined him last week. He posted his second career 100-yard game, carrying the ball 33 times for 110 yards and one TD. Senior WR Brian Allbrooks caught four passes for 84 yards to lead the Owl receiving corps.
The Owls opened the game with a four-play 78-yard scoring drive. Senior QB Mike McGann (10-23-1, 158 yds) hit Allbrooks on a short pass which he turned into a 56-yard gain to give
That was when the game seemed to take an unlikely turn. Instead of celebrating their first opening drive score of the season, the Owls watched WMU's Paul Moersch block Ryan Lux's point after attempt. Then, after the ball rested on the eight yard-line untouched, the Broncos' Ameer Ismail retrieved it and ran 92 yards for a two-point defensive PAT. So instead of a
After McGann was picked off by WMU's Kennard Banks at the Broncos' 13 yard-line, the Owls defense came up big. Senior SS Christian Dunbar forced a Cubit fumble which was recovered at the 10 by senior DE Mike Mendenhall.
Cubit then engineered a 10-play 80-yard drive that culminated with an eight-yard TD pass to Joe Gardner on the opening play of the third quarter to cut the TU lead to 13-9. Cubit completed six-of-seven on the drive for 63 yards, including two completions to senior TE Troy Scheffler for 30 yards. Sheffler ended the day with seven catches for a game-high 118 yards.
Seth Quivey blocked Hendy's next punt, to give WMU a first down at the
A Chris Page 23-yard return gave the Cherry and White good field position at its own 40 on its final drive of the half. McGann, moved into third place on Temple's career total offense list with 5,170 yards, then hit Bruce Gordon on a 37-yard pass play to the Bronco 20 that was at first ruled incomplete, but later reversed after instant replay review. After the Owls drive stalled, Ryan Lux connected on a 26-yard field goal to tie the score.
Western Michigan (2-2) had one final chance to score before the half ended but Delonne Wilbourn forced a Cubit fumble which was recovered by Antwon Burton at the
Temple opened the second half with an on-sides "pooch kick" that went 34 yards before being recovered by Chris Page at the WMU 31 yard-line. Two plays later Umar Ferguson fumbled to end the Owl threat.
After two big first downs brought WMU to the
The Owls then went on their longest drive of the game, running off 17 plays and seven minutes and 31 seconds. McGann hit junior wide receiver Jamel Harris over the middle. Harris advanced the ball to the two yard-line before Scooter McIntosh stripped him of the ball. Ismail recovered for WMU.
On the Broncos' next possession, Cubit left the game after suffering a lower leg injury on a pass play to
Neither team was able to mount any scoring threats in the final period until the Broncos final drive. Haas completed three of his four passes in the quarter during that nine-play drive, including a key 16-yarder to Scheffler that gave WMU a first down at the
That put the Broncos in range of the reliable Meyer, who connected on the game-winner three plays later.
The Owls defense was led by senior linebacker Manuel Tapia, who had a career high 18 tackles. Mendenhall and Rodney Wormley each added 10 tackles in the contest. Ismail led the Bronco defensive unit with 15 stops.
