Temple Outpaces USF in East Division Showdown, 46-30

Friday, October 21

Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

5-3 , 3-1

USF

6-2 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

USF

Temple

Temple Outpaces USF in East Division Showdown, 46-30

10.21.16 | Football

Box Score Box Score Video Highlights Pre-Game Gallery One Pre-Game Gallery Two Game Action Gallery Matt Rhule Press Conference Ryquell Armstead Press Conference Praise Martin-Oguike Press Conference Post-Game Qoutes Post-Game Quotes

By: Jim Sullivan

PHILADELPHIA — Facing off against a rolling South Florida squad undefeated in American Athletic play, Temple continued to prove its resolve in the 46-30 dismantling of the visiting Bulls, surging to the top of the East Division in front of 25,950 Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Owls, lacking in an offensive identity following a tough road loss to Memphis two weeks ago, found comfort behind a powerful ground game against USF. The unit leaned heavily on sophomore RB Ryquell Armstead, who generated a career-high 210 yards on 20 carries for two touchdowns for the evening.

Armstead even found himself inserted into the school record books, as his high-production now stands as 14^th on the all-time single game list for rushing yards. He is also just the 10^th player to rush for 200 yards in a game.

With the victory, Temple improves to a noteworthy 5-3 (3-1 American), earning the Eastern tiebreaker over former division leader USF (6-2, 3-1 American). Further, from a revenge perspective, the Owls' triumph over the Bulls reversed the result from last season's game, where USF knocked off an undefeated Temple program on its turf.

The Temple offense exploded out of the gate, compiling a 14-play, eight-minute opening drive nearly pacing the length of the field before settling for a 22-yard field goal from freshman kicker Aaron Boumerhi. The three-point lead marked only the second time this season, not to mention in consecutive weeks, Temple generated points on its initial possession of the game.

USF then put together a scoring drive of its own late in the first quarter, wrapped up with 27-yard bomb into the end zone from QB Quinton Flowers.

The Temple offense once again responded. The unit marched 75 yards over 15 plays and another eight minutes, chipping off gains behind power rushing and accurate short-yardage tosses from senior QB Phillip Walker.

Set up at the one-yard-line, though, the Owls were not to be denied an end zone appearance this time around. On a seemingly doomed rollout toward the right sideline, Walker twisted 180 degrees to throw back across his body to the opposite pylon, finding wide-open fellow senior TE Colin Thompson for the first receiving touchdown of his career.

The Bulls saw fit to retake the lead off another long pass from Flowers, a 31-yarder sailing over the secondary. A play later, though, the situation turned sour for USF as Temple senior DE Praise Martin-Oguike swung the momentum back in the Owls' favor, notching the fifth blocked kick of his career.

And then, for the first time of the game, the Temple offense decided to move with some urgency. On what looked to be another simple handoff up the middle quickly transformed into a team season-long 76-yard dash by Armstead, a single-play career best from the sophomore playmaker.

The two-play scoring drive took just one minute, the notable exception during the half as Temple controlled the ball for a stunning 21:44 to South Florida's 8:16. Each of the Bulls' scoring possessions, though, concluded on a major passing play, a weakness that continues to haunt the Owl defense.

The initial two quarters managed to compose a dramatic finish, as four plays from Walker and the offense set up a Boumerhi 35-yarder. Sophomore WR Ventell Bryant grabbed a crucial reception with eight seconds remaining on the possession, his final of five catches for a career-best of 115 receiving yards.

The second half, however, saw the surge in Temple confidence dissipate over the first seven minutes, as Flowers led South Florida to 10 straight points on two consecutive drives. The junior quarterback capped the final possession himself, striding into the end zone on a zone-read to open up a three-point advantage.

Three snaps into the ensuing Temple possession, however, and Armstead took the deficit into his own hands yet again, breaking off a 42-yard footrace for his second score of the game. With a new energy to feed off, the defensive front-seven choked the Bull offense to a three-and-out behind relentless pursuit and an athletic pass deflection from sophomore S Delvon Randall.

The ensuing punt continued to drain the spirit from the Bull sideline, as redshirt senior DE Avery Ellis got his hand on the kick. The Temple offense — with field position at the 20-yard-line — broke the goal line two plays later off two touches from senior RB Jahad Thomas.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the final 8:42, the final of which came from Thomas on a three-yard sweep after a Temple interception. With the score, Thomas, who finished with 16 carries for 56 yards, continued his NCAA-best streak of consecutive games with two or more touchdowns (6).

A prime-time defensive performance was fittingly capped with a safety off senior TE Romond Deloatch's sack of back-up USF QB Brett Kean, as the group finished with a combined four on the day.

Up next, Temple suits up for yet another home matchup with an American Athletic opponent, as Cincinnati (3-3, 0-3 American) visits Philadelphia this upcoming Saturday (3:30 p.m./CBSSN/97.5 The Fanatic).

Box Score | Video Highlights | Pre-Game Gallery One | Pre-Game Gallery Two | Game Action Gallery | Post-Game Quotes

Press Conferences: Rhule | Armstead | Martin-Oguike