Temple Football Drops Another Late Heartbreaker in American Opener

PHILADELPHIA — Temple Football surrendered a fourth quarter lead for the second game in a row on Friday, Sept. 25, giving up a go-ahead Army touchdown with 1:41 to play. The Owls (1-3, 0-1 American) surged into Black Knights territory but stalled out near the red zone, and an Ajani Sheppard incompletion on fourth down sealed the 21-17 loss.

Army opened the scoring with a 12-play, 77 yard drive that ended with a 15-yard keeper touchdown from quarterback Cale Hellums. The Owls’ defense had almost no time to rest after being on the field for more than seven minutes, as Temple marched downfield for the equalizer in two plays as Sheppard found running back Sam Brown V for a 78-yard touchdown.

The Black Knights went three-and-out in response, giving Temple’s defense a breather, but a promising Owls’ drive stalled out after a pair of penalties from left guard Grayson Mains, and kicker Carl Hardin’s 42-yard attempt into the wind clanged off the right upright.

Trading Touchdowns

Army too fell afoul of penalties, a 15-yard personal foul for a blindside block putting them well behind the chains. A holding penalty and a botched pitch pushed them out of field goal range on their next drive, but Black Knights defensive tackle Dillon Stowers sacked Sheppard to prevent a potential go-ahead kick at the end of the half. Army opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive that lasted nearly 10 minutes; the Owls put up an immediate answer once again, with Sheppard finding Colin Chase for a 67-yard touchdown.

Penalties hurt the Black Knights once again, a holding call pushing them out of field goal range on fourth-and-2 from the Owls’ 30-yard line. The ensuing punt rolled out of bounds at the 1-yard line, but Brown flipped the field with a 47-yard carry that set up a go-ahead 29-yard kick from Hardin midway through the fourth quarter.

Hellums picked up his third touchdown with 1:41 to play, putting Army ahead 21-17 after a drive that burned another 5:57 off the clock, leaving the Owls without enough time to respond.

Up next, Temple will travel to play USF at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.