Temple University Athletics
Temple University
MARYLAND
Temple Rally Falls Short in 36-27 Loss to Maryland
9.8.12 | Football
BOXSCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
POSTGAME NOTES
POSTGAME QUOTES
VIDEO
Commissioner Mike Aresco
Addazio
Smith
McManus
PHILADELPHIA - Temple's rally from a 23-point halftime deficit fell just short as the Owls fell to Maryland, 36-27, at Lincoln Financial Field in front of 23,322 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. Temple enters a bye week with a 1-1 record while the Terps improve to 2-0.
Maryland forced two first half Temple fumbles to take a 26-3 lead at intermission. The Owls, coming off an impressive 41-10 win over city-rival Villanova in their home opener on Aug. 31, could not do anything right over the first 30 minutes against the Terps. Besides the fumbles, the Cherry and White were penalized five times for 60 yards and a high snap led to a safety.
Offensively, Temple mustered just two first downs in the first half and 33 total yards. Junior QB Chris Coyer, playing despite a fever of 101, completed just one of three passes for six yards while senior RB Matt Brown was contained to 33 yards on 10 carries.
The Terps, under the direction of true freshman QB Perry Hills, amounted 179 yards of total offense with Hills connecting on two TD passes to Marcus Leak (32 yds) and Matt Furstenburg (22 yds).
Senior PK Brandon McManus, the reigning BIG EAST Specialist of the Week, connected on a 35-yard FG for the Owls only points in the half.
“The only positive that I thought came from the game was that I thought our kids battled," saidTemple head coach Steve Addazio. "They came in at halftime...banded together and I thought they had great energy and passion in the second half and that we really had a great opportunity to win the game.
As I look at it, there are certainly no silver linings besides a young football team that came back, battled, scratched and juiced together to give us a chance to go win a football game. Obviously, that blocked field goal was critical for us. That would have given us a one point advantage. You can build on that piece…A group of young guys really clawed.”
Instead of hanging their heads, the Owls regrouped at intermission and came out with new life to start the third quarter.
Redshirt freshman LB Nate Smith, who led Temple with 10.5 tackles, forced a fumble on the first play of the second half which true freshman DB Tavon Young recovered at the Maryland 35. Coyer then connected with sophomore WR Jalen Fitzpatrick for a 29 yard gain. Three plays later sophomore RB Kenneth Harper barreled into the end zone from one-yard out to make it 26-10.
Hill, who completed 11-of-20 passes for 190 yards and 2 TDs, led Maryland down the field on the Terps ensuing possession. The 12-play, 67-yard drive ended in a Brad Craddock 26 yard field goal, one of two by the Terps kicker.
It took Coyer just two plays to answer, as the southpaw signal-caller aired a perfect pass to senior WR CJ Hammond for a 62-yard touchdown, making it 29-17.
After Temple's defense held Maryland to a three-and-out, Coyer guided the Owls down the field on an 11-play drive that culminated in a McManus 40-yard field goal to make the score 29-20 with 13:46 remaining.
Young then sacked Hills for a 10-yard loss on the Terps next possession, setting the tone for another defensive hold for the Owls. Temple, however, saw its drive stall quickly as Coyer was sacked at midfield on a third down play. It was one of four times the TU quarterback was sacked on the day.
McManus, who punted five times for a 47.8 average, sailed one to the Maryland 12 where Harper drilled him to force and recover a fumble.
The Owls were unable to punch it in from 12 yards out, having to settle for a McManus field goal attempt from 23 yards out. The attempt was blocked by A.J. Francis with Jeremiah Johnson running it back to the Maryland 44.
Smith then made a huge play for the Owls, stripping Wes Brown on the first play from scrimmage, and junior LB Olaniyi Adewole recovered for Temple at the Owls 49.
After a personal foul moved the ball to the Maryland 35, Coyer found Fitzpatrick over the middle. The sophomore wideout juked his defender after the catch and ran untouched the remaining 25 yards into the end zone to make it 29-27 with 7:04 to play.
Hills then stepped up for Maryland, leading the Terps on a 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The big play on the drive came on a third-and-11 from the Maryland 49 where the freshman connected with another true freshman Stefon Diggs on a 38-yard pass play to the Temple 13.
Three plays later sophomore Justus Pickett ended the Owls hopes for a comeback with a seven-yard TD run to make it 36-27 with 2:51 left.
The Owls final drive ended with Coyer tossing his first career interception in 81 attempts.
Temple now has a bye week before travelling to Penn State on Sept. 22 for a date with the Nittany Lions.
