Final
No.15 UCF survives tough test from Temple
Nov 17, 2013 - 1:26 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Shawn Moffitt made a 23-yard field goal as time expired to help the 15th-ranked UCF Knights sneak past the Temple Owls by a 39-36 margin on Saturday.It seemed like Temple was about to upset the Knights, who sit alone atop the American Athletic Conference, but J.J. Worton's one-handed touchdown catch with just over a minute left tied the game.
After forcing the Owls to punt, UCF took over at its own 30-yard line with 19 seconds remaining. Rannell Hall caught a 64-yard pass to put the Knights in field goal range. Blake Bortles spiked the ball with two seconds left and Moffitt split the uprights for the come-from-behind victory.
"I told you guys I would try to make it exciting this year and it certainly is exciting at the end of these games," said Temple coach Matt Rhule. "I'd like to come out on the winning end. Obviously, I'm extremely disappointed.
"It's just a shame how that game ended."
Bortles completed 27-of-38 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns for the Knights (8-1, 5-0 AAC), who have won five in a row. He also carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards.
"It was just another great example of us executing our two-minute drill," Bortles said of his connection to Worton. "That's why we practice it. J.J. Worton came up with a huge catch and we got the ball back with another opportunity and he was the guy. We were just taking advantage of our opportunities. We definitely have to tighten things up for next year."
Worton caught 10 passes for 179 yards and three scores, Hall hauled in nine passes for 159 yards and Storm Johnson carried the ball 14 times for 122 yards.
P.J. Walker connected on 26-of-44 passes for 382 yards, four touchdowns and an interception for the Owls (1-9, 0-6), who have lost three in a row. He also carried the ball nine times for 41 yards and a score.
Robbie Anderson caught eight passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in defeat.
Worton caught a 38-yard TD pass from Bortles with 6 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter to give UCF a 29-28 lead.
Walker was then picked off by Brandon Alexander. The Knights, though, failed to do anything with the turnover.
Temple started from its own 20 with 4:51 to play. Kenneth Harper broke off two big runs to move the ball inside the red zone. Chris Parthemore's 7-yard TD catch and a successful two-point conversion made it a 36-29 contest with 2:04 left.
Hall caught three straight passes before Worton's amazing 30-yard TD catch tied the game.
A safety and Moffitt's 20-yard field goal gave the Knights a 5-0 lead after one quarter.
The teams combined for 38 points in a back-and-forth second period. Jamie Gilmore, Walker and Anderson scored touchdowns for Temple. On the other hand, William Stanback and Worton recorded scores for UCF. Moffitt's 35-yarder at the end of the half made it 22-21 Knights.
Anderson's 75-yard TD catch was the only scoring in the third frame.
Game Notes
Temple and UCF combined for 75 points, 1,175 total yards and 50 first downs in the programs' first-ever meeting ... UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman did not play Saturday due to a head injury.
- 24-yarder by Shawn Moffitt.
Nov 16 3:54 PM - CENTRAL FLORIDA: 39
TEMPLE: 36
End of Regulation
Nov 16 3:54 PM - P.J. Walker pass to Chris Parthemore for the two-point conversion.
UCF(15) 29, Temple 36 4th - 2:04Nov 16 3:40 PM - 161
roots - 160
roots - 140
roots - CENTRAL FLORIDA: 22
TEMPLE: 28
End of 3rd
Nov 16 2:53 PM - CENTRAL FLORIDA: 22
TEMPLE: 21
Halftime
Nov 16 1:54 PM - CENTRAL FLORIDA: 5
TEMPLE: 0
End of 1st
Nov 16 12:44 PM - CENTRAL FLORIDA: 0
TEMPLE: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Nov 16 12:09 PM
Related News
- Knight Class: 2023 Gasparilla Bowl vs Georgia Tech Dec 23
- GAMEDAY CENTRAL: UCF vs. Georgia Tech in the Gasparilla Bowl Dec 22
- 2024 UCF Transfer Portal Tracker Dec 12
- Sunday Knight Football: Week 13 Dec 6
- UCF to Face Georgia Tech in Gasparilla Bowl Dec 3
- Where is UCF Going Bowling? Nov 28
- Photo Galleries: UCF Football in 2023 Nov 28
- Knight Class Week 12: UCF vs Houston Nov 25
- Knights Roundtable: Houston Nov 25
- Knight Class Week 11: UCF at Texas Tech Nov 18
- GAMEDAY CENTRAL: UCF vs. Texas Tech Nov 18
- UCF’s Blowout of Oklahoma State Draws 1.21 Million on ESPN Nov 16