Rhode Island at Temple

Rhode Island at Temple

This is Missed It. Rhode Island at Temple, Saturday, September 5, 82 and mostly clear at Lincoln Financial Field, with the Rams. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

Alright Rams fans, we are here. Rhode Island Rams against the Temple Owls, and Temple has the ball first. We're on the road, we're looking to make some noise, and we've got a full game ahead of us. The Rams are one and oh on the season, Temple is oh and one, and somebody's getting their first real statement win today. The energy is there, the boys are loose, and we're ready to see what this offense can do when it gets its hands on the ball. Temple's got it first, so let's see what our defense is made of right out of the gate.

Q1

Temple starts with the ball, and they waste no time testing us. Sheppard drops back, fires short right to Chase, and he picks up 21 yards to the Temple 46. Out of bounds, first down, and you can feel the Owls trying to set a tone early. But our defense holds, we get the stop we need, and then Temple goes back to work. Smolik takes the snap, rolls left, and finds Freeman in the end zone for 18 yards. Touchdown, Temple. The extra point is good, and just like that it's 7 to 0 Owls. We didn't come here to fold, though. Our offense takes the field, and Budge is locked in. He drops back, looks deep left, and finds Buchanan in stride at the Temple 39. Twenty-four yards, first down, and the sideline is alive. We're moving. Then Budge does it again, short left to Buchanan, and Buchanan turns on the jets. Thirty-five yards to the house. Touchdown, Rams. Groff's kick is good, and we're tied at 7 to 7. That's how you answer. Temple gets the ball back and grinds out a 10-play drive that ends in a field goal. 10 to 7 Owls. We get the ball back, we push, we fight, but the drive stalls and we turn it over on downs. Temple takes over, and Sheppard finds Bermudez deep right for 26 yards, a big chunk that sets them up nicely as we head toward the end of the quarter. It's 10 to 7, and we've got work to do.

Halftime

We're down 17 to 14 at the half, and honestly, it could be worse. We traded blows early, answered their touchdown with one of our own, and then things got messy. The play that turned this half was that interception. Budge tried to hit Kwarteng over the middle, and Pierre stepped in front of it, returned it 35 yards for the score. That's the one that stings. We were driving, we were moving the ball, and one mistake turned a potential lead into a 10-point hole. But credit to this team, we didn't quit. We put together a 15-play drive, ground it out, and Budge punched it in from a yard out to make it 17 to 14. We're within three, we've got the ball coming out of the half, and we've shown we can move the ball on these guys. We need to protect the football, we need to finish drives, and we need to believe. This game is right there for us.

The Sequence

This is where it all went sideways. We just scored to make it 17 to 14, we've got momentum, and Temple gets the ball back with 2:22 left in the half. They don't waste it. Mason takes it up the middle from a yard out, and just like that, it's 24 to 14. The air goes out of the building. We get the ball back for one play, the half ends, and we're down 10. We come out for the third quarter needing a statement. We get the ball, we drive, we get to their territory, and then we stall. Turnover on downs. Temple takes over, and they're methodical. Seventeen plays. They chew the clock, they move the chains, and they keep our defense on the field. Young picks up a big first down on a 2-yard run to the Rhode Island 46, and then there's a moment. Third down, they run Young right, and it looks like we've stopped them. The call on the field is a first down, but it goes to review. We wait. The call is overturned. It's fourth down, turnover on downs. We've got life. But then Mason takes it up the middle for 3 yards, and it's a touchdown. 31 to 14. The drive that should have ended with us getting the ball back ends with them in the end zone. We get the ball back, we go three-and-out, and Temple drives again, but they miss the field goal. We're still down 17, and the clock is not our friend.

Q4

We start the fourth quarter with the ball, down 31 to 14. We need a miracle, and we need it fast. Barrow takes the handoff left, and he's stopped for no gain. Second down, he goes middle, picks up 2 yards, and it's a first down. We're moving, we're fighting. Budge drops back, and he's looking for Buchanan again. He finds him over the middle for 13 yards, and we're in business. The sideline is screaming, we're crossing midfield, and for a second, you can feel it. We're going to make this a game. Then it happens. Budge drops back, and Alualu steps in front of it. He picks it off at the Temple 37, and he's gone. Sixty-three yards to the house. Touchdown, Temple. 38 to 14. The game is over. We all know it. But this team doesn't quit. We get the ball back, and Barrow takes it right, and he's got room. Seventeen yards, he's at the Temple 20, and then the ball comes out. Fumble. Recovered by Temple. The drive dies, the hope dies, and the clock becomes the only thing that matters. Temple punts, we get the ball back, we go four-and-out, and they take over. Three plays, and the clock hits zero. It's over. 38 to 14.

Wrap-up

It's a tough one, Rams fans. We came in with a chance, we traded blows early, and then it got away from us. The turnovers killed us. The interception in the second quarter, the fumble in the fourth, the pick-six that sealed it. You can't give a team like Temple those kinds of gifts and expect to win. We showed fight, we showed heart, but it wasn't enough. We're one and one now, and we've got to learn from this. We've got to protect the football, we've got to finish drives, and we've got to come back stronger. This one hurts, but it's not the end of the season. We'll be back. Go Rams.

By the Numbers

The Rams by the numbers. Final score, Rhode Island 14, Temple 38. 292 yards of offense to their 369, 195 through the air and 97 on the ground. 15 first downs. 6 of 14 on third down. 3 turnovers for us, 1 for them. We held the ball for just over 29 minutes.

Outro

That was Rhode Island at Temple, from the Rams side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Rhode Island at Temple

This is Missed It. Rhode Island at Temple, Saturday, September 5, 82 and mostly clear at Lincoln Financial Field, with the Owls. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's Rhode Island Rams at Temple Owls, and we've got the ball first. The Rams come into our house, and right from the opening kick, this one feels like it's got something to it. We're at zero and zero, nothing decided yet, and the first drive of the game is ours to make something of. The crowd is up, the energy is real, and it's time to see what we're made of tonight.

Q1

We start with the ball, and right away we're moving. Sheppard drops back, fires short right to Chase, and he's got room. Caught at the thirty, and he takes it out to the forty-six before stepping out of bounds. First down, and the chains are moving. We're not wasting any time here. Then Smolik takes over, and he finds Freeman on the left side. The ball is out, Freeman is open, and he's got nothing but green ahead of him. Eighteen yards to the end zone, and that's a touchdown. Hardin's kick is good, and just like that we're up seven to nothing. The place is loud, and we've drawn first blood. Rhode Island answers, though. Budge drops back and finds Buchanan deep down the left. He's caught at our thirty-nine, and it's a twenty-four-yard gain that puts them in our territory. First down, and suddenly they're knocking on the door. And then they knock it down. Budge again to Buchanan, this time short left, and Buchanan does the rest. Thirty-five yards to the end zone, and just like that it's tied at seven. They answered our punch with one of their own, and now we've got a ballgame. We take the ball back and grind out a drive. Ten plays, and we get ourselves into field goal range. Hardin lines up and knocks it through, and we're back on top, ten to seven. It wasn't the prettiest, but it's points, and we'll take them. Rhode Island gets the ball back, and they move it a little, but our defense holds. They go for it on fourth down, and we stop them. The ball is ours again, and we're looking to add on before the quarter ends. Sheppard drops back, and he finds Bermudez deep down the right. Caught at the forty-seven, and it's a twenty-six-yard gain. First down, and we're in business as the quarter winds down.

Q2

The second quarter starts, and we're still holding that ten to seven lead. Rhode Island gets the ball, but they can't do anything with it. Four plays, and they're punting it back to us. We get the ball, and we try to move it, but we come up short. Four plays, and we turn it over on downs. That's a missed opportunity, and we feel it. Rhode Island takes over, and they start to move. Budge finds Kwarteng over the middle, caught at the thirty, and it's an eleven-yard gain. First down, and they're starting to breathe. Then Budge drops back again, and he lets it go. But Pierre is there, reading it all the way. He picks it off at the thirty-five, and there's nothing but open field ahead of him. Thirty-five yards to the end zone, and that's a pick-six. Hardin's kick is good, and we're up seventeen to seven. The defense just changed this game. Rhode Island is reeling, but they don't fold. They put together a long drive, fifteen plays, and they're chewing up clock. Budge keeps it himself, rushes left for fourteen yards to our thirty, and they're in our territory. First down. Then he rushes middle for three yards to our eighteen, and they're knocking on the door again. First down. And then Budge keeps it one more time, rushes middle for one yard, and he's in. Touchdown, and the kick is good. It's fourteen to seventeen now, and they've clawed their way back to within three. The half is almost over, and we've got the ball with just over two minutes left.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. We've got the ball, two minutes left in the half, and we're up by three. We need to make a statement. We put together a drive, nine plays, and we're moving. The clock is ticking down, and we're in the red zone. Then Mason takes the handoff, rushes middle for one yard, and he's in. Touchdown. Hardin's kick is good, and we're up twenty-four to fourteen. That's a dagger before the half, and the crowd is roaring. Rhode Island gets the ball back, but there's no time. Two plays, and the period ends. We go into the locker room with a ten-point lead, and it feels like we've got all the momentum. The third quarter starts, and Rhode Island tries to answer. Five plays, and our defense holds. They turn it over on downs, and we take over. We get the ball, but we can't hold onto it. Four plays, and we turn it over. That's a mistake, and we can't afford those. Rhode Island gets another chance, but our defense is standing tall. Six plays, and they turn it over on downs again. We're trading blows, but we're not giving them anything. Then we put together the drive that seals it. Seventeen plays, and we're grinding them down. Young takes the handoff, rushes middle for two yards to their forty-six, and it's a first down. We're moving. Then Young again, rushes right for one yard to their thirty-six. First down. But wait, they're reviewing it. The call is overturned. It's not a first down. It's fourth down. We're going for it. And we get it. The review gives us the first down, and we keep the drive alive. The crowd is on their feet, and we're knocking on the door. Then Mason takes over. He rushes middle for three yards, and he's in. Touchdown. Hardin's kick is good, and we're up thirty-one to fourteen. That's the one that breaks them. Rhode Island gets the ball back, but they can't do anything. Five plays, and they turn it over on downs. We take over, and we're just running out the clock. We get into field goal range, but the kick misses. It doesn't matter. The game is already decided.

Q4

The fourth quarter starts, and we're up thirty-one to fourteen. Rhode Island has the ball, and they're desperate. Barrow rushes left for no gain, and they're not getting anywhere. Then Barrow rushes middle for two yards to their forty-four, and it's a first down. They're trying to move, but it's not enough. Budge drops back, and he lets it go. But Alualu is there, reading it perfectly. He picks it off at our thirty-seven, and there's nothing but open field. Sixty-three yards to the end zone, and that's another pick-six. Hardin's kick is good, and we're up thirty-eight to fourteen. The defense has just put the exclamation point on this one. Rhode Island gets the ball back, and they're still fighting. Budge finds Buchanan over the middle, caught at their forty-six, and it's a thirteen-yard gain. First down, and they're trying to salvage something. Then Barrow rushes right for seventeen yards to our twenty, and he fumbles. Montgomery forces it, and Goodwin recovers at our twenty. That's the ball game. We've got it, and they're done. We take over, and we're just running out the clock. Six plays, and we punt it back to them. They get the ball, but they can't do anything. Four plays, and they punt it back to us. We take over with just over a minute and a half left, and we're just going to run it out. Three plays, and the clock hits zero. That's the game.

Wrap-up

Final score, Rhode Island fourteen, Temple thirty-eight. We win by twenty-four, and it wasn't even that close. The defense scored twice, the offense did what it needed to do, and we took control of this game in the second half and never let go. That's how you protect your home floor. That's how you respond when a team comes into your building and thinks they can take one from you. We said no. We said not tonight. And we backed it up. Temple wins, and it feels exactly as good as it should.

By the Numbers

The Owls by the numbers. Final score, Temple 38, Rhode Island 14. 369 yards of offense to their 292, 142 through the air and 227 on the ground. 19 first downs. 3 of 12 on third down. 1 turnover for us, 3 for them. We held the ball for just under 31 minutes.

Outro

That was Rhode Island at Temple, from the Owls side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.