Temple swamps Charlotte to go 4-0

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the second straight game, a favored Temple team ran into some resistance from an upset-minded nonconference football opponent.

Unlike Temple's last-second 25-23 win at UMass on Sept. 19, these upset dreams lasted slightly more than one half.

After leading by 10-3 at halftime, Temple used a 20-0 third quarter Friday and swamped Charlotte, 37-3, before 13,105 at soggy Jerry Richardson Stadium.

That continued the third-quarter dominance this season for the 4-0 Owls. Temple has now outscored teams, 54-6, in the third quarter. Conversely Charlotte (2-3) has been outscored, 40-13, in the third period.

"I think it is more of a feel thing," said quarterback P.J. Walker about the third quarter surges. "You get a feel of what the defense is going and then we get in a rhythm and get thing going."

Walker enjoyed a solid game, completing 11 of 23 passes for 116 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had several passes dropped.

"I thought he gave our receivers the chance to make a lot of plays, made good decisions didn't throw a pick tonight," Temple coach Matt Rhule said of Walker. "He managed the game."

In rainy conditions on the artificial turf field, Temple decided to pound the ball to begin the second half.

It turned out to be a good move.

The Owls scored on a 1-yard scoring run by Jahad Thomas to increase the lead to 17-3 with 9 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

Thomas gained 109 yards on 20 carries and scored twice, giving him seven touchdowns this season.

Rhule had talked about cutting back the load for Thomas, and true freshman Ryquell Armstead had his most extensive action with 11 carries for 43 yards.

Temple made it 24-3 when Walker hit Robby Anderson on an 11-yard scoring pass. Anderson had a few drops in the first half and felt he needed to atone for them.

"I was determined and I was frustrated by what happened earlier and had to make up for it to my teammate and coaches," said Anderson, who had three receptions for 35 yards and two touchdowns.

The other was a 13-yarder in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.

Temple continued its strong special-teams play when Sharif Finch blocked a punt that Nate L. Smith returned for 16-yard score in the third quarter.

"My eyes got pretty big when I saw the ball but the main focus was to pick up the ball, scoop and score," Smith said.

After missing his first field goal of the season from 36 yards, Temple's Austin Jones converted from 39 yards out in difficult conditions with 2:06 left in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Temple increased the lead to 10-0 on Thomas' 1-yard touchdown run with 6:12 left in the second quarter.

Charlotte's Blake Brewer, who missed field goals of 55 and 28 yards, made a 36-yard field goal to cut Temple's lead to 10-3 with 3:36 left in the half. The big play was a 39-yard run by Kalif Phillips.

Earlier in the week Rhule said Phillips may be the best back his team will face. Phillips made Rhule look prophetic.

Phillips rushed for 87 of his 125 yards in the first half. He was an object of Rhule's halftime speech.

"I told our team at halftime the key would be to tackle [No.] 3 [Phillips] because we couldn't tackle him," Rhule said. "In the second half he kept running and making plays."

Not as many plays as Temple, which was much more comfortable after halftime.

"We are a team that is putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to play and we kind of settle down [after halftime] and play a lot better," Rhule said. "I have to do a better job of having them come out a little looser and better early."

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard