'Just the Facts' Machine

Saturday, September 7

Lincoln Financial Field

Noon

Temple University

0-2 , 0-1

HOUSTON

2-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

HOUSTON

TEMPLE

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

'Just the Facts' Machine

9.8.13 | Football

Box Score

The Owls defense held the Houston offense to just 5 FGs in the game's first 58 minutes before yielding a TD drive of 12 yards after a late Connor Reilly INT.

Over 18 plays run inside the 10 by the Cougars they gained just 26 yards. In those 6 drives, Houston kicked 4 FGs (19, 19, 24, 20), lost the ball on downs and lost a fumble on the 2 yard line.

Overall, the Cougars had 14 drives, 96 plays, and 540 yards of offense – which resulted in just one TD. Six drives lasted 10-or-more plays (1 MFG, 4FGs, and one fumble). The fumble halted a 16-play, 87-yard drive when CB Abdul Smith forced QB John O'Korn to fumble that was recovered by Anthony Robey at the 2 yard line.

The Owls had a perfectly balanced attack with 39 rushes (145 yards) and 39 pass attempts (200 yards).

Temple had three long drives of its own. A 15-play, 91 yard TD drive; an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive; and a 12-play, 78-yard drive that resulted in a missed FG.

RB Kenny Harper had TD runs of 1 and 3 yards, giving his 3 TDs on the season. It was his first multi-TD game. With 14-51-2TDs rushing and 5-44-0TDs receiving Overall, he set career highs in attempts, rushing yards, receptions and receiving yards.

FS Abdul Smith was the game's leading tackler with a career-high 12 stops (9 solos). He also had his 1^st career forced fumble stopping Houston's QB John O'Korn at the 2 yard line.

WR Ryan Alderman tied a career-high with 5 receptions (for 65 yards). Previously set in 2010 vs. Ohio, he had just 2 catches in 2011 and 5 a year ago. He now has 9 catches in 2013; his career-high was 10 in 2010.

Junior TE Wanemi Omuso started for the first time in his career.