Temple University Athletics
Football Clashes with #9 UCF in Battle for AAC East
10.29.18 | Football
THIS WEEK
Temple and #9 UCF each are coming off a bye week and will face each other with first place in the American Athletic Conference East Division on the line. This match up features the last two American Athletic Conference Champions. The Owls last game featured a late game comeback that forced overtime and a game-winning touchdown pass from QB Anthony Russo to WR Isaiah Wright against #20 Cincinnati. Temple will have their toughest opponent yet as the Owls head down to Orlando to take on 7-0 (4-0 AAC) #9Â UCF Knights. This is the second consecutive ranked opponent the Owls have faced in a row. Temple has the chance to take on three ranked opponents in the final four games of the season. This battle will determine who holds sole lead of the American Athletic Conference East Division as both teams are 4-0 in conference play. Kickoff is set for Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN and ESPN 610AM.
Temple and UCF first squared off in November, 2013. The game took place at Lincoln Financial Field and resulted in a 39-36 win for the Knights. UCF has the slight advantage in the series 3-2 but Temple has won two of the last three matchups. These two teams have played every year since the creation of the American Athletic Conference and the Owls are 1-1 when playing the Knights in the Sunshine State.
Last game against Cincinnati, QB Anthony Russo and the offense figured out how to move the ball in the final minutes of the game in order to tie the game at 17-17 to force overtime. He threw 20-41 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with WR Branden Mack for the game tying touchdown. On the third play of overtime, Russo hit WR Isaiah Wright for the game-winning score. WR Ventell Bryant caught two passes and extended his consecutive reception streak. He is quickly approaching the Owls all-time receiving yards record held by Willie Marshall with 2,272 career yards. WR Randle Jones led all receivers with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.Â
Defensively, the Owls were able to hold strong late in the game to help give the offense a chance to come back and win the game. Special teams and defense allowed Temple to get an early lead as two forced fumbles set up the Owls with prime field position that resulted in 10 quick points. In the fourth quarter, the stingy defense forced three key three-and-outs to get the offense the ball back with under two minutes to play. A botched snap and a sack by DE Zack Mesday forced a third-and-36 for the Bearcats. An interception on the following play by LB Shaun Bradley sealed the game in overtime for the Owls.Â
SAF Delvon Randall led the Owls with nine tackles. LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley had six tackles, a TFL, and a sack. DT Michael Dogbe had four tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. The Owls late game heroics led to the first victory over a ranked team since Temple took down #19 Navy in the AAC Championship game in 2015.
LAST TIME vs. UCF
The last time Temple and UCF played was on November 18, 2017, at Lincoln Financial Field. Temple outgained UCF 397-384 despite losing the game 45-19. At the time of this game, UCF was ranked #15 in the nation. QB Frank Nutile threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
LAST TIMEÂ @Â UCF
The last time Temple and UCF played in Orlando was on October 15, 2016. The Owls won a close game 26-25. Temple had 24 first downs compared to 14 for UCF despite the close matchup. Down 25-7 in the second quarter, Temple battled back and scored the game winning touchdown with one second left.
UP NEXT
After UCF, the Owls are on the road again for an AAC inter-divisional matchup against Houston.
