Toledo Rockets vs Temple Owls Box Score on Dec 22, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 22, 2015

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Toledo Rockets earned their first 10-win season in 14 years, defeating the No. 24 Temple Owls 32-17 in the Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium on Tuesday night.

Toledo (10-2) was led by senior quarterback Phillip Ely, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Ely hooked up with wide receiver Cody Thompson on perhaps the biggest play of the game, an 80-yard touchdown pass with 12:41 left in the fourth quarter. Thompson caught Ely's medium-range pass over the middle, and outraced the Temple secondary for the final 50 yards, angling toward the right corner, extending Toledo's lead to 19-9.

Temple drove into Toledo territory on the next possession, but senior reserve cornerback Juwan Haynes picked off a pass by Temple quarterback P.J. Walker. The pass was intended for tight end Colin Thompson, but cornerback Rolan Milligan broke it up, and Haynes came up with his first career interception.

The Rockets' defense was stellar all night, producing a safety and holding Temple running back Jahad Thomas to five yards on eight carries.

Thomas, who entered the game having rushed for 1,257 yards, a 4.7 average and 17 touchdowns, did not play in the second half due to a knee injury.

Temple, which finished its season 10-4, got off to a good start, getting the only score of the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Austin Jones.

The Owls appeared to be in control until Thomas fumbled at his own four-yard line. The ball was jarred loosed on a hard hit by Toledo linebacker Ja'Wuan Woodley and bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Less than two minutes later, Toledo followed with a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ely to wide receiver Corey Jones, who broke five tackles after getting the ball in the right flat.

Toledo scored on the final play of the first half to take a 12-3 lead. The Rockets needed just six plays and 70 seconds to drive down the field, setting up Jameson Vest for a 38-yard field goal.

The Owls were shut down in the second quarter, gaining just five yards on 12 plays.

Temple, though, started the second half with an eight-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 25-yard field goal by Austin Jones. Less than six minutes later, Jones added a 35-yard field goal to cut Toledo's lead to 12-9.

Toledo took over from there with Ely's touchdown pass to Thompson and a one-yard touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt.

Temple scored with 2:50 remaining to get within 25-17 as Kip Patton caught a two-yard touchdown pass and Robby Anderson caught the two-point conversion.

Temple's miracle hopes were dashed when Cody Thompson recovered the ensuing onside kick and Hunt put the finishing touch for Toledo with a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left.

NOTES: Toledo's Jason Candle, 36, made his head coaching debut. He was the Rockets' offensive coordinator until Dec. 2, when he was made their head coach, replacing Matt Campbell, who took the top job at Iowa State. ... Candle's counterpart on Tuesday, Temple's Matt Rhule, was given a six-year contract extension earlier this month. ... Toledo went 5-0 on the road this season, rising as high as No. 19 in the polls after a string of big wins, including a 16-12 victory at Arkansas when the Razorbacks were in the Top 20. Toledo also earned a home win over Iowa State. ... Temple earned impressive victories, too, including its first win over Penn State in 74 years. The Owls also prevailed at Cincinnati.