Temple University Athletics
Shelton Shines Again, But Temple Still Falls At NIU, 43-21
10.21.06 | Football
Oct. 21, 2006
DEKALB, IL - Sophomore wide receiver Travis Shelton had another monster game, compiling 311 all purpose yards, including 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough to overcome record days by sophomore defensive end Larry English and junior kicker Chris Nendick that led Northern Illinois to a 43-21 win over visiting Temple Saturday afternoon in front of 27,039 fans at Huskie Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Adam DiMichele, who completed 20-of-28 passes for a season highs of 322 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Shelton for two third-quarter touchdown passes and a fourth-quarter strike to tight end Steve Maneri to account for the Owl offense.
Shelton, who set the school-record for most kickoff return yards (205) in his 2006 debut last week against Clemson, had the second most receiving yards trailing only Van Johnson, who set the TU record with 214 versus Pittsburgh in 1996. He also had his first 100-yard (and 200) receiving game and the first 100-yard receiving game by an Owl this season, catching a career-high seven passes. He also had a two-point conversion on a pass from DiMichele and his 59-yard fourth-quarter reception set up Maneri's touchdown.
Northern Illinois (5-3) held Temple in check for their first 40 minutes, taking a 19-0 halftime lead and then extending it to 40-0 before the Owls got on track.
English set a school single-game record with four-and-a-half sacks, four in the first half, to set the tone on the defensive end. The 6-3, 250-pounder also forced a fumble when sacking DiMichele and recovered a fumble by senior running back Tim Brown.
Nendick, who extended his school record to 32 consecutive games with at least one point, connected on five-of-seven field goals. The Naperville, Ill. native tied school records with five field goals and 19 kick-scoring points in the contest.
Senior Heisman Trophy candidate Garrett Wolfe was projected to put up big numbers against a Temple defense that has had trouble stopping the run. Wolfe, who had his string of 11 straight 150-yard games broken at Western Michigan last week, rushed for just 45 yards on 17 carries. Three true freshmen, Andre Neblett, Terrance Banks and Brian Sanford along with sophomore Philip Simpson, who had a fourth quarter interception, were key in stopping the Wolfe attack.
The Owls started the game with a 13-play drive that eventually stalled at midfield. DiMichele completed four-of-six passes in moving the ball to the NIU 38. Then English picked up his first sack, dropping DiMichele for a 12-yard loss on second down. DiMichele's next pass was deflected, ending the Owl drive.
NIU, realizing that Temple was overplaying the run, utilized the arm of Phil Horvath. The senior quarterback, who completed 18 of 28 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, completed five passes on the opening Huskie drive to set up a Nendick 36-yarder to make it 3-0 with 4:57 to play in the first quarter.
English sacked DiMichele ending the next TU possession. Wolfe then had his most production of the afternoon, carrying the ball three times for 31 yards before Horvath connected with Matt Simon on a 20-yard touchdown.
English then sacked DiMichele to force a fumble which was recovered by Craig Rush. Facing a first-and-goal at the nine yard-line, the Temple defense held strong with senior David Reese defending a third-down pass in the end zone. Nendick converted the 24-yard field goal to make it 13-0.
Nendick would add two more field goals, of 22 and 36 yards, to close out the scoring in the first half with NIU leading 19-0.
The Huskies opened the third quarter with three consecutive touchdowns to break the game open. Horvath hit Greg Turner on a 23-yard scoring pass and then back-up QB Dan Nicholson connected with Jarret Carter (24 yards) and Britt Davis (21 yards) for the final two touchdown passes.
That made the score 40-0 with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter.
The Temple offense then came to life with Shelton catching two DiMichele TD passes. The first was a 65-yard quick hit with Shelton running down the left sideline for the score with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter. Shelton then caught a 44-yarder, and also followed with a two-point conversion, to make it 40-14 with 1:12 to play in the third.
Nendick connected on his record-tying fifth field goal, a 21-yarder, to make it 43-14, before Maneri caught a two-yard TD pass, his second touchdown reception of the season, with 7:36 to play to make it 43-21.
The Owls (0-8) now return to Lincoln Financial Field to take on Bowling Green Saturday. The game, which kicks off at 1:00 p.m., will be Temple's Homecoming game.
