"Just the Facts" Machine

News & Notes Following Temple's 34-26 win at Cincinnati

It was the first win for Temple in Nippert Stadium since 1985, broke a five game losing streak against the Bearcats, and gave the Owls a 10-7-1 overall record against its conference foes.

Junior RB Jahad Thomas continues his torrid running. After rushing for 135 yards in the season opener, Thomas gained a career-high 193 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries. The TD was a 56-yard scamper but he also had six other bursts of 10+ yards. He added a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD to start the second half. Overall, he accounted for 342 all-purpose yards (193 rushing, 17 receiving, 132 KOR). Thomas leads the conference in rushing (164.0 yards per game), all-purpose yards (256.5 per game; 100-yard better than the next closest athlete, kickoff returns (33.6 yard average), and TDs (4; tied)

While Thomas has been a pleasant surprise to the offense, the defense has relied on a tested veteran who has added some flavor to his game. Senior LB Tyler Matakevich, who leads the nation with 375 career tackles, entered the season with 2.5 career sacks and 2 career interceptions. On opening day he had a career-high 3.0 sacks and this week at Cincinnati he recorded a career-high 2 INTs. Both picks came in Bearcats territory, the second one coming in the end zone with 13 seconds left in the game. Not to be overlooked, Matakevich also recovered an onsides kick attempt by Cincinnati after they made the score 34-26 with 2:49 remaining. Matakevich is tied for the conference lead in both sacks (with teammate Nate D. Smith) and interceptions.

Senior FS Alex Wells got in on the PICK-IT line notching his first two interceptions as an Owl. Playing only his second season at Temple after transferring from ASA College a year ago, Wells added four tackles and two breakups and was credited with a fumble recovery before being changed by replay.

Sophomore kicker Austin Jones was 2-2 on FGs (40, 35) and 4-4 on PATs tying a career-high 10 points.

Senior kicker Tyler Mayes handled the kickoff chores and made his presence felt. He pulled off a surprise onsides kick in the 3^rd quarter that he recovered himself and has also made a tackle on another kick.

The Temple defense leads the conference in both sacks (11) and interceptions (5). The team's +4 turnover ratio (6/2) also paces the conference.

Senior FB Michael Felton scored a touchdown on a one-yard reception, the first reception of his career. He now has twice as many career TDs as he has yards gained having recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in 2013.

The game was particularly important to Matakevich, Felton and several other seniors – OL Shahbaz Ahmed, WR John Christopher, OL Kyle Friend, DL Matt Ioannidis, DL Hershey Walton, and DB Tavon Young. Those eight players all played Cincinnati in the previous three outings and hadn't beaten them before yesterday. (Note: There were other seniors who were on the roster for all four matchups but just these eight played in all four conetsts.)

Temple University Athletics

"Just the Facts" Machine

Players Mentioned

Shahbaz Ahmed

John Christopher

Michael Felton

Kyle Friend

Matt Ioannidis

Austin Jones

Tyler Matakevich

Tyler Mayes

Nate D. Smith

Jahad Thomas

Hershey Walton

Alex Wells

Tavon Young

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