Temple University Athletics
Temple University
VILLANOVA
Temple Topples Villanova, 41-10, in Mayor's Cup Finale
8.31.12 | Football
Owls return to BIG EAST in style with convincing win
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
BOXSCORE
VIDEO
Addazio, part I
part II
PHILADELPHIA – Temple returned to the BIG EAST in style Friday night in the fourth and final installment of the Mayor's Cup series with a 35-10 win over crosstown rival Villanova in front of 32,709 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. The heavily-partisan Owl crowd was the third largest to watch a Temple game at the venue and the most in the four Mayor's Cup games.
“It was a great night out there tonight,” said Temple head coach Steve Addazio. “We had a great crowd…32,000 out of the 33,000 people were Temple fans. We had over 10,000 students out there. It was a great night in the Linc. It's what we talk about, having a great rivalry game in Philadelphia.”
The Owls set the tone in the opening minutes to set the tone of the game. After holding the Wildcats to a three-and-out on their opening possession, Temple used its brand of smash-mouth football to move the ball 78 yards on 14 plays to take a 7-0 lead.
All but four plays on the Owls' first drive were on the ground with sophomore RB Kenny Harper taking a shovel pass up the middle from junior QB Chris Coyer for an eight-yard touchdown. Senior RB Matt Brown rushed for 26 of his game-high 145 yards (19 carries) on the drive.
“He was typical Matt Brown tonight,” said Addazio. “He was a warrior out there with his relentless punt returns, kickoff returns, running the ball, and spinning. He was gassed at halftime and came back and kept going. That's what that guy brings to the table. He's a competitor so I'm really proud of Matt Brown.”
Villanova answered with a long drive of its own, moving the ball to the Temple 3 courtesy of big plays by Austin Medley and freshman QB John Robertson. Medley broke a 36 yard run on the second play of the possession with Robertson, inserted for starter Chris Polony, broke a 14-yard run and then connected with Medley on a 17-yard pass play.
Temple's senior defensive backs Anthony Robey and Justin Gildea took turns in breaking up pass plays to preseason All-America WR Norman White to hold the Wildcats to a 20-yard Mark Hamilton field goal.
After the Owls' offense stalled on its next two possessions, senior safety Vaughn picked off a Polony pass and returned it 57 yards to paydirt, making it 14-3.
Carraway, who excelled in training camp according to Temple head coach Steve Addazio, was not done. He recovered a Kevin Monangai fumble, forced by redshirt freshman LB Nate D. Smith, at the Villanova 24.
Coyer, who looked poised running the Owls' attack, rushed for 19 yards on a quarterback draw to give the Cherry and White a 21-3 advantage. He only completed five-of-11 passes for 61 yards and one touchdown, but he rushed 13 times for 80 yards and a score.
“He did a great job, played tough and was unflappable” said Addazio.
Robertson, who led VU in both rushing (76 yds on 11 carries) and passing (5-11-0, 101 yds), led the Wildcats to their lone touchdown. Fueled by a huge 37-yard hookup to Monangai and two long runs (14 and 21 yds), Robertson capped the drive with a four-yard TD run up the middle with 1:04 remaining in the half to make it 21-10.
Temple quickly answered with Brown breaking a highlight-reel 56-yard TD run with 21 seconds left to give the Owls a commanding 28-10 lead at intermission.
Harper added a 38-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, his second of the game, to account for all the scoring in that period. Senior kicker Brandon McManus then hit two fourth quarter field goals, his 47th and 48th of his fine career, to become the all-time leader in field goals at Temple.
Senior RB Montel Harris, making his debut after transferring from Boston College, was limited to just 11 yards on five carries due to a strained hamstring.
The Temple Owls return to Lincoln Financial Field next Saturday (Sept. 8) when they host Maryland. Kickoff is Noon with the game being televised live on ESPNU and broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
