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Villanova football plays underdog role well in scaring Temple

It is one of the most thrilling and scary moments in sports - the time when everybody in the building realizes the heavy favorite is in serious trouble. That was Temple on Saturday when Villanova tied the game late.

Villanova had Temple on the ropes late in the fourth quarter, but the Owls edged ahead late and won the game 16-13.
Villanova had Temple on the ropes late in the fourth quarter, but the Owls edged ahead late and won the game 16-13.Read moreYong Kim/Staff Photographer

It is one of the most thrilling and scary moments in sports — the time when everybody in an arena, park or football stadium realizes the heavy favorite is in serious trouble. Watch enough events and you can sense the moment even before it arrives. But when it comes and the underdog truly believes and the favorite fears the worst, it is the very essence of why we all watch the games.

That moment came Saturday in the final minutes of what really should be an annual game between Temple and Villanova at Lincoln Financial Field. The Wildcats had trailed by 13 points early in the third quarter, exactly by the point spread, in fact.

`Nova had not scored despite twice driving inside the Owls' 30-yard line in the first half. With points at such a premium, it really felt at the time as if the final two minutes of the first half would be the separator, a Villanova drive ending on a dropped pass inside the Owls 20-yard line, a field goal attempt bouncing off the left upright, the Owls left with just enough time to go 75 yards and score touchdown with a second left in the half. When the Owls went up 13-0 three minutes into the second half, storylines explaining what had not been terribly interesting were being considered.

Why was Temple having such a difficult time running against an FCS team? Would Villanova ever score? Were there really 35,000 people at the Linc? Would you be able to hear Billy Joel from across Pattison Ave. in the parking lot after the game?

Then, with no warning, the Wildcats started rolling down the field on every series, never really being stopped until a fumble just inside Temple territory on the penultimate play of the game. A long fourth-down completion was just shy of a first down but as good as a punt. A long field goal got the Cats on the board. A perfectly executed onsides kick down the sideline in the front of the Villanova bench was dropped twice. No matter, the Cats got the ball back anyway and were off on a 91-yard touchdown drive.

Just as everybody was considering the ramifications for both teams (a potential great seed for Villanova in the FCS playoffs, an 0-2 start for new Temple coach Geoff Collins), it was all very real, as Villanova had the game tied 13-13, with barely three minutes left, the Cats outgaining the Owls 233 yards to 11 over a 24-minute period.

The heat was on the home team, the visitors bench alive sensing the upset. It was not going to be Howard over UNLV or Liberty over Baylor from the previous Saturday. Villanova has too good a program for that. The Wildcats always had a chance to win. Now, it was more than a chance.

This was the moment where a lesser team goes into a shell, plays not to lose and loses. Instead, Temple quarterback Logan Marchi, throwing from his own 20-yard line, lofted a perfect pass down the same sideline where that onsides kick hung tantalizingly in the air. Ventell Bryant made a terrific catch and the Owls were just beyond midfield. A holding penalty got them closer and then, choosing to play conservatively, three straight running plays set up a 49-yard field goal try by Aaron Boumerhi that was through with plenty to spare just as the clock hit a minute.

Without a timeout, Villanova was able to run just three plays before that fumble ended it; perhaps another completion away from a chance at overtime, instead of what became a 16-13 Temple win.

When you are FCS trying to beat FBS even if it's a city rivalry, the margin for error is small. The Wildcats dropped a few passes, missed that field goal by inches, could not hold on to that onsides kick and after its 3-3-5 defense would not allow the Owls to run much, were hit by that long pass down the sideline that eventually tilted the game Temple's way.

"Both teams made plays, missed plays," said Villanova first-year coach Mark Ferrante.

The coach knew his team had played with great heart against what he called a "big, physical, fast" team.

He was not at all surprised his young front held up against the run.

"For a long time, the defense we used has been really good against the run," Ferrante said.

The alignment suggests it is susceptible to the run, but the recent history suggests it is not.

Sort of like football divisions suggest Temple is supposed to beat Villanova. Well, the Owls would not let the Cats run at all, but `Nova's quarterback Zach Bednarczyk threw for 382 yards. In the end, Marchi, who has only started two college games, made a great throw and the favorite survived a serious test.

Bottom line, the Wildcats look to be every bit one of America's 10 best FCS teams and, should they remain healthy enough, will be a dangerous playoff opponent when the weather turns cold.

Meanwhile Temple, coming off 20-8 the last two years, a dominant run down the stretch of the 2016 season and a conference championship, is playing under its fourth head coach in the 2010s. Time will tell on these Owls, but when the big question came late in what became a frightening game, Temple had the right answer.