Temple University Athletics
Temple Falls To Ohio, 23-7, Ending Three-Game Win Streak
11.2.07 | Football
Nov. 2, 2007
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ATHENS, OH - Friday Night Lights were not shining on Temple at Peden Stadium as the Owls saw their three-game win streak come to a halt with a 23-7 defeat at the hands of the host Ohio Bobcats. In a crucial Mid-American Conference East Division clash it was Ohio (5-5) that improved its standings in the league race, upping its record to 3-3 overall in MAC play and 2-2 in the division. Temple (3-6) fell to 3-3 in MAC play and 2-3 in the East.
Senior RB Kalvin MacRae and freshman RB Vince Davidson rushed led the Bobcats. MacRae, the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Week, carried 25 times for 151 yards and one touchdown while Davidson, who earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week last week, rushed for his first collegiate score, a 22-yarder that gave Ohio a 20-7 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Sophomore Vaughn Charlton, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Adam DiMichele, completed 19-of-25 passes for a career-high 161. Junior WR Bruce Francis caught eight of Charlton's passes to match his career high in receptions while his 101 receiving yards marks the second time he surpassed the century mark.
Defense set the tone of the night early on as the Owls' top-rated unit in the MAC limited the Bobcats to just a career-high-tying 47-yard field goal by Michael Braunstein in the first quarter. The Owls moved the ball on their opening possession, but the 46-yard drive stalled on the Ohio 29 and Jake Brownell's 46-yard attempt fell short of the mark.
Braunstein, who had converted 14 of his previous 15 field goals, then missed consecutive field goals from 35 and 47 yards out in the second quarter.
The Bobcats finally got things rolling offensively with MacRae rolling off two straight 30-yard runs, the last off right tackle to make it 10-0 with 4:20 remaining in the half.
Charlton then engineered the Owls best drive of the game, moving the Owls 81 yards on seven plays. He hit his favorite target Francis on a key third-and-three play for a first down on the Ohio 49. Three plays later he again found Francis, this time down the right sideline for a 42-yard touchdown, his sixth TD reception of the season.
The second half opened much like the first, with neither team being able to must a first down on their first two possessions. Finally it was Ohio, led by McRae, who mounted a scoring drive. Aided by a 25-yard Jeff Wathne punt that gave the Bobcats the ball at their own 49, Ohio marched 25 yards with McRae accounting for 22 yards, before settling on a 43-yard Braunstein field goal. It could have been more if not for a big sack by Andre Neblett on a third-down play that pushed the ball back to the Ohio 26.
After Temple went three-and-out on its next possession, Ohio found the end zone again as Davidson broke free for a 22-yard TD off right tackle to make it 20-7 with 43 seconds left in the quarter.
Braunstein added an insurance field goal, this one from 19 yards out, with 2:29 remaining to account for the final score. That kick capped a 14-play drive engineered by Brad Bower, who replaced starter Theo Scott in the second half, that ate up eight minutes off the clock.
Charlton was intercepted on the Owls' final drive by Thad Turner at the Ohio 10 to end any Temple late comeback attempt.
Sophomore LB Alex Joseph amassed a career-high 18 tackles, including six solo and 1.5 tackles for loss to lead the Cherry and White defense. Freshman DB Jamal Schulters, who returned three kickoffs for 60 yards, had nine tackles while Amara Kamara and Terrance Knighton added eight each.
The Owls host Penn State Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field at Noon. The game, which will be televised nationally by ESPNU, is expected to draw approximately 70,000 fans.
