 OHIO 35, TEMPLE 31 With the two best defenses in the conference squaring off, few expected a shootout. Ohio outgained the Owls 521 yards to 437 Donte Harden paced the hosts with 322 all-purpose yards, an Ohio single-game record.
“I thought the offense played a complete game,” head coach Frank Solich said afterward. “I’m glad that that type of game came around on national TV.”
Most (184) of Harden’s 322 total yards came on the ground, which went a long way towards Ohio’s victory.
“You don’t have 9.2 yards per carry against anybody, let alone a great defensive ballclub such as Temple,” Solich said. “It was a super game for him.”
Ohio got the quick start it needed, especially in a big game. Led by the arm of Tyler Tettleton, the Bobcats drove 80 yards in less than three minutes to take a 7-0 lead.
Tettleton showed his great poise in the face of a tough Temple defense, completing 15-of-24 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.
“He is a key factor in our victories,” Harden said of his quarterback. “He is a double threat and keeps the defense off balance.”
The Owls then made a curious decision that would pay off as head coach Steve Addazio turned to sophomore backup quarterback Chris Coyer for a spark.
The deceptively quick Coyer led all Temple rushers with 188 yards on just 17 carries, a sign of just how much he caught the Bobcats off guard. He also got it done through the air, completing 8 of 14 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been told to prepare as if you’re a starter,” Coyer said. “When my number was called, I stepped up.”
“I thought that kid did a marvelous job for, really, the first time starting and playing significantly in his career,” Addazio said.
Temple received a break early in the second quarter when Donte Foster coughed up the ball on the Ohio 32. A late hit penalty on the play put Temple in business 17 yards from the end zone.
Coyer made his presence known on his first pass attempt of the season, finding Evan Rodriguez from five yards out to tie the game.
Ohio would answer, led by Tettleton, who would throw, run and even receive the ball during a 78-yard scoring drive that put Ohio back on top 14-7.
Coyer then made another beautiful throw to Rod Streater to even the score before half time.
The punch-counterpunch flow continued into the second half as Donte Harden broke off an 81-yard touchdown run.
Temple answered on the next drive as Bernard Pierce broke off his longest run of the night, a 20-yard touchdown that was set up by more impressive runs by Coyer.
A 27-yard field goal by Brandon McManus gave the Owls a 24-21 lead with just under 11 minutes to play.
Ohio, as it did the entire season, turned toward playmaker LaVon Brazill, who did not disappoint. He made an incredible leaping catch at the Temple 2-yard line, setting up another Tettleton touchdown pass, this time to tight end Jordan Thompson.
Brazill had another great performance as his 7 receptions for 165 yards led Ohio receivers.
Temple did not go quietly. When Coyer ran and threw his way to a touchdown, making it 31-28 with 4:46 remaining.
With its season hanging in the balance, Ohio would not be denied as they had in previous weeks.
Tettleton found Harden on a play action pass that was good for a 50-yard gain. After punching the ball into the Temple red zone, Tettleton scrambled and connected with Donte Foster for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:41 left in the game.
Holding a four-point lead, the Ohio defense finally put the clamps on the Owls’ attack, securing the victory and control of the MAC East.
“Hopefully this game gives us some momentum going into the rest of the season and an advantage at the top of the MAC East,” Tettleton said of the victory.
As for the Owls, back-to-back losses to Bowling Green and Ohio leave them on the outside looking in yet again at a chance at a MAC championship.
“It’s hard to digest it all right now,” Addazio said. “It’s just such a hard loss to take in.”
The now bowl-eligible Bobcats will look to come one step closer to a MAC East title when they travel to Central Michigan next Thursday. Temple will look to break their losing streak Wednesday at home against Miami.
|
