Football Falls in Back and Forth Affair to UAB

Saturday, November 18

Birmingham, AL

3:00 PM

Temple University

3-8 , 1-6

UAB

4-7 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Temple

UAB

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Falls in Back and Forth Affair to UAB

11.18.23 | Football

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Temple football team (3-8, 1-6 AAC) lost to the UAB Blazers (4-7, 3-4 AAC), 34-24 in its final road game of the season.

TE David Martin-Robinson made Temple history along the way, becoming the all-time program leader in receptions by a tight end. QB E.J. Warner threw for 323 yards, tying P.J. Walker (2013-16) for most career 300-yard passing games by a Temple quarterback (6).

How It Happened

The Owls started the game off strong, with the defense forcing a punt on the opening drive. Temple capitalized on the ensuing offensive drive, as QB E.J. Warner connected with WR Dante Wright for a 71-yard touchdown to give the Owls an early 7-0 lead with 11:33 remaining in the first quarter. Warner threw for a perfect 4-4 during the drive.
After forcing another punt, Temple received the ball at their own six-yard line and progressed down the field to the UAB 27-yard line. The drive ended in a fumble which returned possession to the Blazers. The Owls limited UAB to zero points and 63 yards in the first quarter to hold a 7-0 lead at the first intermission.
Early in the second quarter, DL Jerquavion Mahone and DL Conlan Green documented back-to-back sacks, which led to UAB's third consecutive punt to start the game.
The Blazers tied the game at 7-7 with 4:22 remaining in the first half, as RB Lee Beebe rushed for a seven-yard touchdown.
With 2:21 remaining in the first half, Warner found TE David-Martin Robinson wide open on the right sideline for a huge gain. Martin-Robinson pushed through defenders to find his way into the endzone for a 47-yard touchdown that gave the Owls a 14-7 advantage.
UAB added three points on a 29-yard field goal as time expired, cutting Temple's lead to 14-10 at halftime.
The Blazers took their first lead of the game at the 5:19 mark of the third quarter, as RB Demetrius Battle scored a three-yard touchdown to give UAB a 17-14 advantage.
K Camden Price evened the game at 17-17 with a 40-yard field goal with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter.
UAB QB Jacob Zeno found WR Tejhaun Palmer for a 22-yard touchdown reception with 14:24 remaining in the game to give the Blazers a 24-17 lead.
The Owls answered back with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Martin-Robinson at the goal line to tie the game at 24-24 with 12:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. A 38-yard kick return by RB Edward Saydee set up the Owls in good field position to start the drive and a 43-yard catch by Wright moved the ball deep into UAB territory.
UAB retook a narrow 27-24 lead with 6:33 remaining in the game, as K Patrick Foley converted from 26 yards out.
The Blazers put the game out of reach with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Jermaine Brown Jr. that put UAB up 34-24 with 2:32 left in the game.

Notes

TE Martin-Robinson's reception midway through the first quarter marked his 90th career catch, which is the most by a Temple tight end in program history. Martin-Robinson is also one game removed from becoming just the third Temple tight end to accumulate 1,000 career receiving yards.
K Camden Price has hit field goals from at least 40 yards in three consecutive games.
TE Peter Clarke and DL Joseph Appiah Darkwa recorded their first career starts.
DL Demerick Morris made his season debut.

Statistically Speaking

WR Dante Wright's 71-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter was the second-longest play of the season for the Owls and the longest catch of his Temple career. Wright finished with six catches for 146 yards and one touchdown. His receiving yardage total set a new career high as an Owl.
With Wright catching over 100 yards today, Temple has now had five different players record 100-yard receiving games this season. This is the most by any school in the American Athletic Conference.
LB Yvandy Rigby's tackle in the 3rd quarter was the 200th of his career. Rigby finished with eight tackles on the day, increasing his career total to 202.
DL Jerquavion Mahone and DL Conlan Greene recorded back-to-back sacks early in the second quarter, which marked Mahone's first of the season and Greene's first of his collegiate career.

Up Next

Next up, the Owls return to Lincoln Financial Field for Temple's regular season finale to host Memphis on Black Friday. The game is set to air on ESPN and 97.5 The Fanatic at 12:00 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased online at owlstix.com.