Spring Break
4:14 p.m. - UConn wins it in OT, 12-9, on a 7-yard Donald Brown touchdown run. The Huskies were, not surprisingly, upbeat in their postgame press conferences. But they’ll need to play much, much better to beat Virginia next week at the Rent. If anything else breaks, I’ll have it but otherwise that should do it from Lincoln Financial Field. The Huskies are 2-0, and unfortunately, justice is not served.
3:15 p.m. - Ciaravino missed the field goal, we’re in overtime, and Temple faces a 2nd-and-10 at the 19 yard line. I’ll be back after the first OT.
2:59 p.m. - Perhaps Temple’s shirts should read “IRONY” instead of ”JUSTICE”. On 4th-and-1 on the Temple 34, TU RB Lamar McPherson came up short on a run up the middle. The review came up negative, and UConn takes the ball inside the Temple 35.
As I waited to post, we got some more inspiring offensive playcalls, and UConn ends up with a 47-yard FG attempt by Ciaravino for the lead with 2:38 left.
2:51 p.m. - It’s a start, at least. UConn has kicked a couple of field goals on their last drive to even up the score at 6-6. Lorenzen is having his second straight awful game, even if Donald Brown is nearing 200 yards. Temple has thrown away their last few drives - without even taking time off the clock.
The Huskies have benefitted from winning the field position battle, as their scoring drives both started near midfield. It looks like both teams will have one more shot each to pull this game out. Just over 6:35 left here in Philly.
2:25 p.m. - Well, that was a forgettable third quarter. UConn can’t throw the ball, Temple can’t run, neither team has any kind of offensive rhythm. It’s still 6-0.
Adam DiMichele nearly broke the game open with a long bomb to Travis Shelton, but he dropped it, giving UConn its 33rd chance to take the lead today. The Huskies will face 2nd-and-3 at their own 41 to open the final period.
1:26 p.m. - Halftime here in Motown Philly, Temple leads it 6-0 in an exceedingly lackluster game. It seems as if neither Randy Edsall or Tyler Lorenzen have confidence in Tyler Lorenzen, who completed one pass over the last 14:00 of the second quarter. The result is that UConn is wasting a fine performance by Donald Brown, who has more than 120 yards on 20+ carries. Andre Dixon is available to play, and may if Brown wears down as the game goes on.
UConn has more yards, first downs, and the turnover game is even. The Huskies have punted once, they’ve missed two field goals, and could have scored at least 20 points by now. They’ve pretty much shut down Temple’s run game, even though QB Adam DiMichele seems to have open receivers everywhere. Temple’s defensive line is getting repeatedly blown up by UConn’s O-Line. Lorenzen has been sacked once, on what looked like a draw play.
To sum up: it is mind-boggling that UConn is losing this game, more so that it’s 6-0. We’ll see what Edsall can do in the halftime locker room.
The rain is deluging here, but luckily, the computer is dry in this beautiful press box. UConn receives to open the second half. Back then.
1:14 p.m. - In what can only be described as justice, UConn picks up a gift interception that puts them inside the Temple 35. The Huskies refuse to go to the air, and Ciaravino misses his second straight FG attempt, this one off the post. Of course, since this is Justice Day, Temple hits their 41-yard field goal with ease. It’s 6-0, Owls, with 4:46 to play.
1:05 p.m. - Not to harp on things, but Lorenzen cost UConn another seven points when he missed a wide-open Mike Smith in the middle of the end zone. Lorenzen looks very unsure of himself, showing some of his happy-feet tendencies. Of course, Edsall hasn’t made too many pass calls - Lorenzen is just 5-for-7 for 35 yards.
The Huskies are dominating this game in every conceivable fashion, except for turnovers. But Tony Ciaravino’s missed field goal (another bad mistake) means Temple still leads 3-0 about 6 minutes into the second quarter.
12:34 p.m. - Tyler Lorenzen is absolutely killing UConn right now. He committed his second turnover in as many possessions, this time fumbling the ball at the Temple goal line. Instead of a 7-3 UConn lead, Temple takes over and has a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.
Looks like Randy Edsall will stick with Lorenzen right now, although he’s now committed five turnovers in five quarters. UConn simply can’t win with that type of production.
The rain has been pouring on and off, although right ow it seems to be just a little bit of mist.
Justice 3, UConn 0 after one.
12:25 p.m.- So far, justice is a dish best served with justice!
Temple leads, 3-0, on the strength of a crisp opening drive that stalled at the UConn 5-yard-line. Tyler Lorenzen was then intercepted for the fourth time in five quarters on UConn’s opening drive. The ball was tipped by Donald Brown and fell right into the hands of Temple LB John Haley.
Temple then punted on their next drive, and that’s where we’re at right now.
——
Howdy and good morning from Lincoln Phinancial Phield in Philadelphia for today’s sparsely-attended game between UConn (1-0) and Temple (1-0).
If you recall Trave-sham-mockery I last September, Temple’s Bruce Francis allegedly caught a wacky double-reverse touchdown pass in the final minute, giving the Owls the upset win over the Huskies in East Hartford. Only not. While Temple may have had a good case for feeling cheated last year, they apparently missed the rule where whoever has the largest security guard wins. Now, Temple wants JUSTICE~!
Anyway, on to today’s game. The Owls are 1-0 after pasting Army last week in West Point, N.Y., and UConn is coming off a sluggish 35-3 win over Hofstra. If you’ve been reading any coverage, you’d know that both teams are at least aware of the bad feelings stemming from last year’s game. Both will try to make a statement - UConn that last year’s game was a fluke, and Temple that their program is truly on the rise.
Temple has just about every starter back from last year’s team, so you can bet that they will be pumped.
As will the (a generous guess) 6,000 people in the stadium usually filled by screaming Eagles fans. There’s probably twice as many Temple fans as UConn fans, but either way it’s not a great turnout. I’ll credit it to Hanna, instead of apathy.
Speaking of which, here comes the rain. Back after notable things happen.
JUSTICE~!
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