Against UConn, Temple was unable to utilize ‘momentum’ in a dogfight at the Linc
Coming off a win over previously unbeaten South Florida, the Owls and head coach K.C. Keeler were unable to replicate.
Temple entered Week 6 with steam after beating an undefeated South Florida on the road last Friday, but on Saturday back at Lincoln Financial Field, the Owls would be on the losing end of a 34-20 final against Connecticut..
The game escaped the Owls in the fourth quarter. Posted on the Huskies’ 39-yard line, Ajani Sheppard would fumble after being sacked. With 12 minutes and 8 seconds remaining, UConn took possession and drove 62 yards capped by a rushing touchdown by Cyncir Bowers that would give UConn an 11-point lead.
“We did not play clean at all. Not at all,” said Temple head coach K.C. Keeler. “So, yeah, just really disappointed. We all knew how important this game was in terms of seeing if we get some momentum going here.”
Settling in rapidly
UConn (3-3) made itself at home in an instant. After a 2-yard run from Bowers, the Huskies used two Ryder Treadway receptions totaling 52 yards to reach the red zone. Kalieb Osborne finished the job with a keeper touchdown. The visitors scored in just two minutes and 22 seconds.
Temple (2-4) needed just five. Sheppard shuffled his feet in the pocket, eyed Jojo Bermudez downfield, and went deep, connecting with Bermudez, who would score on a 79-yard reception, the longest touchdown of Temple’s season.
”That was really all film,” Sheppard said. “We knew in that formation we were going to get quarters and that’s exactly what they came out in. I knew Jojo was gonna run right by them. Just let him go get it.”
Temple got creative in yet another response through a slower drive. At UConn’s 29-yard line, Sheppard handed it off to a sweeping Colin Chase, who dropped back and threw to Peter Clarke in front of the end zone.
Defense musters key stops
Stops were hard to come by for both teams, but they surfaced in big moments. At the end of the first quarter, UConn went for it on fourth-and-3 from the 16-yard line, but Osborne was sacked by Jaeden Gould.
The Owls soon advanced to UConn’s 12-yard line through the help of flags and a 17-yard pass to Bermudez. That was the furthest they’d get. Temple settled for a field goal and took the lead 17-14. It then conceded a 51-yard rush to Trey Cornist, which resulted in his touchdown two plays later. The Huskies led by four.
Their stop unit held strong for Temple’s next drive. Renick Dorilas forced Mason to fumble which was recovered by Braedyn Moore.
Temple responded with a critical stop of its own. UConn was posted at the Owls’ one-yard line following big gains from Cornist and Shamar Porter. Osborne fumbled and recovered possession, pushing his squad two yards back. The Owls gave him no leeway in his next carry, forcing UConn to settle for a field goal. Jack O’Connor drilled it to take the 24-17 advantage.
Carl Hardin buried a field goal of his own to bring the tally to 24-20 twelve minutes later.
Sheppard fumbled the next drive. He let the ball slip on a throw before getting sacked by Shamar Riser-Pressley. Officials confirmed it wasn’t an incomplete pass after review.
“I for sure thought it was [incomplete],” Sheppard said. “But I can’t control what the refs do… we just got to be better on offense.”
Osborne and halfbacks take over
Osborne immediately pushed ahead after the turnover. He threw 42 yards in his first three completed passes that drive, marking UConn’s flag on Temple’s 18. Bowers did the rest to extend the lead to 11.
Another short Owls drive gave the ball back to the visitors. Bowers carried 23 yards before Cornist carried 21 more. They brought UConn closer allowing O’Connor to put the cherry on top with a field goal.
Up next...
Temple hosts Charlotte next Saturday (time TBD, ESPN+).
