Temple University Athletics
Buffalo Ruins Temple's MAC Opener With 42-7 Win
9.8.07 | Football
Sept. 8, 2007
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PHILADELPHIA - Buffalo ruined Temple's inaugural Mid-American Conference game by compiling 414 yards of total offense to cruise to a 42-7 victory on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. Redshirt junior QB Adam DiMichele completed 13-of-23 passes for 160 yards to lead Temple.
After playing as an affiliate member of the MAC for the past two seasons, the Owls lined up as a full-fledged conference member for the first time since hosting Boston College on Nov. 20, 2004 as part of the Big East Conference.
Its initial showing was not what second-year head coach Al Golden had hoped for. Temple managed -36 yards on the ground, was sacked five times and converted just 1-of-12 third-down opportunities.
"I'm not going to make any excuses, the buck stops with me," Golden said. " We lost on offense, defense and special teams today. I have to give Buffalo credit. They did a great job. They beat us in all three phases and they were tougher than we were today."
Sophomore RB Jason Harper's second quarter touchdown was the only bright spot for an offense that had only 141 total yards. True freshman Amara Kamara had 10 tackles to pace the defense.
The Bulls did not resemble the team that dropped a 38-3 decision to #15 Rutgers last Thursday. UB was crisp on offense, scoring the most points since a 48-20 victory over Central Florida on Oct. 2, 2004, and has now held Temple to 10 points in its last two meetings, which includes last year's 9-3 overtime victory.
QB Drew Willy completed 20-of-22 passes for 190 yards and two scores. Mario Henry had 125 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while James Sparks had three catches for 83 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield. Larry Hutchinson had eight tackles and three sacks for UB.
Any momentum carried over from last week's showing against Navy, in which the Owls outscored the Mids 19-16 over the final three quarters, was immediately squashed on Buffalo's first play of the game. Starks took a screen pass and broke a pair of tackles on his way to a 74-yard score just 20 seconds into the game.
Three series later, DiMichele tried to find freshman Michael Campbell, but the ball was tipped and fell into the hands of Buffalo's Mike Newton. The sophomore returned the pick 50 yards to paydirt to make it 14-0 with 10:32 to play in the first quarter.
UB made its third straight stop on the TU offense without a first down and followed it up with its third consecutive score, this time a 33-yard run by Henry.
Temple opened the second quarter with a 38-yard pass to freshman Daryl Robinson on a third and 15. DiMichele found Marcellous Grigsby for 22 yards to bring the Owls into the red zone where Harper scored his first touchdown of the season to cut the deficit to 21-7.
Buffalo (1-1) answered back immediately, methodically driving 77 yards in 13 plays, capped by a nine-yard run by QB Drew Willy. The junior completed all four passes he attempted during the drive to finish the first half 11-for-12 for 121 yards.
With time winding down in the half, the Owls instituted the no-huddle offense, which DiMichele orchestrated with precision, driving the hosts 63 yards down to the Buffalo 23-yard line. But trying to make something out of nothing, DiMichele was called for intentional grounding after scrambling from sideline to sideline. The penalty took TU out of field goal range and the Cherry and White was forced to punt right before halftime.
Buffalo capped an eight-play, 48-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown reception by Jesse Rack with 2:31 remaining in the third to make it 35-7. The visitors wrapped up the scoring on a one-yard run by Brian Thermilus with 5:47 to play.
The Owls played 15 freshmen, including 14 true freshmen, in the contest. Kamara and LG Lloyd Codada made starts.
Temple (0-2) travels on the road for the first time this season next Saturday at Connecticut. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be televised by ESPN Regional and locally on 6ABC.
