Memphis Tigers vs Temple Owls Match Player Stats On Nov 21, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015

PHILADELPHIA -- A Temple defense that was lit into by coach Matt Rhule during the week after two sloppy performances bailed out an offense that twice failed to convert on fourth down in its own territory and a punt team that had a kick blocked at its own 21-yard line.

The result was an effort that kept Memphis (8-3, 4-3), averaging 43.7 points per game, out of the end zone in a 31-12 victory for the Owls over the No. 21 Tigers at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday.

Temple (9-2, 6-1) can clinch the American Conference East Division title if South Florida loses at Central Florida on Thanksgiving, or if the Owls defeating visiting Connecticut next Saturday night.

The Owls' defense yielded a combined 75 points (out of a total of 84 against) and 953 yards the last two games -- 60-40 win at SMU and a 44-23 loss at USF.

Kip Patton's 15-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep, the first touchdown of the tight end's career, gave the Owls a little breathing room at 24-12 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

One of the key plays on the 75-yard drive was quarterback P.J. Walker's 16-yard scramble to the Temple 41 on third-and-10.

On their next possession, the Owls bled 7:59 off the clock on a 13-play, 62-yard drive that resulted in a 35-yard field goal by Austin Jones with 5:25 to play to give them a 24-12 lead.

Walker's 19-yard touchdown pass to Saledeem Major with 3:22 remaining completed the scoring

After stopping Temple on fourth-and-one from the Owls' 44-yard line, Jake Elliott's 40-yard field goal with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter trimmed Temple's lead to 14-12.

Trailing 14-9, Memphis had an opportunity to take an early third-quarter lead.

Temple punter Alex Starzyk rolled to his right rugby style and had his kick blocked by Wynton McManis. That set up Memphis at the Temple 21, but the Tigers came away empty handed when Elliott's 36-yard field goal hit high up on the right upright.

Despite turnovers deep in Memphis territory on their first two possessions, Temple managed to take a 14-9 lead into halftime thanks in part to big plays through the air.

David Hood's 14-yard touchdown run with 4:36 left in the opening half gave the Owls a 14-6 lead. Brandon Shippen's 49-yard reception two plays earlier brought the ball to the 15-yard line.

The Owls capped a 75-yard drive when Walker and Romond Deloatch connected on a 13-yard touchdown with 8:14 remaining in the half to take their first lead, 7-6.

A 34-yard reception down the middle by a wide open Colin Thompson brought the ball to the Memphis 17.

The Memphis offense, held to 152 yards in the first 30 minutes, did just enough the in opening half to get points on the board. Elliott drilled three field goals, the third from 44 yards with 1:28 remaining to cut the deficit to 14-9.

NOTES: Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich became the fourth player in college football history to record at least 100 tackles in each of four seasons. ... Quarterback P.J. Walker's fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Saledeem Major was the 50th of his career to establish a Temple school record. The previous mark was held by Henry Burris (1993-96). ... With his first-quarter field goal, Jake Elliott became the third player in Memphis history to reach 300 career points. ... Memphis last failed to reach the end zone in a 24-3 loss last Sept. 27 at Ole Miss. The last time the Tigers did not score a touchdown in a conference game was in a 41-0 loss at UCF on Oct. 29, 2011 when they were in Conference USA.