Sports
Wildcats' defense preserves victory
Published: September 2, 2001
Four first downs. Minus-2 yards passing. Six of nine offensive series culminating in three plays and punt. Twenty-six yards in the second half, and 168 total for the game. With all of the above in place, how in the heck did the Temple Wildcats pull out a 9-6 victory over No. 12 Tyler Lee on Friday? Two reasons. A defense that forced three turnovers at critical times, and an offense that committed none of its own. "There's some guy who always says that turnovers are the key in a contest," Temple coach David Beal, referring to what he always preaches to his coaches and players. "If you don't turn the ball over, you always have a chance to win. "And, if you play some good defense along with that, you'll be OK. It was just that our kids and coaches concentrated on ball security." Tackle Marcus Lee's fumble recovery halted one Lee drive in Temple territory as the Wildcats held the Red Raiders to just 69 yards through the first two quarters. End Daniel Morrison recovered another on Lee's first drive of the second half, preserving Temple's 9-0 lead with 8:59 to go in the third period. But the Red Raiders then launched a 11-play, 75-yard drive which culminated in Byron Fields' 6-yard scoring run. Leading 9-6 after the botched point-after, Temple was held to a scant 20 yards through that period and only 6 in the final stanza. However, the Wildcats defenders held on. by Will Wright