USF Gains a Program Record 421 Yards on the Ground, Breaks 13 Game Conference Losing Streak
October 23, 2021 –
The USF Bulls broke their 13 game American Athletic Conference losing streak beating the Temple Owls by 20 points in Tampa. The formula was the ability to run on the Owls defense, keeping possession of the ball. In turn limit the Cherry and White to just 35 plays on offense. Not enough. Temple loses 34 – 14.
In rushing yards USF amassed a 421 – 48 advantage. The Bulls averaged 5.8 yards per carry against a depleted Owls defense. Jaren Mangham led the way with 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. Fellow back Kelly Joiner, Jr. ran for 126 yards and one score.
Controlling the ball kept the Temple offense on the sidelines. The Owls had 48 yards on the ground and 183 through the air. The time of possession was heavily lopsided toward the Bulls. The numbers showed USF had the ball for just under three quarters of the game (44:35 to 15:25). In the fourth quarter alone the Owls were on offense for a mere 1:34.
The number of plays showed a disparity of almost 60 plays in the Bulls favor. The Owls had just 35.
“It was just details, our fundamentals, and making sure we were executing at a high-level,” said Temple linebacker William Kwenkeu. “We didn’t do that. They didn’t do any trick plays. It was just tackling from the defensive side of the ball. They just kept running the ball.”
Temple had the ball for 3 plays in the first quarter. Still the game was tied at zero. USF took the lead early in the second quarter when Mangham capped a 19-play, 80-yard drive taking 9:04 with a one-yard scoring plunge. With 4:47 to halftime the Bulls went on a 12-play, 93-yard drive that ended with Demarcus Gregory catching a 4-yard scoring toss from Timmy McClain. It was the start of 6 consecutive possessions where the Green and Gold scored.
Temple fought back on the next play. Wide Receiver Randle Jones hauled in a 70-yard pass from D’Wan Mathis to cut the lead to 14 – 7. Jones would lead the Owls with 100 yards receiving on 4 catches.
But the home team got a field goal just before halftime and took a 10-point lead into the locker room.
Temple got the first touchdown of the second half on a one-yard run by Edward Saydee. The Owls were in proximity.
Then thing snowballed in USF’s direction getting a field goal from Spencer Shrader then touchdowns from Joiner, Jr. and Mangham. The Bulls kept the ball in the fourth quarter for 13:26 mainly on the ground. Temple did not have an answer.
The longest gain for USF went for 25 yards the entire night.
Mathis completed 12 of 21 for the Cherry and White for 183 yards and one score with two picked off. He ran for 22 yards. But having the ball that little did not allow for the Owls to establish an offensive rhythm. Saydee gained 27 yards as the Owls leading rusher. Jadan Blue caught 5 passes for 38 yards. Temple was hurt by injuries on that side of the ball as well.
“We got beat bad,” said Temple Coach Rod Carey. “It’s the only was to put it. They took it to us tonight.”
Temple falls to 3 – 4 overall and 1 – 2 in the American. They have lost their last two games by a large margin. It will not get easier as UCF comes to the Linc next Saturday. To get back the first step is the Owls need to stay together as a team.
“This is where we have to have each others back,” Mathis exclaimed. “To come together and stick together. Nobody knows what we go through except us every day. Until we get back to Philly, get back together, and come together. If we don’t the same thing is going to happen. If we do get together and fight. we’re going to be a great team. We’re still a good team. We lost two games. This game we weren’t who we expected to be.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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