Football Drops Friday Night Battle with Houston, 31-10

Friday, October 17

Houston, Texas

9:00 p.m.

Temple University

4-2 , 2-1

Houston

4-3 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Temple

Houston

Photo by: Thomas Shea

Football Drops Friday Night Battle with Houston, 31-10

10.18.14 | Football

Box Score

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HOUSTON – In a battle between two of the best teams in forcing takeaways this season, Houston clearly had the upper hand with a 4-0 advantage. Houston proved that Texas is home to the Friday Night Lights as they walked away with a 31-10 victory in front of a scarce crowd of 21,471 in primetime at TDECU Field.

Both sides of the ball struggled for the Owls. The offense could not capitalize on big plays, even with QB P.J. Walker's 259 yards of passing and two 70+ yard receptions by RB Jahad Thomas. Walker threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball away at the one yard line. On a fourth-and-goal from the two yard line in the fourth quarter, the Cougars stuffed the Owls to end a drive on downs.

The defense, who came into the game with a +1.6 per game turnover margin, was unable to work its magic. For the second straight game, the Owls were unable to force a turnover and allowed 439 offensive yards. Overall, Temple sacked QB Greg Ward, Jr. three times in the game. However, Temple was outnumbered 23-11 in first downs, 82-49 in offensive plays, and 42:33-17:27 in time of possession.

Walker's three interceptions is the most he's thrown in a single game so far in his career. Last season, Walker threw eight interceptions in his nine games started. On Walker's first pick, DB Trevon Stewart returned it 29-yards for s score. Walker finished the night 12-29 for 259 yards with one touchdown. The lone Owls touchdown came in the second quarter, whern Walker tossed a 39-yard pass to WR Keith Kirkwood in the end zone. On the ground, Walker rushed eight times for 49 yards. Walker has now thrown a touchdown pass in 14 consecutive games and thrown for 200-yards in 13 games.

It was Walker's fumble that proved to be the turning point of the game. After Jahad Thomas dashed 74-yards with a screen pass and was pushed out at the 2-yard line, Walker tried to pound it in on a quaterback sneak which would have tied the score at 17. While stretching to cross the plain, Houston punched the ball out for a tocuhback.

Thomas's 74-yard reception was the longest play from scrimmage for the Owls this season. In the first quarter, Thomas also took a screen pass 72-yards. Thomas finished the night with 199 overall yards, which came on a team-leading three catches for 150 yards and seven carries for 49 yards.

Thomas is the third Owl to have a 100-yard receiving game this season; WR Jalen Fitzpatrick had 100-yards games in week four at Connecticut and week five against Tulsa when he was joined by RB Jamie Gilmore. Fitzpatrick had his streak at five consecutive games with a touchdown reception ended.

In the back of the end zone, Kirkwood caught his first career touchdown pass as an Owl. This was only Kirkwood's second game played, as he was cleared by the NCAA to compete last Friday before the game against Tulsa.

LB Stephaun Marshall collected his first career sack, while DLs Matt Ioannidis (1.0), Brandon Chudnoff (0.5), and Hassan Reddick (0.5) also got in on the action.

Houston QB Greg Ward Jr. was 29-33 on the night with 268 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Cougars were able to rack up 210 rushing yards, with RB Ryan Jackson accounting for 75 of those yards.

The Owls will travel to Orlando next Saturday to face the UCF Knights. The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network at 5 pm as the American Athletic Conference Game of the Week.