Temple hosts UConn with chance to go to AAC title game

One more would give the Owls the second 10-win season in program history and more importantly, a matchup next week at Friday’s victor between 16th-ranked Navy and No. 21 Houston with a New Year’s Six bowl bid possibly at stake.

Turning a 2-10 team into a 10-2 team is almost unheard of in the college football universe.

“We will go back and see where they’re at since we haven’t studied them yet”, he said.

Rhule took over at Temple in 2013, and now holds an 18-18 record through three seasons.

“We kept buying in, buying in”, said senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who had 11 tackles. “Having that trophy is an accomplishment, but we want to win the game next week”. “We have more work to do”.

There’s always a chance for a switch to happen, but right now for Rhule and the Owls, the main focus has to be on Houston and the AAC title next week. This team is something special. “Give credit to all the seniors who stuck it out”. The Huskies lost starting quarterback Bryant Shirreffs early in the game to a head injury, and he is questionable for Saturday. The Huskies managed four yards of offense in the third quarter, while the defense continued to try to push Temple away from the end zone, but with so much possession for the Owls, it was an overwhelming task. It was the fourth time this season the Owls held an opponent under 200 total yards.

UConn, 2-10 in coach Bob Diaco’s first season in 2014, earned only its third win in 26 games against ranked teams since joining the FBS in 2000.

Shirreffs was in uniform but didn’t play, so the Huskies used Tim Boyle, Garrett Anderson and receiver Noel Thomas at quarterback and often times called upon different quarterbacks on the same series.

All that against a team that beat previously-undefeated Houston last week, albeit without Ward.

Jahad Thomas broke off a 60 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter to put the icing on the cake, as the #25 Owls shut down UConn, 27-3. That run capped a four play-49 yard drive that saw Thomas carry the ball three times to go with a 16-yard pass completion from Walker to Romond Deloatch.

Things didn’t change in the second half as a 37-yard field goal by Jones and 6-yard touchdown pass from P.J. Walker to Ramond Deloatch pushed the Owls’ lead to 20-0.

“Wow, we’re going to a championship”, Thomas said.

The Owls added a 20-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Austin Jones to lead 10-0 at halftime. And Temple took advantage.

He finished with 119 yards and the two scores on 20 carries.

Gunner Kiel drove Cincinnati to the Pirates’ 25-yard line and Gantz hit his second winning field goal against East Carolina in as many years.

ABOUT UCONN (6-5, 4-3 AAC): After dropping five of six, the Huskies have won their last three games – allowing an average of 11 points. The site reported that Missouri met with Toledo head coach Matt Campbell on Saturday.

ILLINOIS DECISION COMING: Interim Illinois athletic director Paul Kowalczyk said that ideally a decision will be made by Sunday about whether interim coach Bill Cubit gets the job permanently.