Temple stops Cincinnati for third win in a row
Matt Rhule prides himself on having a well-conditioned team, and that stamina has certainly been evident during what is now a season-best three-game winning streak for Temple.
Matt Rhule prides himself on having a well-conditioned team, and that stamina has certainly been evident during what is now a season-best three-game winning streak for Temple.
The Owls outscored Cincinnati, 17-0 in the second half of a 34-13 win over the Bearcats on Saturday before 29,763 at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I thought the second half was a total team victory against a very good football team," said Rhule, whose team dominated time of possession for the game, holding the ball for 40 minutes, 23 seconds.
The Owls are 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the American Athletic Conference. They are also eligible for a bowl. Temple is looking to go to bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
During the winning streak, Temple has outscored the three opponents, 55-17, in the second half.
"Every game we feel as though is won in the fourth quarter," said running back Jahad Thomas, who rushed for a season-high 151 yards on 17 carries. "It is just being patient with everything."
Once the Owls get a lead they have been relying on their ground game. Against Cincinnati, the Owls rushed for 275 yards, In the last three games they have rushed for 791 yards, or 263.6 per game.
Quarterback Phillip Walker continued his efficient play. The senior completed 12 of 19 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has gone 10 quarters without throwing an interception.
Temple is tied with South Florida for first place in the AAC East Division, but the Owls own the tiebreaker based on their win last week over the Bulls. So if Temple wins its final three games, against UConn, Tulane, and East Carolina, the Owls will earn a second straight trip to the AAC title game.
Leading, 17-13, at halftime, Temple held the Bearcats (4-4, 1-4) to 11 yards from scrimmage in its second-half shutout.
"It was fun to watch in the second half," defensive coordinator Phil Snow said.
Not so much on the other sideline.
"I didn't think they would be able to shut our offense like that," Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said.
The Owls' swarming defense was given a boost by the return of safety Sean Chandler, who missed the previous four games with a knee injury and contributed four tackles.
"He made a big difference in there," Snow said.
All three units played well for the Owls. Avery Ellis blocked a punt for the second straight week. That led to Temple's first points, a 26-yard Aaron Boumerhi field goal.
The Owls last score was set up after junior Cequan Jefferson recovered a squibbed kickoff on the Cincinnati 18. Four plays later Ryquell Armstead scored from 6 yards out, his second touchdown of the game and 11th this season.
The first half was tightly contested with Temple owning a 17-13 lead, thanks to two big plays in the passing game. Walker hit Adonis Jennings on a 40-yard touchdown pass and later found Ventell Bryant on a post pattern for a 28-yard score that increased the lead to 17-6 with 13:06 left in the second quarter.
Bryant was leveled but held onto the ball.
"The impact was crazy and I am glad I hung onto it," said Bryant, who has 13 receptions for 275 yard and a score during the three-game winning streak.
On the next drive Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel hooked up with Devin Gray on their second TD pass of the game, from 10 yards.
Earlier in the second quarter Temple's Artrel Foster left the game for good with a shoulder injury, after defending Gray on his first touchdown reception, a 4-yarder.
Derrek Thomas stepped in for Foster and the defense continued to dominate.
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