Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 2
West Point, N.Y.
Noon
Temple University
42
at
35
Army
Matt Brown
Photo by: Brian Cunningham
Football Completes Comeback To Take Down Army, 42-35
10.2.10 | Football
Brown sets career highs for rushing yards and touchdowns
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
Boxscore
Photo Gallery
WEST POINT, N.Y. - A 29-point comeback, capped by sophomore RB Matt Brown's career-high third and fourth touchdowns of the day, silenced a Homecoming crowd of 33,065 at Michie Stadium as the Temple football team (4-1) took down Army (3-2), 42-35, on Saturday afternoon. It was a career day for Brown, who also ran for a personal-best 226 yards on 28 carries.
Brown became just the fourth Temple RB to rush for four scores in a single game. The last time an Owl met that mark was in 2003, when Walter Washington completed the feat against West Viginia. It also tied a Michie Stadium record, originally set by Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh) in 1975.
The game began much the way Temple did not anticipate. The opening kickoff was returned 23-yards by TU junior WR James Nixon, but a forced fumble by Army senior L.B. Brown at the end of the play gave the Black Knights promising field position on the Owls' 27 yard line. Army found the end zone four plays later, thanks to a 19-yard scamper and two-yard touchdown run from sophomore QB Trent Steelman.
Brown, who ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone, was the workhorse on the ensuing possession as he rushed four times for 55 yards. A clutch third down conversion on a 16-yard pass from r-junior QB Chester Stewart (7-16, 127 yrds, 1 TD) to senior WR Michael Campbell kept the drive alive, leading to a three-yard dive for Brown. A botched snap on the extra point try left the lead still in Army's hands at 7-6.
The Owls got the ball back with good field position after a 50-yard field goal attempt from junior PK Alex Carlton went wide left.
Five plays - three of which were for seven yards - brought Temple to its 49 yard line. Brown eclipsed the century-mark on the next play, ripping off a 42-yard run to the right for his second touchdown of the game. A successfully converted extra point attempt gave the Owls a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Army answered to retake the lead on the continuation of its first quarter drive nine minutes into the second. Making their way down the field on all but one rushing play, the Black Knights' Steelman dove to the goal line on a seven-yard run to regain the lead at 14-13.
Both defenses managed to come up with stops as the teams swapped punts towards the end of the half. The Owls regained possession on their own one yardline, but were again forced to punt by the Army defense.
After a 12-yard return by sophomore PR Josh Jackson, a 31-yard play-action touchdown toss from Steelman to junior WR Austin Barr with just over two minutes remaining in the half gave the Black Knights a 21-13 lead at the break.
Steelman rushed for his career-high third touchdown of the game on Army's first drive of the second half. Misdirection continued to open up holes in the TU defense for the Black Knights, who ran down the field on 13 plays to extend their lead to 28-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Nixon looked as if he had redeemed himself for his prior fumble as he dashed 92-yards to the house. A flag for holding called the play back, giving the Owls' possession on their own 49.
Penalties proved costly for Army as well, as what would have been a third-and-long for the Owls was deemed a first down by a 15-yard personal foul. Temple used a bit of trickery to find the end zone two plays later, as an end-around handoff to junior WR Joe Jones turned into a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Campbell. Stewart found senior TE Vaughn Charlton on a roll out pass back across his body for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to one score at 28-21.
With the defense forcing their first three-and-out of the game, the Owls' offense took over on their 46 following a 43-yard punt from Army. After a 21-yard run from Brown to the Army-32, the drive stalled on holding and false start calls. Luckily, a pass interference call on third-and-25 gave Temple new life.
A 28-yard hookup from Stewart to Campbell put the Cherry and White on the Army-5 with time expiring in the third quarter. The duo continued to connect one play later, as Campbell's catch on the goal line was originally ruled on the one-yard line. It was reviewed and reversed as a score, setting a new career-high in TD catches for Campbell. Sophomore PK Brandon McManus split the uprights on the extra point to tie the game for the first time since the opening whistle at 28-28. The Owls scored 15 unanswered points to erase the deficit.
The defensive play of the game came from junior DT Muhammed Wilkerson midway through the fourth quarter. The Linden, N.J., native broke through the Army line and sacked Steelman for a 12-yard loss on third-and-five to force a punt.
Temple started the game winning drive with three straight rushes from Brown, a 10-yard pass from Stewart to junior WR Rod Streater, and a 48-yard connection on a post route to Campbell. Brown capped the drive off with an 8-yard rush, followed by his career-high third touchdown of the day on an 11-yard rush. A converted McManus extra point gave the Owls their first lead since the first quarter at 35-28.
The Owls' defense continued to find a way to shutdown the shifty Army attack, forcing another three-and-out on the following possession.
Fittingly, Brown put the final touches on his career day. The Baltimore, Md., native rushed four times for 50 yards on the Owls' final drive, diving across the end zone on a 20-yard run for his career-high fourth touch down of the day. The drive also put Brown over his career high in rushing, finishing the day with 226 yards on 28 carries.
Army would not back down, however. Getting the ball on their own 20, the Black Knights marched down the field on 12 plays in just over three minutes to cut the TU lead to 42-35. Steelman ran for his fourth touchdown of the game, a five-yard rush. The Army QB rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries for the game.
The on-side kick attempt was recovered by the Owls, who ran out the clock to record the win. Temple has now topped Army in the last three meetings between the two teams.
Sophomore RB and Heisman Trophy candidate Bernard Pierce did not travel for today's contest.
The Owls conclude their three-game road trip with a stop at Northern Illinois on Oct. 9. Kickoff time is set for Noon ET on ESPN Plus/Game Plan (shown locally on 6ABC).
Postgame Quotes
Boxscore
Photo Gallery
WEST POINT, N.Y. - A 29-point comeback, capped by sophomore RB Matt Brown's career-high third and fourth touchdowns of the day, silenced a Homecoming crowd of 33,065 at Michie Stadium as the Temple football team (4-1) took down Army (3-2), 42-35, on Saturday afternoon. It was a career day for Brown, who also ran for a personal-best 226 yards on 28 carries.
Brown became just the fourth Temple RB to rush for four scores in a single game. The last time an Owl met that mark was in 2003, when Walter Washington completed the feat against West Viginia. It also tied a Michie Stadium record, originally set by Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh) in 1975.
The game began much the way Temple did not anticipate. The opening kickoff was returned 23-yards by TU junior WR James Nixon, but a forced fumble by Army senior L.B. Brown at the end of the play gave the Black Knights promising field position on the Owls' 27 yard line. Army found the end zone four plays later, thanks to a 19-yard scamper and two-yard touchdown run from sophomore QB Trent Steelman.
Brown, who ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone, was the workhorse on the ensuing possession as he rushed four times for 55 yards. A clutch third down conversion on a 16-yard pass from r-junior QB Chester Stewart (7-16, 127 yrds, 1 TD) to senior WR Michael Campbell kept the drive alive, leading to a three-yard dive for Brown. A botched snap on the extra point try left the lead still in Army's hands at 7-6.
The Owls got the ball back with good field position after a 50-yard field goal attempt from junior PK Alex Carlton went wide left.
Five plays - three of which were for seven yards - brought Temple to its 49 yard line. Brown eclipsed the century-mark on the next play, ripping off a 42-yard run to the right for his second touchdown of the game. A successfully converted extra point attempt gave the Owls a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Army answered to retake the lead on the continuation of its first quarter drive nine minutes into the second. Making their way down the field on all but one rushing play, the Black Knights' Steelman dove to the goal line on a seven-yard run to regain the lead at 14-13.
Both defenses managed to come up with stops as the teams swapped punts towards the end of the half. The Owls regained possession on their own one yardline, but were again forced to punt by the Army defense.
After a 12-yard return by sophomore PR Josh Jackson, a 31-yard play-action touchdown toss from Steelman to junior WR Austin Barr with just over two minutes remaining in the half gave the Black Knights a 21-13 lead at the break.
Steelman rushed for his career-high third touchdown of the game on Army's first drive of the second half. Misdirection continued to open up holes in the TU defense for the Black Knights, who ran down the field on 13 plays to extend their lead to 28-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Nixon looked as if he had redeemed himself for his prior fumble as he dashed 92-yards to the house. A flag for holding called the play back, giving the Owls' possession on their own 49.
Penalties proved costly for Army as well, as what would have been a third-and-long for the Owls was deemed a first down by a 15-yard personal foul. Temple used a bit of trickery to find the end zone two plays later, as an end-around handoff to junior WR Joe Jones turned into a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Campbell. Stewart found senior TE Vaughn Charlton on a roll out pass back across his body for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to one score at 28-21.
With the defense forcing their first three-and-out of the game, the Owls' offense took over on their 46 following a 43-yard punt from Army. After a 21-yard run from Brown to the Army-32, the drive stalled on holding and false start calls. Luckily, a pass interference call on third-and-25 gave Temple new life.
A 28-yard hookup from Stewart to Campbell put the Cherry and White on the Army-5 with time expiring in the third quarter. The duo continued to connect one play later, as Campbell's catch on the goal line was originally ruled on the one-yard line. It was reviewed and reversed as a score, setting a new career-high in TD catches for Campbell. Sophomore PK Brandon McManus split the uprights on the extra point to tie the game for the first time since the opening whistle at 28-28. The Owls scored 15 unanswered points to erase the deficit.
The defensive play of the game came from junior DT Muhammed Wilkerson midway through the fourth quarter. The Linden, N.J., native broke through the Army line and sacked Steelman for a 12-yard loss on third-and-five to force a punt.
Temple started the game winning drive with three straight rushes from Brown, a 10-yard pass from Stewart to junior WR Rod Streater, and a 48-yard connection on a post route to Campbell. Brown capped the drive off with an 8-yard rush, followed by his career-high third touchdown of the day on an 11-yard rush. A converted McManus extra point gave the Owls their first lead since the first quarter at 35-28.
The Owls' defense continued to find a way to shutdown the shifty Army attack, forcing another three-and-out on the following possession.
Fittingly, Brown put the final touches on his career day. The Baltimore, Md., native rushed four times for 50 yards on the Owls' final drive, diving across the end zone on a 20-yard run for his career-high fourth touch down of the day. The drive also put Brown over his career high in rushing, finishing the day with 226 yards on 28 carries.
Army would not back down, however. Getting the ball on their own 20, the Black Knights marched down the field on 12 plays in just over three minutes to cut the TU lead to 42-35. Steelman ran for his fourth touchdown of the game, a five-yard rush. The Army QB rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries for the game.
The on-side kick attempt was recovered by the Owls, who ran out the clock to record the win. Temple has now topped Army in the last three meetings between the two teams.
Sophomore RB and Heisman Trophy candidate Bernard Pierce did not travel for today's contest.
The Owls conclude their three-game road trip with a stop at Northern Illinois on Oct. 9. Kickoff time is set for Noon ET on ESPN Plus/Game Plan (shown locally on 6ABC).
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