Football Drops High Scoring Affair with #9 UCF 52-40

Thursday, November 1

Orlando, Fla.

7:30 P.M.

Temple University

5-4 , 4-1

#9 UCF

8-0 , 5-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

TEMPLE

UCF

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Drops High Scoring Affair with #9 UCF 52-40

11.1.18 | Football

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ORLANDO, Fla.- In front of 41,153 fans at Spectrum Stadium the Temple Owls lost a shootout to the #9 UCF Knights 52-40 in the highest scoring matchup of the season for the Owls. Temple is now 5-4 (4-1 AAC).

The offensive showdown featured back-and-forth scoring from QB Anthony Russo and UCF QB McKenzie Milton. Russo threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another. Temple outscored UCF 34-28 in the first two quarters, but a slower start to the second half and some costly penalties left the Owls empty handed. Despite the loss, Temple out-gained UCF 670-630. Russo was 31-of-52 and threw for 444 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed 12 times for 46 yards and a touchdown. He is one of three Owls in program history to throw for 400-yards-or-more in a game.

How It Happened

>Both the Owls and Knights came out gunning in the first half scoring a combined 62 points as Temple went into the halftime up 34-28. The Owls scored first on their first drive of the game on a 41-yard field goal from kicker Will Mobley. UCF attempted to counter with a field goal of their own in the next drive, but DT Dan Archibong blocked the kick giving the Owls the ball back an retaining the lead.

>UCF forced a three-and-out that led to a touchdown to give UCF the lead 7-3. Temple took the lead back, 10-7, on an 18-yard touchdown pass from QB Anthony Russo to WR Branden Mack. UCF then scored on the next drive to retake the lead 14-10. UCF fired back with another touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10 Temple, with 4:12 left to play in the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, Russo hit WR Randle Jones on just the third play of the drive for a 70-yard touchdown. It was Jones' fourth touchdown of the season and third for over 30-yards.

>The Owls forced the Knights' first punt of the game and capitalized by driving all the way into field goal territory. A running into the kicker penalty by UCF forced a first down and the Owls drove down inside the five yard-line. The Owls set up for a field goal again but instead ran a fake and Russo scampered into the endzone to push the Temple lead to 24-14. Milton and the UCF offense countered and took the ball 75 yards and scored on fourth down on a QB keeper by Milton to make it 24-21 Owls.

>The Owls answered with a 55-yard drive that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Mobley to push the score to 27-21 Temple. Both teams traded punts before UCF scored on a 10-play 73-yard drive to give UCF the lead 28-27 with 1:43 left in the first half. The Owl offense was able to string together a six-play 64-yard drive capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Russo to WR Ventell Bryant. Temple took a 34-28 lead into the second half.

>UCF scored twice in the third quarter to take their largest lead of the game 42-34.

>Temple struck first in the fourth quarter. An interception by SAF Delvon Randall gave Temple the ball back with 13:41 left to play in the fourth quarter. Russo-and-company drove down the field 67-yards on eight plays led in part by Russo's and RB Ryquell Armstead's work in the ground game. The drive was finished off by Bryant on an eight-yard touchdown catch. The Owls attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game but RB Jager Gardner was stopped short on the one yard line, UCF held the lead 42-40 with 9:44 left in the game.

>UCF put together another quick scoring drive to push the score to 49-40 with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter. The Owls attempted to make a comeback only down nine and got all the way to the UCF 30 yard-line but couldn't convert on a fourth down and score. UCF would add a field goal and the game ended 52-40.

Notes
>This was the first time in Temple history the Owls had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher, and 100-yard receiver in one game.

>This was also the second time this season Russo completed a pass to eleven different receivers.

>Temple broke the record for total offense in program history with 670 yards. The previous record was 622 yards set in 1974 against Southern Illinois.

>RB Ryquell Armstead had 27 carries for 146 yards. It was his fifth 100-yard rushing touchdown of the season.

>WR Ventell Bryant had seven catchces for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He is now 12 yards away from the all-time receiving record.

>DT Dan Archibong had a blocked kick, the fourth of the season for the Owls.

>Kicker Will Mobley hit a career long 41-yard field goal.