Temple's Sharif Finch provides a special skill

When you think of a weapon on the punt-return team, you think of, well, a returner.

At 6-3, 255, Sharif Finch is not that guy. But he's just as much of a threat to make a game-changing play on that unit as anybody Temple has running back kicks. Or probably most other teams.

A senior who has been a part of the Owls' defensive-end rotation for three years, Finch has almost become better known for a unique talent he brings to the special teams. In Friday's opening 28-13 home loss to Army, he blocked his fifth career punt. Three came last season, when the team tied a school record by winning 10 times. This one didn't make enough of a difference. But it usually has.

"My goal is to win this next game," said Finch, who will get that opportunity Saturday afternoon in South Philly against FCS Stony Brook (1-0). "That's all I'm worried about."

In many ways it says something that Finch is even contributing as much as he does. He has undergone two knee surgeries and two arthroscopic procedures, and also had his shoulder operated on after last season. Yet he has missed only one game. That was last year. He returned the next week and blocked two punts in a big road win at East Carolina. He has scored two touchdowns, one on an interception and another on a fumble recovery (that he forced) in the end zone. Two of his blocks resulted in TDs for teammates. And he had another pick that he returned to the 1 to set up a score.

All this, despite the fact that his playing time has had to be managed to protect his injuries as much as possible.

"When you see what he's had to go through, you kind of feel for him," said assistant head coach Ed Foley, who is in charge of the special teams. "Because that kid was working in the training room over the course of 4 or 5 months just to get back on the field. And with him it's not one of those deals where you fix it and it feels better. He plays through pain. He loves to play. This is what drives him."

Finch, who originally is from Queens, came to North Broad from Henrico, Va. His brother Canei is a hip-hop music producer in New York. Finch is a communications major who hasn't decided yet what he wants to do with his life whenever football is over. At the moment he's too preoccupied with what's still directly in front of him.

" (Army) is behind us," he said. "(Stony Brook) beat North Dakota on a blocked punt."

Duly noted. He makes it almost sound like a personal challenge.

So what's his secret?

"It's just a want-to thing," said Finch, who started at linebacker as a true freshman before switching positions. "It's a match of athleticism and size, just being good at something. I have the mentality to go and get it every time.

"Every week, coach Foley draws it up, gives us the scheme. It's not only me. We just want to be the best in the nation at that, go out and attack it. I know if we can get one, it really helps our chances to win. That's what you want to do, whatever your team needs."

Aside from the physical hurdles, Finch had to deal with the death of his mother Wendy in May.

"She had an illness, but it was sudden for me because I didn't know the severity of it," he said. "I went home to see her, and a few days later she passed away. I got through it with the support of my team and my coaches. They're always there for me. I'm part of this family. So I'm going to give my all for them. It's definitely a learning experience. Just being around guys who've been through that before, or lost other family members, really helps you cope with it . . .

"You can't use excuses. I've had my setbacks, like everybody else has had adversity. That's mental weakness. Like you can't worry about who's starting. It doesn't matter. When you get your chance you have to get it done. I know if I'm out there, I can make an impact. Even if it's one play. Sometimes it comes down to that."

The Owls can still have another season to remember. Next week they go to Penn State, where they never have won. They can make it to back-to-back bowls for the first time ever. They can win their division, and their conference (for the first time in nearly five decades). Or they can maybe lose to an FCS team for the second time in four years, and third time since 2009.

They probably don't want it to come down to a blocked punt. But if it does, at least the odds seem to be on their side.

"(Finch) just has a tremendous knack for it," Foley said. "He's explosive and powerful, and he studies the heck out of it, talking about how he's going to go after this guy or that guy. It's a combination of skill, desire and preparing. He moves right and left, but he pretty much does his job on the inside, where all the dirty work needs to get done. He always has positive energy."

Maybe it's mostly a matter of when is he going to strike next.

"He's dealing with all this stuff, but when we need a play we kind of turn to him, regardless of the situation," said head coach Matt Rhule. "That's just him."

That thump of one more booted ball finding Finch's outstretched hand could be momentum-switching again.

@mikekerndn