Spring Break
RedHawks drop league opener to Owls
Dan Kukla
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Sports
|
The defense failed to stop an otherwise stagnant Temple University offense as the Owls flew past the 'Hawks for a 28-10 victory.
Coming into Saturday's family weekend game, Temple averaged only 15.6 points per game. Against the RedHawks, the Owls nearly doubled their average with 28. Remains of the pre-season hype surrounding Miami's defense are gone, as the Red and White has proven vulnerable regardless of what team, conference or subdivision they play. Miami opponents average an even 30 points per game on just more than 330 yards this season.
Although the game provided a familiar finish for the RedHawk defense, it started in a much more promising fashion. Miami held Temple scoreless on its first three possessions. Eventually, however, the 'Hawks gave up a first quarter touchdown, continuing their streak of trailing every game this season after the initial score.
"Obviously, it was a very disappointing game," head coach Shane Montgomery said. "For the fifth straight game, we came out and got behind. If we continue to do that, it is going to be hard to come back against good football teams."
Trailing 14-0 at halftime, Miami closed to within four points in the third quarter. The RedHawks outscored the Owls 10-0 in that period, scoring on a two-yard run and a 34-yard field goal. Each score capped off long, time-consuming drives as Miami controlled both the pace of play and the clock coming out of the locker rooms. The comeback stopped there, however, as Temple scored two fourth quarter touchdowns while shutting out the RedHawks for the rest of the game.
After a poor performance in the first half, starting quarterback Dan Raudabaugh stood on the sidelines the rest of the game.
Raudabaugh completed only eight of his 18 passes for 65 yards. His replacement, sophomore Clay Belton, connected on 14 of 22 throws for 147 yards. Belton threw one interception and neither QB threw a touchdown.
Be the first to comment on this story