Duke Takes On Temple In The Walk -On's Independence Bowl

On Thursday Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on Temple who is a member of the American Athletic Conference in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

This meeting will be the first between the two teams on the grid iron.

Duke finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 while Temple finished the regular season with a record of 8-4.

As for Duke’s regular season finale they lost to Wake Forest who became bowl eligible.

Wake Forest’s Cade Carney rushed for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the visiting Demon Deacons to a 59-7 victory over Duke on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Wake Forest (6-6, 3-5) reached bowl-eligibility by winning the 99th all-time meeting with the Blue Devils (7-5, 3-5), who still lead the series 58-29-2. Wake QB Jamie Newman was 18-of-23 passing for 177 yards and threw touchdown passes to four different receivers. He also carried for 50 yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The visitors marched down the field on the game’s first possession as Carney capped the nine-play, 74-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run. It was 21-0 before Duke cracked the scoreboard as Deon Jackson reeled in a six-yard pass from Daniel Jones – the 17th passing TD for Jones this season. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

After the team’s each traded three punts, Nasir Greer stepped in front of a Jones pass and returned the interception 20 yards for a touchdown, allowing Wake to regain its three-score lead. The Demon Deacons made it 31-7 with a field goal at the first-half buzzer. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Lummie Young IV made a career-high 15 tackles (12 solo) for Duke, matching a season-high for any Blue Devil this season. The 13 stops for Brandon Hill were also a career best. Jones was 17-of-36 passing for 145 yards, while Jackson rushed for 30 yards, caught seven passes for 45 yards and racked up 110 kickoff return yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Carney averaged 7.2 yards on his 31 carries, becoming the first opponent to post a 200-yard rushing game against Duke since Pitt’s Darrin Hall went for 254 yards last season. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke lost three fumbles in the game, and each was cashed in for a Wake Forest touchdown, including the game’s final two scores. Wake Forest played turnover free for the second time this season. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Demon Deacons owned a 517-251 advantage in total yards, and out-rushed Duke, 340-106. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211781646&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for Temple’s regular season finale , Unlike Duke who lost their regular season finale Temple won their regular season finale as they blew out UConn.

In front of 18,203 fans at Pratt and Whitney Stadium, the Temple Owls beat the UConn Huskies 57-7 in the final regular season game of the season. The Owls end their regular season 8-4 and 7-1 in the American Athletic Conference. Temple's 7-1 conference record is its best since 2016. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

The Owls dominated every facet of the game and scored 50 unanswered points after both teams traded touchdowns to begin the game. Temple scored a season-high 40 points in the first half despite only running 26 total plays. The Owls capitalized on stellar field position throughout the game and scored on all seven of their redzone possessions. The Owls forced four turnovers in the game, which helped set up the excellent field position. Temple scored in all three phases of the game for the third time this season and the second game in a row.  The Owls' stingy defense allowed 213 total yards and the offense amassed 516 yards, 223 in the air and 293 on the ground. Temple only ran 52 plays compared to the Huskies' 81. Nine different Owls rushed the ball and nine TU players caught a pass. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

This game marked the highest point differential this season in an American Athletic Conference Game. It is also the third highest point differential ever in an American Athletic Conference Game. This was also the highest point differential against an FBS school in Temple Football history. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

How it Happened

>The Owls started the game and struck first in the contest. Temple drove down the field on the first drive and scored, and didn't look back from there. QB Todd Centeio pitched the ball to WR Isaiah Wright who ran it in for an 18-yard touchdown. UConn countered and tied the game 7-7 on its first drive. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>Temple wouldn't allow another scoring play for UConn the rest of the half, meanwhile the Owls scored 31 unanswered before the half ended. Following the UConn score, Wright received the kickoff from the one-yard line and returned it 99-yards untouched for a touchdown. It was his first kickoff return of the season for a touchdown. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>After forcing the Huskies to turn the ball over on downs, the Owls drove 92 yards on six plays to score another touchdown. A three-yard run by Centeio stretched the lead to 20-7 Temple with 14:24 left in the second quarter. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>The Owls and Huskies traded interceptions on the next two drives and Temple would take over on the UConn 36 yardline after an interception by LB Todd Jones. With prime field position the Owls would capitalize on the turnover and score on a five-yard touchdown reception by TE Chris Myarick from Centeio. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>Temple recovered an errant snap by UConn on the first play of the next drive and took over on the UConn four yardline. The Owls turned the excellent field position into an 18-yard field goal by kicker Will Mobley to make the score 30-7 Temple. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>The Owls forced a third turnover in a row on the ensuing UConn drive. After inside pressure forced the UConn QB to flush the pocket, CB Christian Braswell picked off a lofted pass and returned it eight yards for a touchdown to make it 37-7 Temple with 2:38 left to play in the half. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>With 50 seconds left in the half, QB Frank Nutile and the offense drove down the field 54-yards and set Mobley up for an 18-yard field goal to extend the lead to 40-7. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>The onslaught continued in the second half on Temple's first possession. RB Jager Gardner took a 26-yard rush up the middle of the defense to the house to make it 47-7 in favor of the Owls. SAF Benny Walls also had an interception in the third that took some offensive momentum away from the Huskies. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

>In the Owls first possession of the fourth quarter, the Owls platooned rushing between Centeio, RB Jonny Forrest, and WR Travon Williams. The Owls drove 70-yards and Williams finished off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The Owls continued to pour it on, 54-7. The Owls finished the game with another Mobley field goal to finish the game at 57-7. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2018/11/24/football-soars-over-uconn-in-regular-season-finale-57-7.aspx

Kick-off is set for 1:30pm from Independence Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.