In a defensive back and forth game. Temple would hit a game winning field goal in OT to take down Florida Atlantic 18-15 for their 3rd win of the season!
This afternoon's game was one for the history books for Temple. In the 100+ year history of Temple football, this marked their first game against a school whose mascot is an Owl. Today's game was also a reunion for head coach Stan Drayton. He faced Tom Herman who was the head coach of Texas while Drayton was an assistant. Both Drayton and Herman were assistants on the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes team that won the National Championship.
Temple began the game with the ball after returner Terrez Worthy had a return of 40 yards. Even with the great starting field position, Temple would settle for only 3 points on their opening drive. Kicker Maddux Trujillo was able to connect from 54 yards to give Temple the 3-0 lead. Trujillo continues to show all of college football that he has one of the strongest legs in the entire country. This kick could have had connected from 65 yards.
On Florida Atlantic's opening drive, the Owls converted on 4th down once, but failed to do so a 2nd time, handing the ball over to Temple on their own 20-yard line. After Temple failed to get any positive yardage, Florida Atlantic took over.
After a drive that saw only positive yards courtesy of blown coverages by Temple and multiple Temple penalties, Florida Atlantic RB CJ Campbell was able to find the gap and run the ball in for a Florida Atlantic touchdown to give them the 7-3 lead.
The first half seemed to be all Florida Atlantic. Temple struggled to move the ball during the 1st half. QB Evan Simon's pocket collapsed almost immediately on every drop back. The Temple defense would come up with a stop when they needed to, but they still allowed Florida Atlantic's offense to run all over them.
Temple was close to putting up some points to end the half, but Trujillo's 35-yard field goal attempt was off the upright, and Temple went into the half down 4.
Temple began the 3rd quarter with a 3 and out stop of Florida Atlantic. On their first offensive drive, they were able to push the ball a ton on the ground. However, they then decided to start passing the ball, and once again the pocket collapsed within a second of the snap. Trujillo came out for another field goal attempt. Once again, he had the distance but hooked the kick right for his 2nd missed FG of the game.
Florida Atlantic QB Kasen Weisman left the game in the 3rd quarter with a lower body injury. Even though he was able to walk off the field, he needed training assistants to help. Tyriq Starks would take over at QB for the Owls and would remain in for the conclusion of the game.
Florida Atlantic failed to take advantage of another Temple missed kick and punted on their next drive. On Temple's next drive, Trujillo came out and was able to connect from 50 yards. This brought Temple within one and the score was now 7-6.
Temple's first big drive of the game began late in the 3rd quarter. A 13-play drive that took over 8 minutes and 13 plays was capped off with a Terrez Worthy 1 yard run to give Temple the lead. After a failed 2-point conversion, Temple would take a 12-7 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the game.
Temple took over after a FAU punt with 6:11 left in the game and a 5-point lead. Temple would need to be strategic to not allow FAU another possession. Temple was able to shave over 4 minutes off the clock. Even though Temple was unable to seal the game with a TD, Maddux Trujillo was able to connect from 47 yards to push Temple's lead to 8.
Down 8 with 1:52 left in the game, Florida Atlantic would take over. After a 31-yard pain by Cj Campbell and a penalty on Temple, Florida Atlantic has found themselves on Temple's 25-yard line with 1:17 left in the game. CJ Campbell was able to find the endzone for a 2nd time today to bring Florida Atlantic within 2 with 34 seconds left. In the home of the Eagles, Florida Atlantic ran the Philly Special on the 2-point conversion. With the score tied at 15-15 with 34 seconds left and 1 timeout, it was a last-ditch effort for them to try and win it in regulation. Temple was unable to do anything and for the 1st time all season, Temple was headed to overtime.
Today's game was the 1st home overtime for Temple since 2018 in a victory over Cincinnati.
Temple won the toss and elected to play defense to begin the 1st OT. The Temple defense showed up in the 1st OT period. Back-to-back sacks for Temple would set up a FAU field goal. The big defensive stops for Temple would turn out to be huge, because Florida Atlantic's field goal attempt sailed left. Temple would take over in the 1st overtime and would win the game with any kind of score.
Temple would be conservative in the 1st OT period. Maddux Trujillo came up with the clutch kick. A 38-yard field goal gave Temple the walkoff win.
Stan Drayton's halftime message to the team must have worked. Florida Atlantic out gained Temple in every area in the 1st half. Coming out of half, Temple was able to out gain Florida Atlantic both in the air and on the ground. Temple ended the game with a significant advantage of time of possession, but Temple controlled the ball flawlessly in the 2nd half. Even though most drives did not end with points, the Temple defense only allowed FAU to convert on two 3rd downs in regulation allowed them to make up for the missed field goals.
Temple (3-7) will return next Friday on the road against UTSA. Florida Atlantic (2-8) will host Charlotte next Saturday.
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