Golden Hurricane handle Temple Owls for home win Thursday night

Things went the Tulsa way Thursday night as the Golden Hurricane trounced Temple 48-26 before a home crowd of 17,538 at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium and a national televised audience on ESPN.

However, there was concern at the start as the Owls drove down for a 36-yard field goal by Camden Proce on their first drive, but Tulsa answered with a pair of touchdowns from Cardell Williams to Marquis Shoulders for 10 and 27 yards, respectively, leading to a 14-3 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

The Golden Hurricane (3-2 overall, 1-0 in American Athletic Conference play) was in control from that point on as it forced two turnovers in the next period — one on an interception by Jaise Oliver and the other on a fumble recovery by Julian Adams. The latter set up a TD pass to Devin Williams with 7:28 left, and it was 21-3. That’s where it stood at halftime.

Chase Meyer added a 26-yard field goal to extend the Tulsa lead to 24-3 as the second half got underway, but Temple didn’t go down without a fight. The Owls (2-3. 0-1) quickly reduced the margin from 21 to 13 points when Sam Martin Jr. took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown, then converted a 2-point conversion.

However, the Golden Hurricane responded on the next drive as Anthony Watkins capped it with a 10-yard run around left to the end zone, making it 31-11 with more than six minutes to go in the third.

NuNu Campbell made good pass-defense coverage that prevented the Owls from scoring a touchdown in the end zone on a fourth-down play in the first half, but with a minute left in the third quarter, the Owls had success on fourth down s E.J. Warner hit Amad Anderson in the end zone from three yards, and it was 31-18.

Temple turned the ball over on downs twice in the game.

Tulsa had an answer for every Temple score. Before the third quarter ended, Cardell Williams made a 50-yard gain on a keeper to the Temple 25-yard line. However, as the fourth period got underway, TU could only manage a 36-yard field goal by Meyer.

Tahj Gary broke through an open hole for 40 yards to the goal line, and it was 41-18 with 12:04 left.

Cardell Wiliams added another TD on a 22-yard run with less than five minutes left, and it was a 30-point margin. He would finish with 244 yards passing on 14-of-17 attempts and 90 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Marquis Shoulder led in receiving with five catches for 76 yards.