The defense, which had been dominant, suddenly had no answer for the Owls’ attack.
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Under normal circumstances, Wake Forest’s main focus entering the Military Bowl would be to secure a winning season by ending a three-game losing streak.
Wake Forest led 12-0 before Louisville exploded for 44 unanswered points, 34 of which came in the fourth quarter. After dropping a 34-27 game to Memphis on October 6, Temple was 3-3 and staring at the possibility of a.500 season. The Deacons were 125th out of 128 FBS teams in Total Offense this season. “It’s a three-year deal”, Clawson said.
TEMPLE KEY TRENDS: The Owls are a flawless 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games coming off a win of more than 20 points and are also 23-8 against the number in their last 31 games coming off a successful cover. Between the two they scored 27 touchdowns on the ground.
Wofford remained on a training table being examined by the team’s medical staff with a neck strain and did not return.
Wake Forest will henceforth associate the postseason contest based in Washington, D.C. with positive memories.
“I landed on my head when I feel”, Wolford said.
Temple’s offense suddenly went silent, picking up just three first downs and having to punt on three straight possessions. “He went to the sideline and got it taped up and kept going”. Walker and Jennings connected again 52 seconds into the third quarter, this time from 58 yards.
No. 23 Temple (10-3, AAC) vs. Wake Forest (6-6, ACC), 3:30 p.m. EST (ESPN).
Ejiofor finished with six tackles, half a sack and an interception.
INTO THE UNKNOWN: Although Temple hasn’t played Wake Forest in 86 years, the Owls know quite a bit about their ACC foe.
“It feels wonderful”, Brown said. “We want this to be something that happens every year”. I am just trying to fight back tears right now. “I really don’t even know how to describe it”.
“This is a great team, and we will be remembered”, Dawkins said. However, there is also controversy now surrounding the school after the “Wakey-leaks” trouble, based around a radio analyst leaking game plan information to opposing teams of the Demon Deacons. However, they could only manage a 30-yard field goal by Mike Weaver.
The Owls are going to be without their leader in coach Matt Rhule, who took the job at Baylor.
Temple already had one notable comeback this season – the miracle against Central Florida in mid-October helped change the trajectory of the Owls’ season – but there wouldn’t be another. The Owls’ defense needed to make one stop to give the offense a final chance. Linebacker Marquel Lee is one of the best and most impactful players on Wake’s defense and will be counted on to be disciplined and effective in containing the Temple run game.
SOAK IT UP: In carrying on a Military Bowl tradition, players on both teams visited the nation’s capital this week and mingled with Armed Forces personnel. “It doesn’t sound great but we are champions”.
John Wolford will not return to tonight’s game.
Patrick Towles hit Tommy Sweeney for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 8:03 remaining in the game to deny Wake Forest with its first winning season since 2006. Wolford returned to have 69 yards rushing and 137 passing yards, making him the first quarterback in Wake Forest history to have over 500 yards rushing and 1,500 yards passing in a season. Cade Carney boosted the Wake Forest’s lead to 21-7 with a touchdown run on the next play. Meanwhile, leading rusher Matt Colburn has 566 yards on 137 carries while Wolford has 523 rushing yards.
Instead, Temple elected to take the three points and play defense. TU refers back to last season’s Boca Raton Bowl Game 32-17 loss to Toledo.
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– Wake Forest is 6-4 all-time in bowl games.
