Fast Start Powers Temple To 62–43 Grant Bowl Win Over USF

Josh Folck, The Stateline Gazette

TAMPA, Fla. — The Grant Bowl didn’t take long to tilt decisively in Temple’s favor.

By the time USF found its footing Friday night, Temple had already raced out to a three-touchdown lead, setting the tone for a 62–43 victory that turned a matchup between two winless teams into one of the most offensively charged games of the season.

Temple scored on its first three possessions and led 21–0 by the end of the first quarter, capitalizing on early defensive stops and short fields. Quarterback Evan Simon threw two touchdown passes in the opening period and added another score on the ground as Temple’s tempo immediately put USF on its heels.

“We wanted to come out attacking,” Temple head coach Grant Easterday said. “We felt like if we played fast and confident, good things would happen.”

The Owls carried a 21–7 lead into halftime, then erased any remaining suspense with a 21-point third quarter. Temple struck quickly after the break, punctuating the surge with an 87-yard touchdown pass from Simon to Colin Chase that stretched the margin to three scores and shifted the game firmly out of reach.

Simon delivered a night defined by extremes. He finished 18 of 26 for 213 yards and four touchdown passes while also rushing for three scores. Four interceptions marred the stat line, but Temple repeatedly responded with points, neutralizing the damage.

“We didn’t flinch,” Easterday said. “Even when things went sideways, the guys trusted the plan.”

Temple’s ground game proved especially effective near the goal line. Jay Ducker rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns, and the Owls finished with five rushing scores despite totaling just 107 yards on the ground. Temple scored touchdowns on nine of its 10 scoring possessions and finished with 62 points on 320 total yards.

USF produced offense of its own but never recovered from the early hole. Quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 311 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball across the field and keeping the Bulls competitive on the scoreboard.

Running back Cartevious Norton added a rushing touchdown and caught nine passes for 87 yards and a score, while tight end Weston Wolff finished with six receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

“We didn’t start the way we needed to,” USF head coach Grant Drachman said. “Against a team playing with confidence like that, it puts you in recovery mode all night.”

Despite outgaining Temple 448–320, USF struggled to generate stops, allowing repeated explosive plays and short-field scores. Temple converted mistakes into points and consistently answered whenever USF threatened to build momentum.

For Temple, the win served as a sharp rebuttal to weeks of criticism and inconsistency.

The Owls left Tampa with their most complete offensive performance of the season and Grant Bowl bragging rights firmly in hand.

“I know what’s been said about us,” Easterday said. “I know who’s doubted us. So yeah, I’m looking forward to hearing what Corso has to say now.”

Statistics

Temple—320 total yards (107 rushing, 213 passing).

USF—448 total yards (137 rushing, 311 passing).

Individual statistics

Passing—Temple, Simon 18-26-213, 4 TD, 4 INT. USF, Brown 25-41-311, 5 TD, 2 INT.

Rushing—Temple, Ducker 11-83, 2 TD; Simon 7-24, 3 TD; Smith 1-0. USF, Norton 12-39, TD; Brown 8-74.

Receiving—Temple, Chase 2-87, 2 TD; Hollawayne 3-22, TD; Irvin 3-24; Smith 4-24; Bermudez 1-7; Evert 1-4; Clarke 1-9; Kusch 1-12. USF, Wolff 6-108, TD; Norton 9-87, TD; Nimrod 4-49; Singleton 3-34; Neptune 1-25; Sullivan 1-5; J. Smith 1-3.