Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick have turned in some heroic performances at Lincoln Financial Field. For Ohio, the most unlikely of heroes emerged Tuesday night.
With the score at 17-10, defensive tackle Carl Jones intercepted Temple quarterback Mike Gerardi on an attempted wide receiver screen. The tackle rumbled for 25 yards and stole any momentum Temple had in a physical 31-23 win
It was a hot (route)
Jones said. I usually don't run hots as a three technique but just going in I really didn't think I was going to get it. Once I got it
I did it for the team. I tried to score.
Four plays later, Donte Harden bounced off a Temple tackler and athletically kept his balance to score. On the next drive, fellow running back Vince Davidson, in what looked like the game-sealer, found a hole before scampering 41 yards to make the score 31-10
Ohio's offensive line had an edge against a physical Temple defense. The unit's dominance allowed the two running backs and quarterback Phil Bates to find space easily throughout the night, as Ohio ran for 204 yards.
I think the offensive line
they did a great job all game
Davidson said. They opened up holes and they gave running backs opportunities to do what they got to do.
Gerardi kept Temple in the game. He connected with receiver Michael Campbell to make the score 31-17. Ohio running back Ryan Boykin then lost a fumble, which allowed another Campbell touchdown that brought the score to 31-23.
The Bobcats finally killed the clock to seal the hard-fought contest decided by the physicality of the lines.
I didn't like the way it ended
Ohio coach Frank Solich said. Temple kept battling. A lot of credit to them. Down three scores
they never gave up
especially with time against them.
Ohio's defensive line and linebackers out-willed the bigger Temple offensive line to control the rushing game. The defense held Owl running back Matt Brown to 72 yards on 20 carries.
There's no way you could come in here and not be physical yourself and expect to come out with a win
Solich said about the effort.
Temple running back Bernard Pierce left with an injury on the first play of the game, in which he ran for 67 yards before the run was then called back because of a penalty.
He's an extremely good player
Solich said. ...anytime you lose the player the quality of Pierce
