Temple University Athletics
Temple University
2-4 , 1-1
UConn
3-3 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | 14 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
| Temple | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Temple Falls to UConn at Home
10.10.26 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple football fell to UConn, 34-20, on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls moved to 2-4 overall despite totaling 437 yards of offense and producing a pair of explosive first-quarter touchdown passes.
Ajani Sheppard completed 19-of-25 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown, while Colin Chase threw a 29-yard touchdown to tight end Peter Clarke on a trick play. Keveun Mason rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries, and Clarke caught five passes for 88 yards and a score.
Temple led 17-14 in the second quarter, but UConn scored 10 unanswered points before halftime and added 10 in the fourth to pull away. Two lost Temple fumbles helped swing the contest.
Game Highlights
- Chase's touchdown pass was the first of his career and Temple's first by a non-quarterback since Jay Ducker threw one against North Texas in 2025.
- Carl Hardin connected on field goals of 26 and 29 yards.
- Keveun Mason paced Temple's rushing attack with 88 yards on 13 carries.
- UConn finished with 248 rushing yards and 505 total yards.
How It Happened
UConn scored on its opening drive when Kalieb Osborne capped a six-play, 75-yard possession with a 12-yard touchdown run. Temple answered on its first offensive snap as Ajani Sheppard found JoJo Bermudez for a 79-yard touchdown. After Kenji Christian broke a 39-yard touchdown run to put the Huskies back in front, Temple responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended in Colin Chase's 29-yard touchdown pass to Peter Clarke, tying the game at 14-14.
Carl Hardin's 26-yard field goal gave Temple a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter. UConn regained the advantage on a one-yard Trey Cornist touchdown run, then added a 21-yard field goal as the first half expired after a Temple fumble. The Huskies led 24-17 at the break.
The Owls' defense kept UConn scoreless in the third quarter, and Hardin connected from 29 yards to bring Temple within four, 24-20, with 2:42 remaining. Temple moved the ball again early in the fourth, but a second lost fumble ended the possession.
UConn capitalized with a 10-play, 62-yard touchdown drive, capped by an eight-yard Cyncir Bowers run with 7:52 remaining. The Huskies added a 27-yard field goal with 1:05 left to seal the 34-20 result.
Inside the Box Score
- Ajani Sheppard completed 19-of-25 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. The 260 yards mark a career-high for Sheppard.
- Colin Chase went 1-for-1 passing for 29 yards and a touchdown.
- Peter Clarke caught five passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
- Keveun Mason rushed 13 times for 88 yards.
- Avery Powell led Temple with eight total tackles.
- Jaeden Gould, Kevin Hornbeak, Tyree Alualu and Cameron Jones recorded one sack apiece.
- Temple finished with 437 total yards (289 passing, 148 rushing), while UConn totaled 505 yards (257 passing, 248 rushing).
A Historic First Play
Temple scored on its first offensive snap when Ajani Sheppard hit JoJo Bermudez for a 79-yard touchdown. The play was the longest completion of Sheppard's career and the longest reception of Bermudez's career.
- The last Temple touchdown on the opening offensive play of a game came on Nov. 7, 2020, against SMU, on a 75-yard pass from Trad Beatty to Randle Jones.
- Colin Chase's 29-yard touchdown pass to Peter Clarke marked the wide receiver's first career passing touchdown.
- Clarke's 10th career receiving touchdown tied Temple's all-time record for tight ends, according to the team's historical notes.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
CON 7, TEM 0
CON - Osborne,Kalieb 12 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:17
CON 7, TEM 7
TEM - Bermudez,Jojo 79 yd pass from Sheppard,Ajani (Hardin,Carl kick) 1 plays, 79 yards, TOP 00:10
CON 14, TEM 7
CON - Christian,Kenji 39 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:10
CON 14, TEM 14
TEM - Clarke,Peter 29 yd pass from Chase,Colin (Hardin,Carl kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:31
CON 14, TEM 17
TEM - Hardin,Carl 26 yd field goal 12 plays, 82 yards, TOP 07:02
CON 21, TEM 17
CON - Cornist,Trey 1 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:18
CON 24, TEM 17
CON - O'Connor,Jack 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:52
CON 24, TEM 20
TEM - Hardin,Carl 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 04:17
CON 31, TEM 20
CON - Bowers,Cyncir 8 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:16
CON 34, TEM 20
CON - O'Connor,Jack 27 yd field goal 10 plays, 48 yards, TOP 05:19
