The UConn Huskies are 3-3 heading into their bye week after defeating Temple at Lincoln Financial Field, 34-20, behind a monstrous offensive performance in the first half. The Husky lead was never bigger than seven until the fourth quarter; both teams lit up the scoreboard early before a quieter second half.
Turnovers played a large role in deciding this game, which had all the markings of a higher-scoring shootout at first. The score was 7-7 less than three minutes in as both teams quickly found the end zone in their opening drives, and it was 14-14 well before the end of the first quarter.
A Temple fumble in the first half helped the Huskies add to their lead before the break, and another fumble in the fourth quarter set up a touchdown that made it 31-21 with 7:52 remaining.
The Huskies got off to a fast start, sending their second play from scrimmage 38 yards to Ryder Treadway before QB Kalieb Osborne kept from 12 yards out for the first score of the day, making it 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Temple struck right back on its first play from scrimmage with a 79-yard TD pass from Ajani Sheppard to Jojo Bermudez to make it 7-7.
UConn marched down the field again, with Kenji Christian taking it to the house from 39 yards out nearly untouched, to go ahead 14-7. Temple responded with its own sustained drive, notching five first downs before a wide-receiver double-pass for a 29-yard TD tied it up again.
Facing 4th & 3 from the Temple nine-yard line, UConn failed to convert, marking the first possession to end without a score.
The Huskies could have benefited from pinning the home team down on their own end, but a late hit and facemask penalties pushed the home team into enemy territory. The Owls took their first lead of the game after a field goal, 17-14, with eight minutes left in the second quarter.
A 51-yard Trey Cornist run on the next drive set him up for a short rushing TD two plays later, making it 21-17. Then Temple RB Keveun Mason fumbled while the Owls were driving in Husky territory, allowing the visitors to put up another field goal as time expired at the half, making it 24-17 UConn.
The second half started with two punts for each team before Temple cut into the lead with a field goal, 24-20. The Huskies went three-and-out for the second time in the half, at a point where their only other drive went four plays for four yards.
Another Owls turnover helped them build their lead.
A sack-fumble recovered by K’Von Sherman got the fourth quarter off to a good start. Osborne found Flash Wilson twice for a total of 24 yards to get the drive started. Facing a crucial 3rd & 10 from the Temple 36, Osborne hung in the pocket, as he did so many times, to find Bowers for 18 and get the Huskies into the red zone.
Three plays later, Bowers bounced a dive-run outside for an eight-yard score, making it 31-20 with 7:52 left. Temple went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and UConn used its backs to drain the clock from there, running Bowers four times before giving the rock to Cornist again. Jack O’Connor put it away with a field goal to get us to our final score.
Next, the Huskies are off for a week before they host UMass on Friday, October 23rd at 7 p.m. in Rentschler Field. The Minutemen are 4-2 following their 20-19 loss against Miami (OH) earlier today. The game under the Friday-night lights will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Scoring Summary
First-quarter
UConn: 12:43 - Kalieb Osborne 12-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards. TOP 2:17. UConn 7, Temple 0
Temple: 12:28 - Ajani Sheppard 79-yard passing touchdown to JoJo Bermudez. Drive: 1 play, 79 yards. TOP 0:10. UConn 7, Temple 7
UConn: 10:18 - Kenji Christian 39-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards. TOP 2:10. UConn 14, Temple 7
Temple: 4:43 - Colin Chase 29-yard passing touchdown to Peter Clarke. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards. TOP 5:31. UConn 14, Temple 14
Second-quarter
Temple: 8:13 - Carl Hardin 26-yard field goal. Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards. TOP 7:02. UConn 14, Temple 17
UConn: 5:55 - Trey Cornist 1-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards. TOP 2:18. UConn 21, Temple 17
UConn: 0:02 - Jack O’Connor 21-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards. TOP 1:52. UConn 24, Temple 17
Third-quarter
Temple: 2:42 - Carl Hardin 29-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards. TOP 4:17. UConn 24, Temple 20
Fourth-quarter
UConn: 7:52 - Cyncir Bowers 8-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards. TOP 4:16. UConn 31, Temple 20
UConn: 1:05 - Jack O’Connor 27-yard field goal. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards. TOP 5:19. UConn 34, Temple 20
