Temple Owl takeaways turn back Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, 31-17
Philadelphia – In front of a sparse crowd on Thursday evening at Lincoln Financial Field, the Temple Owls soared past the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa with the aid of two defensive touchdowns in somewhat of a breeze, 31-17. The Canes stuck pretty much to a short pass and running game never really challenging the Owls for big yards offensively. Guest Game Analysts Brian Donnelly (Towson), Bill Reilly (Juniata) and his nephew Joey (DT for his middle school team) were befuddled late in the game when the Owls stalled the clock with a lead by throwing the ball while the Golden Hurricanes kept running while playing catch-up. Neither team seemed to understand how to win this game without any solid clock management strategy.
Grand entrance for both teams in front of a small Thursday night crowd.
Pick for pick
A tip and an interception of an Anthony Russo pass by LB Cooper Edmiston halted Temple’s initial drive. However, the Owls got on the board first with Ty Mason’s pick six for 36 yards to give his team the 7-0 lead. Tulsa recoiled right away with a 75-yard drive ending with Corey Taylor’s three-yard score. Russo led the Owls after a kick return to the Golden Hurricanes 42 with a 41-yard bomb to Ventell Bryant followed by his one-yard TD scamper. The Owls drove again from 65 yards away with Ryquell Armstead (24 for 108, 1 TD) speeding around right end for a 22-yard score. Tulsa struggled to score a TD to get closer before settling for Nate Walker’s 18-yard FG as time expired at the half to favor Temple, 21-10.
Ryquell Armstead (7) races around the right side of Golden Hurricane defense.
Halftime topics
The Temple marching band performed at the half and all night to a Star Wars theme. That band always comes to have a good time. Supposedly talks continue for Temple to build a stadium of its own near campus off Broad Street in Philly. Bill Reilly says he can’t understand where they would have any room for parking. I’m not sure what the advantage will before Temple. Whatever the decision is it will come down to someone’s analysis regarding what will make the most money.
Temple’s marching units always seem to enjoy putting on a performance during their halftime shows.
Too many Golden Hurricane Turnovers
The Temple defense struck again in the third period. DT Michael Dogbe’s sack of Golden Hurricane QB Luke Skipper (22 of 41,195 yards, 3 INTs) forced a fumble. His fellow DT Karano Dioubate scooped it up and rumbled 50 yards for an Owl score to go up, 28-10.
This Luke Skipper pass went beyond the long reach of TE Cole Neph in the end zone in early action.
Putting it away
In the final period, Edmiston picked off another tipped Russo (7 of 20, 112, 2 INTs) pass to give Tulsa the ball from the 47. Corey Taylor (23 for 96 yards, 2 TDs) turned this Temple turnover into points with a five-yard TD run. The Golden Hurricanes forced Temple to punt from its seven and started in great field position at the 31. Just when it looked like Tulsa could cut the lead down to four, Skipper fumbled again. LB Chapelle Russell put Temple back on offense from their 49. Tulsa held to force a punt, but a short snap to blocking back Shaun Bradley resulted in a long run to the Golden Hurricane 15 for a fresh set of downs. Tulsa’s defense held the Owls to Will Mobely’s 33-yard FG with 4:24 left to play. The Owls sealed the 31-17 lead for the victory when S Benny Walls came up with his team’s third INT of the game. Overall, it seemed like a very lackadaisical game played by both teams.
Tulsa WR Jarion Anderson was met by a host of Temple defenders after this short reception.
Next!
Temple (2-2) heads to Boston College who lost it first game of the season to Purdue on Saturday. Tulsa (1-3) doesn’t play again until another Thursday in Houston on October 4. We will just happen to be in the neighborhood that night, so we are going. Of course, we have a few other games we will be attending before then. Next stop, Nashville for South Carolina at Vanderbilt in an SEC contest. The weekend before Houston, an Ivy League clash and a big game in the Big Ten. Stay tuned.