Temple University Athletics
Temple University
1-7 , 0-4
SMU
3-4 , 2-1
Football Falls to SMU, 59-49, in Record-Setting Game
10.26.13 | Football
DALLAS - Senior QB Garrett Gilbert threw for a school-record 538 yards and four touchdowns to lead the host SMU Mustangs to a come-from-behind 59-49 win over the Temple Owls Saturday afternoon at Gerald J. Ford Field in front of 15,786 fans. The 110 points is the most in a Temple game since 1966 when Temple defeated Bucknell, 82-28.
It was a record-setting day for not only Gilbert, but also Temple WR Robby Anderson. The Owl sophomore made nine catches for 239 yards, shattering the mark previously held by Van Johnson (214 yds vs. Pitt, 1996). He also had two touchdowns on the day.
Offense was showcased on this day with Gilbert and Anderson leading the way. The Mustang QB also broke the record for most passing yards against Temple, completing 37 of 53 attempts along the way. His favorite target was senior Keenan Holman, who made 10 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Junior WR Der'rikk Thompson also had a huge day, hauling in nine catches for 158 yards and one TD.
Gilbert, who had 97 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries, guided the Mustangs to an incredible 728 yards of total offense. That broke the previous record by an opponent against Temple, 648 yards, set by Boston College in 2003.
Temple freshman P.J. Walker may not have set any records, but he was equally stellar in his third start of the season. He completed his first 16 passes and finished the day with 26 completions on 37 attempts for 293 yards and four touchdowns. It was the most TD passes by an Owl QB since current graduate assistant coach Adam DiMichele tossed six against Eastern Michigan in 2008.
Junior WR Jalen Fitzpatrick, also found his way into the record book. His 83-yard TD pass to Anderson that gave the Owls an early 14-7 lead is the third longest passing play in Temple history.
Fitzpatrick's toss, which came on an end around, was Anderson's second touchdown of the first quarter. His first, a 42-yarder from Walker, tied the game at 7-7. It was also the second of four straight TD drives by the Owls after falling behind on the Mustangs opening drive.
On the Owls' next possession, Walker found John Christopher in the end zone with the sophomore wide receiver making a diving catch to lift Temple to a 21-7 lead.
Sophomore LB Tyler Matakevich then forced and recovered a fumble at the Temple 42. Walker, still riding his completion streak, connected on all five of his passes on the drive, the last an 18-yarder to senior WR Ryan Alderman that gave the Owls a three TD advantage.
After the teams exchanged punts, senior DB Abdul Smith, who recovered a fumble on the Mustangs first possession, forced a fumble that was gobbled up by sophomore DB Tavon Young.
The Owls could not muster anything on that possession, punting for the third straight possession.
Gilbert then mounted a 10-play, 95-yard scoring drive, connecting with Holman for a 19-yard TD with 46 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 28-14.
After forcing a Temple punt to start the third quarter, SMU took just three minutes to go 78 yards with Gilbert's pass to Holman deflecting into Thompson's hands for a 17-yard TD to cut the Owls; lead to 28-21.
Freshman RB Zaire Williams, who rushed for 73 yards on nine carries, broke off a 50-yard run on the next drive. Walker, who led the Owls with 92 rushing yards, ran it in from six yards out on the next play to make it 35-21.
Gilbert used his legs on the next drive, first rushing 53 yards to the Temple 11, and then two plays later taking it 10 yards for his first rushing TD of the day.
Following another Owls' punt, Gilbert connected with Holman for a 64-yard touchdown to tie the game at 35 with 2:22 remaining in the quarter.
Temple faked a punt on fourth-and-two from their own 33 on its next possession, but Kenneth Harper was tackled for a five-yard loss, giving SMU the ball.
It took Gilbert only four plays to find the end zone, with Prescott Line rushing in from two-yards out to give the Mustangs their first lead, 42-35, since midway through the opening quarter.
Walker, showing poise beyond his years, hit Anderson three times, the last for 49 yards to the SMU 5. Two plays later Walker connected with Harper for a four-yard TD pass to tie the game at 42.
Deion Sanders, Jr., son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer, brought back memories of his legendary father, returning the kickoff 87 yards before Christopher made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Temple 8
The Owls then held the Mustangs to a field goal, with Chase Hover connecting from 21 yards out to make it 45-42.
SMU's defense held Temple to a three-and-out, giving the ball back to Gilbert. The senior QB took little time in extending the lead, connecting with Holman on a 50-yard touchdown on a third-and-four play to boost the lead to 52-42.
First down runs by Harper (10 yds) and Walker (13 yds) moved the ball to the SMU 42, but the drive stalled with Walker being sacked and fumbling on a fourth down play,
With 3:40 remaining Gilbert was not done, tossing a 43-yard completion to Thompson on the first play of the possession to put the ball at the Owls 10. Three plays later the Mustang QB rushed in from five yards out to make it 59-42.
Walker hit Anderson on the record-breaking 29-yard reception to move the ball to midfield. He then ran 37 yards to the SMU 9. A pass interference call put the ball at the two with Harper rushing it in on the next play, his second TD of the game and team-leading ninth of the season, to account for the final score.
Temple (1-7, 0-4 American Athletic Conference) next travels to Rutgers for a Saturday, November 2 game (Noon/ESPN Regional/1210 AM WPHT). SMU improves to 3-4, 2-1 in league play.
Team Stats
TEMPLE 0, SMU 7
SMU - SHEAD,Traylon 11 yd run (HOVER,Chase kick), 5 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:47
TEMPLE 7, SMU 7
TEMPLE - ANDERSON, R. 42 yd pass from WALKER, P.J. (VISCO, Nick kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:41
TEMPLE 14, SMU 7
TEMPLE - ANDERSON, R. 83 yd pass from FITZPATRICK, J. (VISCO, Nick kick) 1 plays, 83 yards, TOP 0:12
TEMPLE 21, SMU 7
TEMPLE - CHRISTOPHER, J. 18 yd pass from WALKER, P.J. (VISCO, Nick kick) 6 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:35
TEMPLE 28, SMU 7
TEMPLE - ALDERMAN, Ryan 18 yd pass from WALKER, P.J. (VISCO, Nick kick) 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:16
TEMPLE 28, SMU 14
SMU - HOLMAN,K 19 yd pass from GILBERT,G (HOVER,Chase kick) 10 plays, 95 yards, TOP 2:21
TEMPLE 28, SMU 21
SMU - THOMPSON,D. 17 yd pass from GILBERT,G (HOVER,Chase kick) 8 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:56
TEMPLE 35, SMU 21
TEMPLE - WALKER, P.J. 6 yd run (VISCO, Nick kick), 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:28
TEMPLE 35, SMU 28
SMU - GILBERT,G 10 yd run (HOVER,Chase kick), 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 2:46
TEMPLE 35, SMU 35
SMU - HOLMAN,K 64 yd pass from GILBERT,G (HOVER,Chase kick) 5 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:05
TEMPLE 35, SMU 42
SMU - LINE,Prescott 2 yd run (HOVER,Chase kick), 4 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:15
TEMPLE 42, SMU 42
TEMPLE - HARPER, Kenneth 4 yd pass from WALKER, P.J. (VISCO, Nick kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:45
TEMPLE 42, SMU 45
SMU - HOVER,Chase 21 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 1:19
TEMPLE 42, SMU 52
SMU - HOLMAN,K 50 yd pass from GILBERT,G (HOVER,Chase kick) 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:46
TEMPLE 42, SMU 59
SMU - GILBERT,G 5 yd run (HOVER,Chase kick), 4 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:04
TEMPLE 49, SMU 59
TEMPLE - HARPER, Kenneth 2 yd run (VISCO, Nick kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:02
