Temple kept fighting and scored on the next series when Walker hit Anderson in the back of the end zone on a 13-yard scoring pass. Anderson had 12 receptions for 150 yards and the one touchdown. The Owls, looking for their first 11-win season, average 32.3 points and are ranked 16th nationally in points allowed (18.8).
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The Cougars ran out the clock to win their first conference championship since 2006 – when they won the Conference USA crown. The Owl drive got to the Houston 33 yard-line, thanks to 19+ yard plays from both RB Jahad Thomas and WR Romond Deloatch.
With the loss, Temple is not eligible for a “New Year’s Six” bowl game. “We jumped step C and went from B to D and I’m proud of them”.
Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer shredded the Owls for 299 passing yards and a touchdown with 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and USF’s Quinton Flowers torched them for 230 yards and two touchdowns through the air with 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“He was the difference tonight”, Rhule said.
Temple’s defense held on the ensuing series, and the offense marched into Houston territory but finally stalled when Walker threw an incomplete pass behind Adonis Jennings on fourth and 3 from the Cougars’ 38. “When the ball is in his hands you know usually good things are going to happen”.
The Owls were sloppy at the outset of the contest and committed two turnovers in the opening nine-plus minutes. “We are now performing an investigation of the events and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of our investigation”.
The Cougars then extended their lead to 17-0 following another Temple punt.
Two UH drives later, junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. again added to the score with a 47-yard scramble for a touchdown, putting the Cougars up 17-0.
After converting a fourth-and-one from the Houston 30, the Owls settled for a 39-yard field goal from Jones to bring the score to 24-13.
Kansas State 24, West Virginia 23: Wide receiver Cody Cook led Kansas State to a pair of touchdowns as the emergency quarterback, Morgan Burns returned a kickoff 97 yards for the go-ahead score and the Wildcats (6-6, 3-5 Big 12) became bowl-eligible by defeating the Mountaineers (7-5, 4-6) at Manhattan, Kansas. We locked it all up. Houston was in total protect the lead mode at that point, and relied on its defense to close out the win. “But it wasn’t enough”. He was hit by linebacker Elandon Roberts, with Houston safety Trevon Stewart recovering on the Cougars’ 9-yard line.
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Most fans were able to run past the staffers and join a celebration in the middle of the field. Temple was 1-of-4 on fourth down attempts Saturday.
