Football Scores 27 Unanswered, Shocks USF on Senior Day

Saturday, November 17

Philadelphia, Pa.

12:00 P.M.

Temple University

7-4 , 6-1

USF

7-4 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

USF

Temple

Football Scores 27 Unanswered, Shocks USF on Senior Day

11.17.18 | Football

PHILADELPHIA- In front of 29,029 fans at Lincoln Financial Field, the Temple Owls overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to shock the USF Bulls 27-17 on Senior Day. Temple moves to 7-4 and 6-1 in the AAC heading into the final regular season week of the season. Nine of 19 players that walked on Senior Day started the game for Temple.

The last time Temple had a comeback of 17-points or more was in 2007 against Akron. The Owls were down 20-3 after three quarters in that contest and scored 21 unanswered points to win the game 24-20.

The Owls defense and special teams paved the way to victory in the second half. Temple forced five turnovers and scored 20 points in those key areas to propel them to the win.

How it Happened

>Temple couldn't seem to get the offense clicking in the first half and the defense played well, but not up to full potential. The full force of the defense and special teams wouldn't come out until the second half.

>The Owls forced USF to punt four times, but Temple had to punt five times in the first 30 minutes of play. USF scored its first touchdown on its first drive. The Bulls scored again on a 35-yard field goal to go up 10-0 right at the start of the second quarter. They scored once more before the half ended on a one-yard touchdown rush to make it 17-0 heading into halftime.

>After forcing USF to punt on its first drive of the second half, Temple drove 69 yards on 10 plays for its first score. After multiple tries from the one-yard line, RB Ryquell Armstead trucked his way into the endzone to make it 17-7.

>On the second play of the following drive, SAF Delvon Randall grabbed his third interception of the season on a one-handed jump ball on Temple's 33 yard-line. The first play of Temple's ensuing drive USF countered with a pick of its own. USF then fumbled the ball on a handoff with DE Quincy Roche recovering to give the Owls the ball back on their own 40 yard-line. After the ping-ponging of turnovers, Temple drove the ball 43 yards on eight plays and Will Mobley connected on a 33-yard field goal to make it 17-10 with 3:59 left in the third.

>The Owls forced the Bulls to punt on their next possession. QB Anthony Russo then hit WR Brodrick Yancy with a 28-yard pass to end the quarter. Russo completed two more passes for 18 and 12 yards, respectively, to get the Owls into the red zone. The drive set up Mobley for a 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13.

>Temple forced a quick three-and-out on USF's following drive and forced the Bulls to punt. WR Isaiah Wright fielded the punt, started to go right and then cut back hard left with a host of blockers ahead. Wright was able to get to the corner and up the sideline for a 73-yard touchown to give Temple its first lead, 20-17, with 10:05 to play.

>On the ensuing kickoff, Mobley kicked the ball directly at a USF player in front of him on the 50-yard line, the ball bounced off the Bull and NKL DaeSean Winston recovered the pegged onside kick to give Temple the ball on its own 47-yard line. Although the Owls, couldn't capitalize on the onside kick, the momentum was fully on Temple's side.

>The Owls defense held strong and forced the Bulls to punt again with 5:15 left to play. Temple would then begin to gain ground and bleed the clock. Russo hit Ventell Bryant for a 27-yard pass play to get the ball across midfield. Russo and Armstead then ran the ball as the clock ticked. Temple got all the way down to the USF 31 yard-line and elected to punt on the short field in order to pin the Bulls.

>USF set up on their own 10-yard line to begin its drive with 1:44 left. On the first play, DE Dana Levine pinned his ears back and flew around the edge to get to USF QB Blake Barnett for a strip sack. The ball was on the ground and bobbled and rolled into the endzone before LB Chapelle Russell scooped it up for the game sealing score. The Owls strengthened their lead, 27-17, with 1:33 left.

>The game would end on the next drive after a mis-run route led to an easy interception for CB Linwood Crump.

Notes

>Geoff Collins is now the winningest Temple head coach in his first two seasons with a record of 14-10. He passes Wayne Hardin and Steve Addazio who both had 13 wins.

>The 2018 class is the winningest class in Temple Football history with 34 wins.

>This is the second game this season Temple has scored a touchdown on offense, defense, and special teams in one game.

>Ventell Bryant became Temple's all-time reception leader with 167 career receptions. He has caught a pass in 46 straight games. He now holds Temple's all-time record in receptions and yards.

>Ryquell Armstead eclipsed the 1,000 yards rushing mark this season. He is the 11^th Owl to accomplish this feat.

>Delvon Randall is tied for fifth all-time in interceptions with 11. He has one in each of the last three games.

>DE Quincy Roche led the team with nine tackles, one sack, two TFLs, and a fumble recovery.

>Redshirt-junior WR Travon Williams was put on scholarship for the 2019 season in the locker room following the win.

Up Next

>Temple heads north to take on UConn in the final regular season game of the season on Saturday, November 24. Game time is TBD.