PHILLY COLLEGE SPORTS FOOTBALL WEEK IN REVIEW
Temple Nationally Ranked, All Three City Schools Win
Games of October 17, 2015
#22/24 TEMPLE – Overall 6 – 0, 3 – 0 American Athletic Conference
Result – Won 30 – 16 vs. UCF at the Linc
Summary – The Owls improve to 6 – 0 to match the best start in program history and are bowl eligible. The Cherry and White were rewarded by breaking into the national rankings; #22 in the AP Poll, #24 in the Coaches Poll. Temple’s first ranking since the end of the 1979 season. The program will get national exposure with an 8 PM nationally televised game on October 31 against Notre Dame at a sold-out Linc. Between then and now is a Thursday night American game at East Carolina. In the contest against UCF, Temple faced a fourth quarter deficit that they overcame with an effective ground game and 2 scored by running back Jahad Thomas who ran for 199 yards. Thomas set a career-high in rushing yards and in carries with 31. The Owls defense held UCF to 134 yards of total offense, 67 yards each rushing and passing. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich registered 8 tackles to give him 407 in his career, and picked off a pass in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Sean Chandler turned the game in the Owls direction returning a punt 65 yards to set up the go-ahead score.
For more details on the game read Temple Overcomes UCF 30 – 16.
Next Game – October 22 at East Carolina
#23 VILLANOVA – Overall 3 – 3, 2 – 1 CAA
Result – Won 37 – 0 at Albany
Summary – The Wildcats put together a solid effort on both side of the ball to break a two-game losing streak. The offense ran the ball for a season-high 269 yards. The defense forced 5 turnovers to earn their first shutout since 2013. Villanova had 421 yards of total offense. Running back Javon White led the way on the ground with 124 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Zach Bednarczyk completed all 12 of his passing attempts for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. He established the school record for the highest passing percentage in a single game. For his effort Bednarczyk was named the CAA Rookie of the Week. On the defensive side of the ball the Wildcats had four interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Blue and White were led by safety Cameron McCurry who was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week. He made 5 tackles, 2 interceptions, and forced a fumble. It was the first time McCurry recorded two interceptions in a game. The forced fumble came at the 4 yard-line with Albany threatening to score a second quarter touchdown. Villanova takes the field next on Saturday night at Towson.
Next Game – October 24 at Towson
PENN – Overall 2 –3, Ivy League 1 – 1
Result – Won 42 – 7 at Columbia
Summary – It was a great story line with Ray Priore facing former Penn Coach Al Bagnoli. It was the players on the field that decided the issue, and it was heavily in the direction of the University of Pennsylvania who picked up their first league victory of the year. It was the largest win for Penn since a 52 – 10 victory at Princeton in 2010. The Red and Blue have won 19 straight games over the Lions, the fifth-longest winning streak in FCS history over an annual opponent. Columbia took a 7 – 0 lead in their first possession of the game. Penn answered with a 19 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alek Torgersen to tight end Ryan Kelly. A touchdown reception by Christian Pearson, who set a school record for a freshman with 10 receptions in the game. His 126 yards receiving set his career mark. Pearson was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week. Torgersen was 19 of 29 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, the Quakers registered four turnovers and had five sacks. Penn has a televised game on Friday night hosting Yale.
Next Game – October 23 vs. Yale at Franklin Field
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