AAC title: Despite loss, No. 20 Temple coach remains upbeat

The Cougars ran out the clock to win their first conference championship since 2006 – when they won the Conference USA crown.

“This isn’t deflating”, coach Matt Rhule said.

Honestly, Temple’s defense did a better job than expected defending Ward, given the huge days it allowed to Kizer and Flowers. (1) runs for a 47-yard touchdown against Temple during the second quarter of the American Athletic Conference championship football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Houston.

Ward scored on runs of 47 and 10 yards as the Cougars (12-1) handled the Owls to record the second 12-win season in school history. The Owl drive got to the Houston 33 yard-line, thanks to 19+ yard plays from both RB Jahad Thomas and WR Romond Deloatch. Houston is guaranteed a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game – either the Fiesta or Peach – when bowl destinations are announced Sunday. The Owls will find out which bowl game they play in tomorrow. To nobody’s surprise, Ward was named the game’s most outstanding player. “These kids haven’t been to a bowl game yet”.

It’s unclear as to why they went after the fans. Temple held Ward to 88 yards in the air, but the QB rushed for 148 yards, becoming the only quarterback in Houston history to accumulate over 1,000 yards on the ground in a season.

On the legs of Houston QB Greg Ward Jr., the West Division Champion Cougars rushed for 253 yards. “We played really good defense at times, but he was just a difference maker, which he has been all year”. Temple LB Stephaun Marshall got the key stop on the drive, as he tackled Demarcus Ayers causing him to drop what would have been a first down conversion. “When the ball is in his hands you know usually good things are going to happen”. We never took the ball away from them, credit to them.

The 2-0 turnover margin is a trend for Houston.

Houston led 17-3 at halftime and added to its lead when Ward ran 10 yards for a score with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Anderson caught a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it a 14-point game again, and early in the fourth quarter, Jones kicked 39-yard field, but Temple didn’t get any closer. Halfway through the second quarter, the Cougars would add to the lead as kicker Ty Cummings hits 24 yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Houston had a 0-for-4 third down conversion rate in the second half after going 5-of-10 in the first half.

Temple’s star senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich is proud of the turnaround the program has made in just two seasons.

Johnny Jefferson ran for 158 yards for Baylor and had enough yards to convert a fourth-and-4 with 2:31 left before he fumbled. Temple remains without a conference title…. Walker’s pass was incomplete to sophomore wide receiver Adonis Jennings, and the Cougars took over on their own 38-yard line.