Temple Owls Edge Out Florida Atlantic in Overtime Nail-Biter
In a closely contested matchup that went into overtime, the Temple Owls secured an 18-15 victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. This win improves Temple's season record to 3-7, while Florida Atlantic falls to 2-8. Despite a challenging season, Temple showed resilience and tactical acumen to clinch the win in front of a home crowd of 12,291 attendees.
Key Moments and Performances
The game was characterized by its defensive plays and strategic field goals. Temple's defense was on full display with two sacks and four tackles for loss, contributing significantly to keeping Florida Atlantic at bay. Tyquan King and Diwun Black stood out on defense for Temple with one sack each; King also added a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
On special teams, Maddux Trujillo played a pivotal role by successfully converting four out of six field goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards with his longest being 54 yards. This performance was crucial in keeping the scoreboard ticking in favor of Temple.
Offensively, wide receiver Dante Wright had an outstanding game with 147 receiving yards on 14 receptions. His ability to consistently get open provided quarterback Evan Simon with a reliable target throughout the game. Simon completed 24 out of his 41 pass attempts for 218 yards, maintaining composure under pressure especially during critical moments in overtime.
Strategic Gameplay
Temple's strategy leaned heavily towards ball control as evidenced by their possession time of over 37 minutes compared to Florida Atlantic's time under control. The offensive line paved the way for a ground attack that accumulated 130 rushing yards across multiple carriers. Terrez Worthy contributed notably with one rushing touchdown which proved essential in extending the lead during overtime.
The efficiency within the red zone was another highlight for Temple as they capitalized on two out of three opportunities presented to them. Their ability to convert on fourth down twice without fail showcased their determination and confidence in clutch situations.
As both teams battled through regulation time into overtime tied at points apiece, it was Trujillo’s field goal that ultimately sealed the deal for Temple Owls giving them an edge over their counterparts from Florida Atlantic.
Looking ahead, The Temple Owls will face off against UTSA Roadrunners at Alamodome in San Antonio on November 22nd at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN2 as both teams strive for victory late into this season.