Fordham Rams vs Temple Owls Match Player Stats On Sep 14, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 14, 2013

Fordham 30, Temple 29: Michael Nebrich's 29-yard touchdown pass to Sam Ajala with four seconds left gave the visiting Rams a stunning upset over the FBS Owls.

Nebrich completed 23-of-36 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns and Ajala caught seven passes for 134 yards in a back-and-forth battle that included seven lead changes. Kicker Michael Marando nailed three field goals and three extra points, including the game-winning point-after that gave the Rams their first 3-0 start.

Temple (0-3) started Clinton Granger at quarterback and he completed just 6-of-15 passes for 58 yards and an interception with a 1-yard rushing TD in the first half before freshman Connor Reilly took over at midway through the third quarter. Reilly, who started the first two games of the season but suffered an injury against Houston last week, was 7-for-8 passing to help the Owls mount a comeback from a 13-7 halftime deficit.

Kenneth Harper ran for a 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter and then Reilly ran for a 15-yard score in the fourth as the Owls took a one-point lead. Reilly hit Chris Coyer for a 7-yard score with 4:34 remaining and Granger rushed for the 2-point conversion as Temple went up 29-23.

Fordham's Carlton Koonce rushed for 168 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Brian Wetzel caught an 18-yard pass from Nebrich in the third quarter as the Rams went up 20-7. Fordham did not commit a turnover.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Fordham is now 5-0 in the series against the Owls after winning the first meeting since 1950. ...Temple LB Tyler Matakevich tackled Koonce on the 1-yard line for a fourth-down stop on Fordham's opening drive. ...A fake punt attempt by Brett Biestek in the second quarter failed to get a first down, giving the Owls field position at the Rams’ 38-yard line to set up a Temple scoring drive for Granger's 1-yard scoring run.