PHILADELPHIA — Kendrick Blackshire posted a game-high 10 tackles and Patrick Overmyer scored a pair of touchdowns, but Temple rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit for a 27-21 victory over UTSA in the American Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
Overmyer’s two scores helped hand the Roadrunners (2-3, 0-1) a 14-3 lead in the first half, but the Owls (3-2, 1-0) found the end zone three times in the third quarter to rally for their first win in the series.
Blackshire logged six solo tackles as part of his double-digit output to pace the defense, which held Temple to 309 yards of offense. Shad Banks Jr. added six stops while Nnanna Anyanwu and Daemian Wimberly each recorded a sack.
The Roadrunners carried a 14-3 advantage into the locker room only to see Temple strike for two quick touchdowns early in the third quarter. JoJo Bermudez hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass to make it a one-score contest. Following an interception, Hunter Smith broke loose for a 54-yard TD run to hand the home team the lead.
UTSA reclaimed the lead on the ensuing possession. Owen McCown completed passes on back-to-back plays to AJ Wilson of 16 and 36 yards to set up an 18-yard TD pass to Devin McCuin. Michael Petro’s PAT made it 21-17 with 5:28 left in the third.
With the benefit of a short field, Temple pulled back ahead late in the third on a 15-yard touchdown catch by Peter Clarke, capping a two-play, 38-yard drive.
The Owls tacked on a late field goal by Hardin from 36 yards with just under two minutes remaining to pad the lead at 27-21.
UTSA had one final offensive drive but turned it over on downs deep on its own end of the field and Temple ran out the clock to seal the win.
McCown completed 25 of 37 passes for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McCuin had six catches for 60 yards, David Amador II made six grabs for 34 yards and AJ Wilson totaled a team-high 67 yards on three receptions.
The Roadrunners marched 75 yards in 12 plays on their first possession to take an early lead. Patrick Overmyer reached the end zone on a 1-yard plunge and Petro’s extra point made it 7-0 with 8:44 on the clock in the opening frame. That score was set up by a 14-yard catch by Amador II and a 17-yard grab by Houston Thomas.
The Owls also scored on their first possession, as Carl Hardin drilled a 31-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
UTSA took a 14-3 lead midway through the second stanza. McCown found Overmyer wide open in the end zone for a 7-yard TD pass to put an exclamation point on a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took 7:46 off the clock.
Evan Simon threw for 181 yards and two TDs to pace Temple’s offense. Clarke had a game-high 82 yards on four receptions and Smith rushed for 74 yards on only eight attempts.
The Roadrunners will return home to host Rice for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling the UTSA Ticket Office at 210-458-UTSA (8872) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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