The USF Bulls gave another running back a career day as Ryquell Armstead and the Temple Owls ran all over them. Armstead has 594 total yards in his two year career, 210 courtesy of a flimsy USF defense in Friday night’s nationally televised game.
Temple had the first lead in the game when their opening drive of the game stalled on the USF five yard line, forcing Aaron Bournnerhi to kick a 22 yard field goal with 7:10 remaining in the first quarter.
USF would answer two possessions later when quarterback, Quinton Flowers, connected with Marques Valdes-Scantling for a 27 yard touchdown, putting the Bulls up 7-3 with 0:19 left in the first quarter.
After beginning the game with a nearly eight minute drive that ended in three points, the Owls again burned eight minutes of clock time on the next drive of the game. The drive ended when quarterback, Phillip Walker, passed to Colin Thompson for a one yard touchdown, retaking the lead for Temple, 10-7.
Instead of eight minutes, the Bulls responded in eight plays, the final being a 31 yard touchdown pass by Flowers to Tyre McCants. Emilio Nadelman’s extra point attempt was blocked and recovered by Temple, but they were not able to score on the failed attempt. With just over five minutes remaining in the half, USF led, 13-10.
The Owls were just not having it tonight, responding to the Bulls’ touchdown with another one of their own. This time it was a 76 yard run by Armstead, a season long for him, which gave Temple the lead back, 20-13. Neither team would score again until the second half.
USF had won the coin toss and deferred possession until the second half. On that first drive, they would drive to the Temple 25 before coming up on a fourth and ten. Nadelman made a 42 yard field goal attempt, closing the gap to 20-16, Temple.
Temple would punt on their next drive, after stalling on their own 46 yard line. The Owl’s punt gave USF possession on their own 16. On first down, Flowers ran for 50 yards, giving them a first down on the Temple 18 yard line. On the next snap, running back, Marlon Mack, would run 16 yards to the Temple 18. Flowers would cap the drive off with a three yard touchdown run two plays later and the Bulls would retake the lead, 23-20.
On the very next possession, the Owls took the lead back when Armstead scored on a 42 yard touchdown run. That field position was set up by a 12 yard run by Jahad Thomas and a 24 yard run by Isiah Wright. With 3:53 left in the third quarter, Temple led 27-23.
The Bulls would go three and out in their next possession. Running back to back running plays for one yard losses and throwing incomplete to receiver, Rodney Adams, gave USF 4th and 12 on their own 27 yard line. Things went from bad to worse, however, because the punt by Avery Ellis was blocked. Temple recovered and took possession on the USF five yard line. It took them all of two plays to score the next touchdown, a nine yard run by Jahad Thomas, expanding their lead to 34-23.
USF would punt on their next drive, a quick three and out for -3 total yards. Temple seized the momentum after stopping the Bulls on two consecutive drives. Another Bournnerhi field goal, this time from 42 yard out, would put the Owls up 37-23.
On the next drive, the Bulls would make the game interesting, scoring on a 30 yard touchdown run by Mack. That play was set up by a 30 and 13 yard reception by Adams.
Trailing by just seven, USF looked in position to get things going their way again. Penalties on three consecutive plays set the Bulls up on their own goal line with a 3rd and 23. Flowers was injured on the third down run, forcing backup quarterback, Brett Kean, to check into the game. Kean’s only pass would be a floater over the middle, that was quickly picked off by Temple’s Delvon Randall with 3:23 left in the game.
The interception was returned to the three yard line, setting up an easy touchdown run for Thomas to put the Owls in a commanding 44-30 lead.
A penalty on USF during the following kickoff combined with a touchback gave the Bulls first down on their own five yard line. On the first snap of the drive, and just his second in the game, Kean is sacked in the end zone for a safety. The Bulls attempted an onside kick, but it failed.
Armstead would finish with a pair of rushing touchdowns to compliment his 209 rushing yards. Thomas finished with just 56 rushing yards, but two rushing touchdowns. Walker passed for 209 yards and one touchdown.
Flowers had a decent game, despite the loss. He passed for 187 yards and two touchdowns. On run plays, he has just 90 yards and one touchdown. Mack is second in rushing yards with just 67 and one score.
With the win, Temple moves to 4-3 (3-1) and 2-1 in the all-time series with USF. With the tie-breaker against USF, Temple is now in first place in the AAC East. The Owls will host Cincinnati a week from Saturday.
USF drops to 6-2 (3-1) on the season. With their post season path no longer in their control, they’ll have to hope someone else knocks off the Owls and they win out.
