A suspect defense caught up to the USF Bulls Saturday night, as Temple marched through the Bulls on their way to a surprisingly easy victory.
Temple beat the Bulls, 46-30, as it exposed the Bulls’ defense, which came into the game rated No. 70 in the nation. That defense had been overshadowed by the usually potent USF offense, but Temple pretty much held that in check, too.
Perhaps USF should have seen it coming. The Bulls have given up 20 or more points in six of their seven games.
Temple, 5-3, ran for 320 yards against the Bulls, including 210 by Ryquell Armstead. Armstead ran for two scores, including a 76 yarder. Receiver Vintell Bryant added five catches for 115 yards.
The Owls outgained USF 528-352. They kept the ball 39:07-20:53.
“We got physically dominated on both sides of the ball,” USF coach Willie Taggart said. “We didn’t do anything right as a football team. Offense, defense, special teams.”
USF was within a touchdown with five minutes to play, but quarterback Quinton Flowers was injured. In two plays, backup Brett Kean threw an interception (that led to a touchdown) and was tackled for a safety.
USF falls to 6-2 after a game that was supposed to allow them to move into the top 25. Temple and USF are both 3-1 in league standings, but Temple now has the tiebreaker.
โWe have to watch this film and correct some things,” Taggart said. “We have to be better fundamentally and learn how to get off blocks, and to not have penalties that get you into long-yardage situations.โ
USF is home against Navy next Friday night.
