Football Falls to Memphis on Last-Second Field Goal, 16-13

Friday, November 7

Philadelphia, PA

7:30 p.m.

Temple University

5-4 , 3-3

Memphis

6-3 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Football Falls to Memphis on Last-Second Field Goal, 16-13

11.7.14 | Football

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore PK Jake Elliott connected on a 31-yard field goal as time expired to lift Memphis to a 16-13 win over Temple in front of 23,882 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

With the victory, the Tigers, winners of three straight, are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008 with a 6-3 overall record and are in sole possession of first place of the American Athletic Conference with a 4-1 league mark. The Owls, who will wait again for their sixth win for bowl eligibility, fall to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

Elliot, who was coming off a four FG game in a win over Tulsa last week, connected on three against the Owls. The game winner came on the Tigers' longest drive from scrimmage, 66 yards on 12 plays, against a tough Temple defense.

The Memphis drive came on the heels of a 46-yard field goal by Temple freshman Austin Jones, who tied the game at 13 with 2:46 remaining. Jones, who also made a 43-yard field goal on the game's opening drive, missed one from 37 yards wide right two possessions earlier.

The Owls jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the game as senior RB Kenneth Harper broke free on his longest career run from scrimmage, 75 yards to paydirt, with 2:50 left in the first quarter.

Temple could easily have extended its lead on its next drive, as it marched 57 yards on eight plays to the Tiger 24 before sophomore QB P.J. Walker (17-39-1, 145 yds) was picked off at the 11-yard line by Andrew Gaines.

At the same time the Owls' defense was holding the conference's best scoring team (36.2 ppg.) scoreless. Temple held Memphis to just one first down on four of its first five drives, while the Tigers missed a 45-yard field goal on their other possession.

Things changed when the Tigers Mose Frasier blocked Alex Starzyk punt and recovered on the Temple 31. The Owls' defense held strong, and the Tigers had to settle on an Elliot 42-yard field goal four plays later to make it 10-3.

After a quick 12-yard first down pass to senior WR Jalen Fitzpatrick, who would end up leaving the game due to an ankle and knee injury on the next series, Starzyk sent a rugby-style punt just 16 yards downfield while scrambling, giving Memphis the ball at its own 41.

Sophomore QB Paxton Lynch connected with Frazier on a 42-yard pass play to the Temple 17, and two plays later found senior WR Brandon Hayes in the end zone for a 17-yard TD catch to tie the game with just under four minutes to play in the half.

Neither team mounted much offense in the third quarter until the Tigers benefitted from a muffed punt by John Christopher with 3:04 on the clock to take over at the Owls 10.

The Owls defense, which held the league's top rushing team to (206 ypg. entering play) to just 82 yards on 40 carries, stonewalled the visitors. Elliott was true from 27 yards out to give the Tigers a 13-10 advantage with 1:39 remaining in the quarter.

Memphis then muffed a punt at the start of the fourth quarter that was recovered by Zack Bambary at the Tiger 26.

Harper, who set a new career high with 116 yards while matching his previous high of 17 rushes, rushed for 16 on the first play, but offsetting penalties brought the play back. Following a loss of three yards, Walker connected with Christopher for 10 yards to the Memphis 19.

Jones then came out for the tying field goal, but a high snap appeared to mess up his timing and his kick sailed wide right.

The Owls finally were able to tie the game on their final drive, which was set up by a nice 21-yard punt return by Nate L. Smith to the Temple 43.

Walker hit redshirt sophomores Romond Deloatch (12 yds) and Colin Thompson (9 yds) for first down receptions, the last to the Memphis 36. Walker then found Harper for seven yards, on a third-and-10 play to set up Jones for his 46 yarder.

Lynch, who was unable to solve the Owls stingy defense all game, masterfully led his Tigers on a 12-play, 66-yard drive, eating away the final 2:40 of the contest. Elliot was perfect on his 31-yarder to give the visitors the victory.

MLB Nate D. Smith led the Owl defense with nine tackles - all solos - while junior LB Tyler Matakevich added eight tackles (7 solo).

The Owls next travel to Penn State for a meeting with the Nittany Lions on November 15. The game time as well as television station will be announced no later than Monday afternoon.

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