Football Loses Close Game to Villanova, 19-17

Saturday, September 1

Philadelphia, Pa.

12:00 P.M.

Temple University

0-1

Villanova

1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Villanova

Temple

Football Loses Close Game to Villanova, 19-17

9.1.18 | Football

Box Score Full Schedule Buy Tickets Game Book Geoff Collins Press Conference Geoff Collins Audio Frank Nutile Press Conference Frank Nutile Audio 9/1 Michael Dogbe Press Conference Michael Dogbe Audio 9/1

PHILADELPHIA- Football opened up the 2018 season against crosstown opponent Villanova. After a back-and-forth game all afternoon, the Wildcats edged out the Owls 19-17 at Lincoln Financial Field in front of 32,357 fans. Special teams played a huge role in keeping the score close as DE Quincy Roche blocked two kicks and CB Kimere Brown returned the first blocked kick for a touchdown.

KEYS TO THE GAME
>Villanova scored first in the contest with an eight play 70-yard drive resulting in a touchdown pass from QB Zach Bednarczyk to TE Ryan Bell.

>Temple countered with a 12-play 42-yard drive capped off by a 46-yard field goal by kicker Aaron Boumerhi to make it 7-3 Villanova.

>Villanova added another score on a 17-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Chadbourn. The drive went 11 plays and 76 yards to make it 13-3 Villanova.

>Villanova set up for another field goal but the 31-yard attempt was blocked by DE Quincy Roche. The ball was then scooped up by CB Kimere Brown and returned 76-yards for a touchdown, making the score 13-10 still in favor of Villanova.

>Temple scored first in the second half as QB Frank Nutile took the Owls down 70-yards on 12 plays and finished off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Isaiah Wright. The Owls took their first lead of the game 17-13 with 5:45 left in the 3^rd quarter.

>Villanova answered with 7:17 left in the 4^th quarter. Bednarczyk threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to WR Jarrett McClenton to take the lead. Temple's DE Quincy Roche blocked his second kick of the day to keep the score 19-17.

>Villanova would hang on to the lead after forcing two turnovers late in the game and eventually ran out the clock.

GAME NOTES
>Temple team doctor, Dr. Milo Sewards was the honorary captain for the coin toss. Sewards left the team last year after the game against Navy for a 6-month tour in Afghanistan.

>Temple continues its streak of blocking kicks. They lead the FBS in blocked kicks with 20 since 2014.

>DE Quincy Roche had both blocked kicks. He also recorded a sack and five tackles total, two for loss.

>WR Branden Mack made his first career start. He led the team with seven catches and 78 receiving yards.

>LB Sam Franklin grabbed his first career interception. He also had four tackles.

>FB Rob Ritrovato had his first career catch - a 4-yard reception from Nutile.

>CB Rock Ya-Sin made his first career start in FBS and for Temple. He had five total tackles and one for loss.

>True Freshmen OL Isaac Moore, LB DaeSean Winston, and OL Adam Klein saw action throughout the game.

>Villanova's DB Julian Williams was ejected on the last play of the first quarter for a targeting penalty, resulting in an untimed down.

UP NEXT
Next week the Owls will have another game at home against MAC opponent Buffalo. The Owls look to even the record at 1-1 before going on the road to Maryland the following week.