Philly College Football Week In Review – Games Of September 12, 2015

PHILLY COLLEGE SPORTS FOOTBALL WEEK IN REVIEW

Temple Defeats Conference Favorite On The Road, Villanova Wins In The Rain

Games of September 12

TEMPLE – Overall 2 – 0, 1 – 0 American Athletic Conference

Result – Won 34 –  26 at Cincinnati

Summary – The Owls traveled to Cincinnati to face the preseason favorite and defending conference co-champion.  They came away with their first win at Nippert Stadium breaking a five game losing streak against the Bearcats.  The Cherry and White were led by running back Jahad Thomas who gained a career-high 193 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown, a 56-yard scamper.  Temple took a 10 – 6 lead at halftime.  Thomas opened the third quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return increasing the advantage to 11 points.  Cincinnati came right back with an 88-yard scoring toss from quarterback Gunner Kiel to Mekale McKay.  The Owls answered scoring the next 17 points started by the 56-yard run scoring run by Thomas.  The game was far from over.  The Bearcats put together two scoring drives to cut the deficit to 34 – 26.  The Cherry and White seemed poised to put the game away, but Tomas was stripped of the ball and the hosts had one last chance.  Gunner drove his team to the Temple 5 yard line.  Looking for a score that Gunner passed into the endzone, but the pass was tipped by Owls defensive back Sean Chandler.  The ball settled into the arms of linebacker Tyler Matakevich for an interception, his second of the game, as 13 seconds showed on the clock.  Matakevich recorded 13 tackles.  The Temple defense picked off 4 passes and had a fumble recovery.  The Owls defense leads the American in sacks (11) and interceptions (5).  Matakevich, named the conference defensive player of the week, leads the conference in sacks, along with Nate D. Smith, and interceptions.  Thomas leads the league in rushing at 164 yards per game.  His 342 all-purpose yards (132 on kickoff returns) earned Thomas a spot on the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Players of the Week.  He also was named to the Weekly Paul Hourning Award Honor Roll/

Next Game – September 19 at Massachusetts

#6 VILLANOVA – Overall 1 – 1, 0 – 0 CAA

Result – Won 14 – 7 at Fordham

Summary – On a rainy night in the Bronx Villanova got a stellar defensive effort and a career-high 143 yards from Javon White to earn the victory.  The Wildcats got a passing and rushing touchdown from quarterback John Robertson for their points.  Wide Receiver Aaron Wells caught 4 passes for a career–high 87 yards.  Villanova led 14 – 7 at halftime, then turned the game over to the defense as the conditions worsened.  The Wildcats limited the Rams to 182 yards of offense.  Fordham running back Chad Edmonds, the reigning FCS Freshman of the Year, was held to 74 rushing yards and 10 yards receiving.  Villanova linebacker Austin Calitro recorded a career-best 10 tackles.  Linebacker Don Cherry added 9 tackles.  The Wildcats linebacking corps combined for 28 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and forced a fumble.

Next Game – September 19 vs. Delaware at Villanova Stadium

PENN – Overall 0 –0, Ivy League 0 – 0

Result – Season Opener is September 19, 2015

Summary –

Next Game – September 19  at Lehigh