Clarke Makes History; Football Falls to Charlotte

Saturday, October 17

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

2-5 , 1-2

Charlotte

1-6 , 1-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Charlotte	7	0	14	17	38
Temple	7	7	7	10	31

10.17.26 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - Temple football fell to Charlotte, 38-31, Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in American Conference play, while the 49ers earned their first win of the season to move to 1-6 and 1-2 in conference action.

Peter Clarke hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass late in the game to become Temple's all-time leader in career receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Charlotte responded with 10 unanswered points before Carl Hardin's late field goal pulled Temple within seven. The 49ers recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.

Game Highlights

Clarke Claims Tight End Record

Peter Clarke's four-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was the 11th of his Temple career, breaking his tie with Randy Grossman (1970-73) for the most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in program history. Clarke also had a 46-yard catch that set up the score.

Sheppard Scores Twice

Ajani Sheppard scored on runs of seven and 44 yards, the latter tying the game at 21 in the third quarter. He also connected with Clarke for the fourth-quarter touchdown that tied the score at 28.

Defensive First-Half Stops

Curly Ordonez recorded a third-down sack that forced a missed Charlotte field goal and later stopped a fourth-and-one attempt behind the line. Avery Powell forced a fumble late in the first half that Eric Stuart recovered and returned to the Charlotte two-yard line.

Keveun Mason scored Temple's first touchdown on a 21-yard run, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Charlotte scored on its first two possessions of the second half to turn a 14-7 halftime deficit into a 21-14 lead.
Sheppard's 44-yard touchdown run was his longest scoring rush of the game and helped Temple answer immediately.
The Owls have a bye before traveling to East Carolina on Oct. 31.

How It Happened

Charlotte opened the scoring on a one-yard touchdown run by Khamani Alexander, but Temple answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by Keveun Mason's 21-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at seven. The Owls took a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter when Ajani Sheppard scored from seven yards out. Avery Powell then forced a fumble that Eric Stuart recovered and returned to the Charlotte two-yard line, but Temple came away without points after an unsuccessful fourth-down pass.

Charlotte scored on each of its first two drives after halftime, first on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Conner Harrell to Derrick Eley and then on Harrell's eight-yard run, to take a 21-14 lead. Temple responded in just two plays: Sheppard connected with Peter Clarke for 31 yards before breaking free for a 44-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 21.

The 49ers went back in front early in the fourth quarter on a nine-yard Harrell touchdown pass to Gus McGee. Temple answered with an 81-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 46-yard completion to Clarke, who then caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Sheppard. The reception was Clarke's 11th career touchdown, giving him Temple's tight end record and tying the game at 28 with 11:04 remaining.

Charlotte regained the lead on Harrell's 10-yard touchdown run with 8:40 left and added a 47-yard Aiden Bui field goal at 1:48 to go ahead 38-28. Temple moved quickly downfield and Carl Hardin made a 28-yard field goal with 48 seconds remaining, but Charlotte recovered the ensuing onside kick to close out the game.

Inside the Box Score

11Clarke Career Receiving TDs

44Sheppard Long TD Run

127Career-High Receiving yards by peter clarke in a single game

2Sheppard Rushing TDs

Peter Clarke became Temple's all-time tight end leader with 11 career receiving touchdowns, passing Randy Grossman (1970-73).
Ajani Sheppard scored two rushing touchdowns, from seven and 44 yards, and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Clarke.
Keveun Mason scored on a 21-yard first-quarter run.
Curly Ordonez recorded a sack and a fourth-down tackle for loss in the first half.
Avery Powell forced a second-quarter fumble recovered by Eric Stuart.

What It Means

Temple moved to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in American Conference play following its 38-31 loss to Charlotte. The Owls are off next week before returning to action at East Carolina on Oct. 31.

Clarke Makes History

With his four-yard touchdown catch from Ajani Sheppard in the fourth quarter, Peter Clarke reached 11 career receiving touchdowns and moved ahead of Randy Grossman (1970-73) for the most touchdown receptions by a tight end in Temple history.