#15/19 UCF Denies Temple's Upset Bid, 39-36

Saturday, November 16

Lincoln Financial Field

Noon

Temple University

1-9 , 0-6

UCF

8-1 , 5-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

#15/19 UCF

TEMPLE

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

#15/19 UCF Denies Temple's Upset Bid, 39-36

11.16.13 | Football

Box Score

BOXSCORE IN PDF | Gallery | Rhule Postgame | Quotes

PHILADELPHIA - In one of the most thrilling games in Temple Football history, the Owls bid to upset #15/19 UCF Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field fell just short as the Knights' Shawn Moffitt converted a 23-yard field goal to give the visitors a 39-36 win as time expired.

The game featured 1,175 total yards and an incredible 10 lead changes.

"I told (the media) I would try to make it exciting this year and we'll try to get better, and it certainly is exciting at the end of these games," said Temple head coach Matt Rhule. "I was hoping that we would come out on the winning end, so obviously I'm completely disappointed. It's just a shame how that game ended. I thought we did a great job on third down early which allowed us to be in the game. I thought P.J. (Walker) made some fantastic plays. Robby Anderson was tremendous. I thought our defense made some stops in the third quarter, but at the end of the game we couldn't stop them under two minutes which has been a struggle for us all year long."

Freshman QB P.J. Walker had a career-high 382 passing yards, the third highest total in school history, and four touchdowns passing. Sophomore WR Robby Anderson, who set the school receiving mark earlier in the season (239 at SMU), had eight catches for 184 yards and two TDs.

UCF's redshirt junior QB Blake Broyles passed for 404 yards and four touchdowns while J.J. Worton made 10 catches, three for TDs, for 179 yards while Rannell Hall caught nine passes for 159 yards.

The game started inauspiciously with a safety as freshman RB Zaire Williams was tackled one-yard deep in the end zone following a 45-yard punt by Caleb Houston that pinned the Owls inside their own one yard-line.

Moffitt, who had three field goals on the day, connected on a 20-yarder following on the ensuing possession to give the heavily-favored Knights a 5-0 lead.

The Owls answered right back, as would be the case for both teams all day, driving 82 yards on 10 plays with a 32-yard Walker touchdown pass to sophomore RB Jamie Gilmore giving the Cherry and White a 7-5 advantage.

Bortles, who also threw for a career high passing yards, took no time leading UCF down the field, using just four plays before hitting freshman RB William Stanback for a 49-yard TD.

Walker, looking poised beyond his true freshman years, again engineered a long scoring drive.

This time, the Elizabeth, NJ native ran off 12 plays while marching his team 82 yards. He found his favorite target, Anderson, for a huge 46-yard catch on a third-and-25 play to keep the possession going. A 13-yard run by Gilmore to the UCF 3 set up a Walker three-yard TD run to put the Owls back in front, 14-12.

Again UCF answered in the blink of an eye. First redshirt junior Storm Johnson (14 carries, 122 yds) broke a career-best 73-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later Bortles connected with Worton on a four-yard TD, his first of three in the game, to make it 19-14.

This time the Owls answered quickly, as Walker first connected with junior WR Jalen Fitzpatrick for 29 yards to bring the ball to midfield. Walker then rushed 15 yards to the UCF 36, Two plays later, Anderson made a great catch and then did a balancing act down the left sidelines for a 30-yard TD to put Temple ahead 21-19.

UCF then mounted the longest drive from scrimmage of the game, running off 13 plays over the final 2:06 with Moffitt drilling a 35-yard field goal as time expired to put the Knights in front, 22-21, at the half.

Both teams traded punts to start the second half before UCF moved the ball to the Temple 4 on a 24-yard reception by Worton. The Owls defense then held on four plays, the last courtesy of a tremendous pass breakup in the back of the end zone by freshman DB Jihaad Pretlow.

Anderson, who is quickly becoming one of the top receivers in the conference, propelled the Owls back into the lead on the next possession. The Melrose Park, FL native caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Walker to make it 28-22 in favor of the Owls.

Both teams defenses kicked in with each team forced to punt on the next four possessions.

UCF broke the streak midway through the fourth quarter when Bortles found Worton for a 38-yard touchdown with 6:37 remaining to put the Knights back on top, 29-28.

Walker was then intercepted on the Owls next possession, the only turnover by either team in the contest, to give UCF the ball on the Temple 45.

Temple defense then came up big, stonewalling UCF on three plays to force a Houston punt.

The Owls then used the legs of junior RB Kenneth Harper to bully their way up the field. Harper rushed for 67 of his team-high 77 yards (10 carries) on the drive, including consecutive runs of 21 and 24 yards to give Temple a first down at the UCF 8. Two plays later Walker found senior TE Chris Parthemore in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard TD, his first career TD reception. Parthemore then made a catch to complete the two-point conversion to make the score 36-29 with 2:04 to play.

Bartles then completed four straight passes, the first three to Hall for a total of 40 yards, and the last to Worton, a 30-yarder for a TD, to tie the game at 36 while taking just 58 seconds off the clock.

This time UCF's defense was up to the challenge, sacking Walker twice to force a Paul Layton punt on the Owls last possession.

Taking the ball at his own 30 with just 19 seconds remaining, Bortles connected with Hall for a 64-yard strike down the middle of the field to the Temple 6. Moffitt then sealed the win with a 23-yard field goal as the horn sounded.

Temple hosts Connecticut next Saturday, November 23 (7:00 pm./ESPN3/1210 AM WPHT) in its final home game. The Owls seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.