Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Lincoln Financial Field
7:30 p.m.
Temple University
6-0 , 3-0
30
vs
16
UCF (Parents Weekend)
0-7 , 0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UCF
3
10
3
0
16
Temple
7
7
0
16
30
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Thomas' Three TDs Lift Football To 30-16 Win Over UCF
10.17.15 | Football
PHILADELPHIA -- Junior running back Jahad Thomas set career highs with 31 carries, 199 yards, and three touchdowns to lead Temple to a 30-16 win over visiting UCF in front of 31,372 at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night.
The Owls tied the best start in school history at 6-0 with the win, matching the 1935, 1945, and 1974 teams. With the victory, Temple became bowl-eligible for the fifth time in the last seven years, while moving to 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference.
After the game, Coach Rhule praised the effort of the players. "I'm really happy to be 6-0. For the guys who went 2-10 and didn't go to a bowl game, for the guys who stuck with us and didn't quit, for the guys who worked and worked, for the guys who lost this game two years ago to know that they're 6-0 and bowl eligible, I'm really proud of them. It talks about the character fo the guys on the team."
Senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich made history with his 400th-career tackle, becoming just the third Owl to reach the milestone. He finished the game with eight tackles, three solo, also adding a late interception.
Temple started the game with a strong drive, capped by Thomas' first score of the night from 12 yards out. The touchdown was the first for the Owls in an opening drive since October 11, 2014 against Tulsa. Matakevich then made history on the first offensive series for UCF, recording his 400th-career tackle on the first snap. He added tackle number 401 later in the series, as UCF was forced to punt.
After a three-and-out for Temple, Matthew Wright got UCF on the board with a 48-yard field goal. Temple quarterback P.J. Walker answered for the Owls, marching the offense 86 yards in 10 plays, capped by a touchdown throw to redshirt freshman wide receiver Ventell Bryant. Bryant's first career score marked the 41st touchdown of Walker's career, as he passed Adam DiMichele for second all-time in program history.
Miscues hurt the Owls in the middle quarters. After Adonis Jennings blocked a Knights punt, the Owls set up on the Knights' 29. However, a Walker pass was intercepted and returned 81 yards by UCF's Shaquill Griffin, cutting the lead to 14-10. A muffed punt by Temple then gave the Knights possession, with Wright adding a second field goal to make it 14-13 at the half.
UCF took the lead on the opening drive of the second half thanks to Wright's third field goal of the evening. The Knights then forced a pair of turnovers and a punt on Temple's next three possessions and looked poised to keep their lead.
Temple was able to force UCF to punt after the Knights started on the Owls' 39-yard line, setting up a spectacular return from defensive back, Sean Chandler. The sophomore scampered for a 65-yard return to UCF's 21-yard line, electrifying a chilly crowd at "The Linc." Two plays later, Thomas put the Owls back in front with a 22-yard touchdown run. Walker then found junior tight end Colin Thompson for the two-point conversion and a 22-16 Owls' advantage.
Chandler provided another strong return after Temple forced UCF's fifth three-and-out of the night and the Owls began on the Knights' 48. Thomas did the leg work, collecting all of the yardage on the drive, capped by his third score of the game, a 21-yard touchdown. Again the Owls went for two, this time it was senior wide receiver John Christopher on the wide-out throwback to Walker, making the lead, 30-16.
Matakevich then sealed the Temple victory, intercepting a pass on the subsequent Knights' possession. Temple's win tonight is the first for the Owls over the Knights in the brief rivalry.
Temple continues conference play with a weeknight showdown against East Carolina on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN2. The Owls then return home on Halloween to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game is sold out and game-time will be announced at a later date.
Video Highlights | Press Conference | Player Interviews | Box Score (PDF) | Pre-Game Photo Gallery | Photo Gallery | Temple - UCF Quotes
The Owls tied the best start in school history at 6-0 with the win, matching the 1935, 1945, and 1974 teams. With the victory, Temple became bowl-eligible for the fifth time in the last seven years, while moving to 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference.
After the game, Coach Rhule praised the effort of the players. "I'm really happy to be 6-0. For the guys who went 2-10 and didn't go to a bowl game, for the guys who stuck with us and didn't quit, for the guys who worked and worked, for the guys who lost this game two years ago to know that they're 6-0 and bowl eligible, I'm really proud of them. It talks about the character fo the guys on the team."
Senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich made history with his 400th-career tackle, becoming just the third Owl to reach the milestone. He finished the game with eight tackles, three solo, also adding a late interception.
Temple started the game with a strong drive, capped by Thomas' first score of the night from 12 yards out. The touchdown was the first for the Owls in an opening drive since October 11, 2014 against Tulsa. Matakevich then made history on the first offensive series for UCF, recording his 400th-career tackle on the first snap. He added tackle number 401 later in the series, as UCF was forced to punt.
After a three-and-out for Temple, Matthew Wright got UCF on the board with a 48-yard field goal. Temple quarterback P.J. Walker answered for the Owls, marching the offense 86 yards in 10 plays, capped by a touchdown throw to redshirt freshman wide receiver Ventell Bryant. Bryant's first career score marked the 41st touchdown of Walker's career, as he passed Adam DiMichele for second all-time in program history.
Miscues hurt the Owls in the middle quarters. After Adonis Jennings blocked a Knights punt, the Owls set up on the Knights' 29. However, a Walker pass was intercepted and returned 81 yards by UCF's Shaquill Griffin, cutting the lead to 14-10. A muffed punt by Temple then gave the Knights possession, with Wright adding a second field goal to make it 14-13 at the half.
UCF took the lead on the opening drive of the second half thanks to Wright's third field goal of the evening. The Knights then forced a pair of turnovers and a punt on Temple's next three possessions and looked poised to keep their lead.
Temple was able to force UCF to punt after the Knights started on the Owls' 39-yard line, setting up a spectacular return from defensive back, Sean Chandler. The sophomore scampered for a 65-yard return to UCF's 21-yard line, electrifying a chilly crowd at "The Linc." Two plays later, Thomas put the Owls back in front with a 22-yard touchdown run. Walker then found junior tight end Colin Thompson for the two-point conversion and a 22-16 Owls' advantage.
Chandler provided another strong return after Temple forced UCF's fifth three-and-out of the night and the Owls began on the Knights' 48. Thomas did the leg work, collecting all of the yardage on the drive, capped by his third score of the game, a 21-yard touchdown. Again the Owls went for two, this time it was senior wide receiver John Christopher on the wide-out throwback to Walker, making the lead, 30-16.
Matakevich then sealed the Temple victory, intercepting a pass on the subsequent Knights' possession. Temple's win tonight is the first for the Owls over the Knights in the brief rivalry.
Temple continues conference play with a weeknight showdown against East Carolina on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN2. The Owls then return home on Halloween to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game is sold out and game-time will be announced at a later date.
Video Highlights | Press Conference | Player Interviews | Box Score (PDF) | Pre-Game Photo Gallery | Photo Gallery | Temple - UCF Quotes
Team Stats
UCF
TEM
Total Yards
134
361
Pass Yards
72
150
Rushing Yards
62
211
Penalty Yards
64
84
1st Downs
10
20
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
27:01
32:59
1st Quarter
UCF 0, TEM 7
TEM - THOMAS,Jahad 12 yd run (JONES,Austin kick), 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:15
UCF 3, TEM 7
UCF - WRIGHT, Matthew 48 yd field goal 9 plays, 32 yards, TOP 3:22
2nd Quarter
UCF 3, TEM 14
TEM - BRYANT,Ventell 3 yd pass from WALKER,P.J. (JONES,Austin kick) 10 plays, 86 yards, TOP 4:37
UCF 10, TEM 14
UCF - GRIFFIN, Shqll 81 yd interception (WRIGHT, Matthew kick)
UCF 13, TEM 14
UCF - WRIGHT, Matthew 27 yd field goal 6 plays, 10 yards, TOP 1:33
3rd Quarter
UCF 16, TEM 14
UCF - WRIGHT, Matthew 41 yd field goal 10 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:21
4th Quarter
UCF 16, TEM 22
TEM - THOMAS,Jahad 22 yd run (THOMPSON,Colin pass), 2 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:37
UCF 16, TEM 30
TEM - THOMAS,Jahad 21 yd run (WALKER,P.J. pass), 3 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:12
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
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