Temple University Athletics
Temple University
6-4 , 5-1
Houston
7-3 , 4-2
Football Runs All Over Houston and Wins 59-49
11.10.18 | Football
Temple got out to a quick lead and never trailed in the contest. RB Ryquell Armstead had a career game, rushing 30 times for 210 yards and a career high six touchdowns. Armstead has run for four or more touchdowns twice this season, the first Owl to accomplish this feat. It was also his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season. His six rushing touchdowns is second on the Temple single game list behind Montel Harris' seven rushing TDs against Army in 2012.
The Owls had 200-yards passing and 200-yards rushing combined in consecutive games for the first time in program history. The Owls also had the highest combined point total since beating SMU 59-49 in 2013. Senior WR Ventell Bryant is now the all-time leading receiver in Temple history with 2,319 yards, surpassing Willie Marshall's 2,272-yards.
How It Happened
>Both Temple and Houston put up a ton of points last week and continued the trend this week. The Owls were firing on all cylinders and came out hot in the first quarter. The Owls started on defense and forced the Cougars to punt in their first offensive series. The punt was blocked by CB Ty Mason and recovered by WR Branden Mack deep in Houston territory at the Cougar eight yard-line. Armstead scored on his second rush of the day from five yards out to give Temple an early 7-0 lead.
>On the next Houston drive, the Owls recovered a fumble and took the ball 66 yards on 12 plays to go up 14-0 with 8:34 left in the first quarter. The drive was kept alive on a fourth-and-five from the Houston 35 yard-line. The Owls ran a fake punt pass executed on an eight yard pass from QB Todd Centeio to WR Freddie Johnson. Armstead finished the drive off with a four-yard touchdown, his second of the day.
>The Cougars put one score on the board and the first quarter ended 14-7 Temple.
>Temple received the ball to start the second half and wasted no time scoring again. The Owls took 12 plays to go 70-yards in just 4:53 and finished the drive off with an eight-yard touchdown by Rob Ritrovato to push the score to 21-7 Temple.
>Houston answered on the next drive to make it 21-14 with 10:12 left to play in the second quarter. The Owls took a 28-14 lead into halftime after the third Armstead touchdown, this one from two yards out.
>Armstead's onslaught continued in the second half as he scored his longest touchdown of the game, a 33-yard rush on the third play of the half brought the score to 35-14 Temple. That touchdown tied his single-game career high.
>Houston scored back to back touchdowns and brought it to a one score game, 35-28 Temple. The Owls answered by taking the ball down to the one yard-line and giving it to DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd for touchdown, his third rushing touchdown of the season to make it 42-28 Temple.
>Armstead scored his fifth touchdown a four-yard carry to bring the score to 49-28 Temple.
>Armstead added his sixth and final score from six yards out at the start of the fourth quarter and make the score 56-35.
>Houston would score twice more in hopes of a comeback, but Temple would bleed the clock and eventually a field goal by Will Mobley would push the lead to 59-49 Temple with 1:41 left to play in the game. The Owls' defense would hold strong in the final drive, denying the chance for a Cougar comeback. An interception by SAF Delvon Randall sealed the game and the win.
Notes
>QB Anthony Russo went 14-22 for 217 yards. It was the first game he has started without throwing an interception.
>Bryant had seven catches for 61 yards. He now has the most receiving yards in Temple Football history and is two catches away from being the all-time leading receiver in both catches and yards.
>Armstead finished with 30 carries and 210 yards and six touchdowns. It was his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and second game with four or more touchdowns. He is the only Temple player to have four rushing TDs more than once.
>Ritrovato finished with a career high 14 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.
>WR Isaiah Wright - 53 yards receiving, 65 kickoff return yards - has now surpassed 3,000 career all-purpose yards.
>LB Shaun Bradley had 10 tackles and one TFL.
>DT Michael Dogbe had seven tackles, 3.5 TFLs and a sack.
>Temple was perfect in the redzone, 8-8.
Next Up
> The Owls return to Lincoln Financial Field this Saturday for Senior day and their final home game of the year against USF. Kickoff will be announced Sunday.
Team Stats
TEM 7, HOU 0
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 5 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 2 plays, 8 yards, TOP 0:31
TEM 14, HOU 0
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 4 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 12 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:00
TEM 14, HOU 7
HOU - SINGLETON, Rael 2 yd pass from KING, D'Eriq (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:42
TEM 21, HOU 7
TEM - RITROVATO,Rob 8 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:53
TEM 21, HOU 14
HOU - CARR, Patrick 7 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:47
TEM 28, HOU 14
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 2 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:46
TEM 35, HOU 14
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 33 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 2 plays, 56 yards, TOP 0:45
TEM 35, HOU 21
HOU - BROOKER, R. 14 yd pass from KING, D'Eriq (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:55
TEM 35, HOU 28
HOU - KING, D'Eriq 2 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 4 plays, 13 yards, TOP 1:28
TEM 42, HOU 28
TEM - BOOTH-LLOYD,F. 1 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:13
TEM 49, HOU 28
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 4 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:40
TEM 49, HOU 35
HOU - SMITH, Bryson 17 yd pass from KING, D'Eriq (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 4 plays, 59 yards, TOP 0:47
TEM 56, HOU 35
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 6 yd run (MOBLEY,Will kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:02
TEM 56, HOU 42
HOU - SMITH, Bryson 30 yd pass from KING, D'Eriq (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 7 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:51
TEM 56, HOU 49
HOU - SMITH, Bryson 12 yd pass from KING, D'Eriq (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:13
TEM 59, HOU 49
TEM - MOBLEY,Will 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 4:37
