Temple's Martin-Oguike getting healthier

For Temple defensive end Praise Martin-Oguike, making a game-changing play was all in the wrist.

Temple was trailing, 23-20, at Massachusetts with 1 minute, 20 seconds left when Martin-Oguike blocked a point-after kick that teammate Will Hayes returned for a two-point score. The Owls won the game on a 32-yard Austin Jones field goal with seven seconds left.

"I got a lot of the kick," Martin-Oguike said earlier this week after practice as the Owls prepared for Friday's nonconference game at Charlotte. "It hit the bottom of my wrist."

Martin-Oguike and Hershey Walton had a strong rush up the middle.

While some might consider it a lucky play, blocking kicks is becoming Martin-Oguike's speciality. It was his third blocked kick in his last eight games. He blocked a field goal last Nov. 1 against East Carolina and another two games later against Penn State.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound redshirt junior from Woodbridge (N.J.) High School said there is no special technique he employs in blocking kicks.

"It's just who wants it more," he said. "Whoever is going to go harder, you or the guy in front of you."

In this instance, it was him.

"I got a good push, and luckily I got my hands on it and blocked it," he said.

Actually it was his wrist. When asked if the wrist hurt, he said: "No, I am used to it."

The Owls are coming off their lone bye week, and Martin-Oguike said the time off was welcome. He suffered a leg injury early in training camp and sat out long stretches in the preseason. Martin-Oguike also didn't play many snaps in the Owls' opening two wins over Penn State and Cincinnati.

He saw much more action against UMass and recorded three tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

"Praise was good, and it was good to have him out there," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "He is kind of limping around this week, so I don't know what his status is."

Martin-Oguike feels he will be ready to contribute.

"I won't say I am 100 percent, but I am getting there," he said. "I feel a lot better."

It's when he is 100 percent that Martin-Oguike becomes a pass-rushing menace. He recorded 7.5 sacks last season, all in the last nine games.

"When Praise is healthy, he is obviously a difference maker," Rhule said.

He was never more of a difference maker than when he blocked the conversion kick. Martin-Oguike had a natural reaction after seeing the ball picked up by teammate Stephaun Marshall, who eventually lateraled it to Hayes.

"It happened so fast, that all I was thinking was don't make any penalties to call it back," he said. "I was looking around because a lot of times somebody will grab a player and get a penalty."

That never happened, and the result was a difference-making play.

"It was a great moment," he said.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard