Temple Football Stunned 38-31 By Previously-Winless Charlotte

PHILADELPHIA— Temple Football allowed 31 points in the second half of their Saturday, Oct. 17 loss to the previously-winless Charlotte 49ers, falling 38-31 at home. The 49ers entered play averaging 16 points and 282 yards per game; Temple (2-5, 1-2 American) allowed 450 yards as missed tackles and missed assignments burned them once again.

With Ajani Sheppard listed as questionable on the pre-game injury report, Jaxon Smolik started at quarterback for the Owls. The junior signal caller oversaw three drives: two ended in punts, while running back Keveun Mason led the way on the other, finding the end zone on a 21-yard carry.

Charlotte marched downfield on their opening drive, taking a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run, but Temple’s defense survived early yips thanks to a missed field goal and a turnover on downs. Sheppard took over with 4:32 to play in the first half and engineered an 84-yard touchdown drive, keeping the ball himself for a seven-yard score. The Owls had a chance to add to their lead late in the half when Avery Powell forced a fumble and Eric Stuart returned it to the 49ers’ 2-yard line, but Charlotte’s defense managed to stand them up and force a turnover on downs.

Charlotte Battles Back

Sheppard rolled to his left and misfired to running back Hunter Smith on the final play of the drive; the play was originally ruled a touchdown, but a review revealed that Smith trapped the ball as it caromed off the grass. Temple’s defensive woes resumed in the second half, which the 49ers began with a six-play touchdown drive. Charlotte continued to roll after an Owls’ three-and-out, and quarterback Conner Harrell put them in front 21-14 with an eight-yard keeper.

Temple’s next drive lasted two plays, Sheppard finding tight end Peter Clarke — who hauled in five passes for 127 yards on the day, including 81 in the second half — for a 31-yard gain. Sheppard then went around the left end for a 44-yard score, breaking a pair of tackles in the red zone as he hurtled toward the goal line. After trading punts, the 49ers reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Clarke set up the Owls’ answer with a 46-yard catch-and-run, then found pay dirt on a four-yard catch that made him the program’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions from a tight end.

Charlotte regained the lead on another Harrell keeper, and Temple’s response stalled with a fourth down sack of Sheppard, setting up a 49ers’ field goal drive that burned most of the rest of the clock. The Owls scrambled downfield for a field goal of their own, but couldn’t convert the ensuing onside kick attempt. Following their bye week, Temple will return to action on the road against East Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 31.