Temple's defense seals victory at Cincinnati
The aggressive defense that Temple called on last season to help the Owls in crucial moments was on display again Saturday night in a 34-26 victory at Cincinnati.
The aggressive defense that Temple called on last season to help the Owls in crucial moments was on display again Saturday night in a 34-26 victory at Cincinnati.
The Owls (2-0, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) forced five turnovers - including four second-half interceptions of Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel - and held off a late Cincinnati rally in a huge win against the team that many have picked to win the conference.
Leading 34-12, the Owls gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati (1-1, 0-1) was driving late with an opportunity to tie the game. However, linebacker Tyler Matakevich intercepted a tipped Kiel pass in the end zone to ward off the threat. It was Matakevich's second pick of the game.
The Bearcats were in position to tie the game after a fumble by Temple running back Jahad Thomas, who has become the team's offensive star through two games. Thomas accounted for 342 total yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in the span of 94 seconds - on a 100-yard kickoff return and a 56-yard run - at the start of the third quarter. However, his fumble at the Bearcats' 29-yard line with 2 minutes, 29 seconds to play gave Cincinnati one final possession.
"The game was over and Jahad let the ball get out of his hands. But I'm so proud of our defense," Owls coach Matt Rhule said. "They all said, 'Jahad, we've got you.'
"For Tyler to make two tip-ball interceptions tonight, what a great player. What a great effort by him. Now we'll go back. We'll try to get better. We'll try to fix some things. Obviously they're a great offense and we struggled at times. There are ways I think we can get better."
The Bearcats outgained Temple, 557 yards to 296, and piled up 34 first downs to the Owls' 13. Temple will try to improve to 3-0 on Saturday when it plays at Massachusetts. The Minutemen are 0-1 after a 48-14 loss to Colorado.
Yancy feeling better
Temple got good news on the injury front regarding wide receiver Brodrick Yancy, who suffered a neck injury in the game and was taken from the field on a stretcher and to University of Cincinnati Hospital in an ambulance.
Yancey had feeling and movement in all of his extremities and was able to fly home with his teammates after the game. He will be examined by Temple doctors Monday morning.