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Temple's Reddick continues his dominant defensive play

ORLANDO - Very little went right for Temple during the first half Saturday against Central Florida, but one of the bright spots was Haason Reddick.

ORLANDO - Very little went right for Temple during the first half of Saturday's comeback 26-25 win against Central Florida, but one of the bright spots was Haason Reddick.

The Owls trailed, 25-14, at halftime in an American Athletic Conference game at Bright House Networks Stadium, but Reddick continued his dominant play.

He had two sacks, marking the third straight game that the redshirt senior defensive end from Haddon Heights was credited with multiple sacks.

The two sacks also increased Reddick's tackle-for-loss total to 14, which leads the American Athletic Conference.

Temple, which entered the game with 13 sacks, had six in the first half and seven for the game.

Reddick ended with seven tackles, but he is most proud of the fact that the Owls didn't allow a point after UCF quarterback McKenzie  Milton scored on a 63-yard run to extend the Knights lead to 25-7 with 12 minutes and 34 seconds left in the second quarter.

"We knew if we kept fighting, things would pull through," Reddick said.

Touchdown Thomas

Temple's Jahad Thomas scored the Owls' two touchdowns in the first half, marking the fifth straight game he has had multiple scores. That is the longest current Football Bowl Subdivision streak.

Thomas missed the first two games with a dislocated left thumb. He has now scored two touchdowns in each of his five games this season.

Thomas scored on a 28-yard pass from Phillip Walker and 7-yard run.

It was his third touchdown reception of the season. He entered the season with only two career touchdown catches.

Thomas, who had 22 receptions last year, now has 18 this year after catching three passes for 33 yards and the touchdown.

His two first-half touchdowns increased his career mark to 30, which is third on the Temple all-time list behind Bernard Pierce (54) and Paul Palmer (43).

Thomas finished with 120 yards rushing and a touchdown on 27 carries, his first 100-yard effort of the seaosn.

Penalties

Temple entered the game averaging 5.8 penalties per game. In the first half, the Owls were penalized eight times for 54 yards, including six times for 44 yards in the second quarter. In the second half Temple was penalized twice for 15 yards.

Workhorse

Temple running back Ryquell Armstead had 10 first-half carries, nine of them in two sequences. He had five in a row in one drive and four consecutive carries (for 27 yards) that came right before Thomas' 7-yard touchdown run.

Armstead also had four straight carries in Temple's opening drive of the third quarter, which led to a 32-yard field goal by Aaron Boumerhi, the first field goal of his collegiate career.

Armstead finished with 78 yards on 14 carries.