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Temple scores 3 touchdowns late to erase 17-point deficit
By David Lee Morgan Jr. Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
A week earlier, it was ''The Miracle.''
This Saturday, it was ''The Nightmare.''
The University of Akron snatched a victory away from Western Michigan University with a freak kick return as time ran out on Oct. 6.
It was the Zips who were stunned Saturday.
Temple University junior quarterback Adam DiMichele orchestrated a brilliant last-minute drive, culminating with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dy'Onne Crudup with 27 seconds left. The Owls stunned the homecoming crowd of 14,017 on Saturday evening at the Rubber Bowl, defeating the Zips 24-20.
The Owls (2-5 overall, 2-2 in the Mid-American Conference), scored 21 fourth-quarter points after trailing 20-3.
''When you can win a game in these situations, it makes you proud because those are the situations you practice,'' Temple coach Al Golden said.
What made the loss so devastating for UA (3-4, 2-1) is that Temple's winning
drive started at the Owls' 19 with 1:56. DiMichele scrambled away from UA's defenders and made plays. He moved the offense down the field, then delivered the knockout blow.
''We knew (DiMichele) was a dangerous player,'' Akron coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''We get a couple tackles here or there, you keep the clock running, and who knows.
''Give (DiMichele) credit, he's a good football player. They were sending guys deep and clearing things underneath, so (defensively) you're in space on a good athlete, and that's difficult for linebackers to try to contain him. And you don't want to give him eight seconds to throw the ball and pick you apart. It's a fine line.''
The Temple win spoiled solid individual performances by senior wide receiver Jabari Arthur, junior running back Bryan Williams (Buchtel) and senior cornerback Reggie Corner (Canton McKinley).
Arthur, a Montreal native, finished with six catches for 84 yards and a 49-yard touchdown reception, becoming the school's all-time career reception leader with 150, surpassing Matt Cherry (149).
''Honestly, this was a very tough loss,'' Arthur said. ''I thought we had it. But Temple is a tough, up-and-coming team. Truth be told, this is a bittersweet feeling. I never thought I would reach such a landmark in my career, and I feel truly blessed and very happy to get there.
''But more important, I wish it would have came with a victory. That would have made me feel a lot better, so that I might be able to share it with my teammates as well.''
Williams, who rushed for a career-high 114 yards on 22 carries, thought the same thing.
''It's great to break the century mark, but a loss is a loss,'' Williams said. ''I mean, I'm happy I did it, but this is a team game, and in the end, it's a loss. We can most definitely come back from this. We'll soak this loss in for 24 hours, then we'll be back at it working hard.''
Corner moved into a tie for third in career interceptions with 13 after picking off two passes, and he had a chance to make another interception midway through the fourth quarter, but the ball went off his hands.
UA took a 3-0 lead on a 29-yard field goal by Igor Iveljic with 9:40 left in the first quarter on the Zips' first possession of the game.
Temple tied the score with 11:13 left in the second quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Jake Brownell, but that was the only score the Zips allowed in the first three quarters.
Akron led 13-3 at halftime on Arthur's 49-yard touchdown reception and a 46-yard field goal by Iveljic with six seconds left in the half. The Zips then took a 20-3 lead with 2:32 left in the third quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Jacquemain to Alphonso Owen.
It was the Zips' last score, as Temple reeled off the next 21 points and stole a MAC win.
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com. Readhis blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mac_attack/.
A week earlier, it was ''The Miracle.''
Get the full article here.
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