Temple’s Jahad Thomas had a big night for the Owls (Photo by: Michael Corsey @ Michael Corsey Photography)

At times it was hard to tell which was the 0-6 team, as Temple made a series of miscues that allowed UCF to hang around most of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Finally in the fourth quarter, the Owls pulled away to win 30-16 and improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1974. Running back Jahad Thomas had two of his three touchdown runs in the fourth quarter which enabled the Owls to overcome four turnovers. The Temple (6-0, 3-0 American) defense was the star holding the Knights (0-7, 0-3 American) to 134 total yards and forcing them to go three-of-15 on third down conversions.

“That was a dominating defensive effort,” said Owls head coach Matt Rhule, who has the team bowl eligible for the second year in a row. “I thought our defense hung in there when drives were extended due to penalties. I thought our defense played really well and we had the turnovers at the end of the game that we really needed.”

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Sean Chandler returned a UCF punt 65 yards to the Knights 21. Two plays later, Thomas broke through the line and went 22 yards to put the Owls ahead to stay.
Later in the quarter Thomas, who finished with a career-high199 yards on 31 carries, scored from 21 yards out.

“We knew that everyone was going to come and give us their best,” said Thomas, who has 756 yards and 10 touchdowns on 145 carries this season, “because of the success that we had early on. We have a target on our back. Everyone wants to take a shot at us. So, we regrouped at half time and made the plays that we were supposed to make. Being in those situations and just knowing we will and can pull through helps us as we continue our season.”

The Owls looked like they solved one of their biggest problems – slow starts – by taking the opening kickoff and marching 73 yards in nine plays to go up 7-0 on a 12-yard run by Thomas. A 22-yard completion from P.J. Walker to Robby Anderson on a third-and-six and a 19-yard run by Thomas were the key plays. However, the Owls would gain only 28 yards combined on their next two possessions. The Knights got their offense going on their third possession which ended with a 48-yard field goal by Matthew Wright.

Temple would answer with Ventell Bryant’s first career touchdown catch. A long completion from Walker to John Christopher and a beautifully run screen pass to Thomas helped set up the three-yard scoring play.

On the ensuing Knights possession, Adonis Jennings blocked a punt and the Owls were in business at the UCF 29 but Walker was under pressure and threw an ill-advised pass. Shaquill Griffin intercepted it, raced 80 yards for the touchdown and suddenly the Owls went from the chance to be up 18 to only leading by four midway through the second quarter.

A special teams blunder by the Owls allowed UCF the further cut into the lead, Anderson muffed a punt and the Knights’ T.J. Mutcherson recovered it. Just before halftime, Wright kicked a 27-yard field goal.

It was an ugly third quarter for the Owls, they lost the lead on another Wright field goal, muffed another punt and fumbled a snap while in shotgun formation. Still thanks the defense, the Owls had a chance in the fourth quarter.

Email Rock Hoffman at rock@footballstories.com