North Carolina Takes On Temple In The Military Bowl In Annapolis Maryland

North Carolina is the only team from the triangle this season that will make a bowl appearance.

North Carolina who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will play in the Military Bowl on Friday in Annapolis Maryland. Who will they face ? They will they take on? They will take on Temple who is a member of the American Athletic Conference.

North Carolina finished the regular season with a record of 6-6 while Temple finished the regular season with a record of 8-4.

How did North Carolina become bowl eligible?

They beat their tobacco road rival NC State on the last game of the regular season.

North Carolina is headed back to a bowl game in the first year of Mack Brown's second stint as coach after Javonte Williams scored two touchdowns rushing and another receiving in the third quarter Saturday night to spark a 41-10 win over rival N.C. State. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

The Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4 ACC) trailed 10-6 at halftime before Williams busted free up the middle for a 26-yard scoring run on UNC's second possession of the second half to give his team the lead for good. On the Tar Heels' next two possessions, Williams caught an 11-yard flare pass for a touchdown and scored on a 6-yard run as UNC stretched its lead.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

N.C. State (4-8, 1-7) finished the season on a six-game losing streak despite scoring the only touchdown of the first half on a 39-yard pass from Devin Leary to Tabari Hines. The Wolfpack held UNC to 24 rushing yards and two field goals in the first half as Williams managed just seven yards on four carries.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

But a four-touchdown outburst by the Tar Heels in the third quarter turned the game into a rout. UNC intercepted Leary twice and recovered a Zonovan Knight fumble for three takeaways in the quarter. Williams rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns on five carries in the quarter and added three catches for 42 yards and another score.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

Following the second interception of Leary, Sam Howell put an exclamation point on the quarter with a 52-yard scoring pass to Dyami Brown. Howell increased his touchdown pass total for the season to 35 -- an FBS record for a true freshman.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

Howell was 23-for-33 passing for a career-high 401 yards and three scores with one interception.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/30/football-carolina-becomes-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-nc-state-41-10.aspx

How did Temple become bowl elgible?

They finished the regular season with a record of 8-4.

To closeout the regular season they ran away from UConn.

The Temple Owls beat the UConn Huskies, 49-17. The Owls finish the 2019 season 8-4 and 5-3 in conference play. Temple finishes the season with a 6-1 home record. 16 seniors were honored before the game with their families and loved ones. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

After trailing at halftime, 17-14, Temple scored 28 points in the third quarter and shutout the Huskies in the second half to solidify the victory. With the win, the senior class has 33 total victories and is the third winningest class in program history. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

How It happened
First Quarter
UConn scored on its opening drive of the game on a 51-yard touchdown to make the score 7-0. The Huskies got the ball back on their next possession and scored again this time on a two- yard rushing touchdown to make the score 14-0. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

Temple countered on the next drive with its own long touchdown to make the score 14-7. QB Anthony Russo hit WR Branden Mack down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown. Russo hit him in stride and Mack bounced off a tackler and beat the remaining defender to the endzone.

Second Quarter
After forcing the Owls to punt from their own endzone, UConn took over on its own 49-yardline. They drove down the field and kicked a 40-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

After trading punts, QB Todd Centeio came into the game and provided a huge spark in the offense. Centeio hit TE Kenny Yeboah down the seam for a 53-yard reception that got the Owls inside the red zone. On the next play, Centeio completed a pass to WR Jadan Blue who dove for the pylon and scored. Temple made it a three point game, 17-14, with three minutes left in the half.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

Third Quarter
To start the second half, Temple made quick work and took its first lead of the game, 21-17. Following a 23-yard run by RB Tayvon Ruley, Russo hit Mack down the sideline again for a 41-yard touchdown, his second score of the game.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

Temple's defense forced a three-and-out and gave the offense the ball back at Temple's 49-yardline. Russo hit Mack for 10-yards and Blue for 14-yards to get inside the UConn 10- yardline. Russo finished off the drive with a diving QB keeper for the score. Temple took a 28-17 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

The defense continued to suffocate UConn in the second half. The Owls forced the Huskies to pass on a third-and-10 and DE Zack Mesday sacked the quarterback and forced UConn to punt. This time, RB Re'Mahn Davis broke off the long play for a score. Davis weaved through the defense on a draw play and was able to blow past the secondary and run 55-yards for a touchdown. It his longest run of the season and gave the Owls a 35-17 lead.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

The scoring wouldn't stop for the Owls just yet. On the second play of the next drive, LB Sam Franklin jumped a pass and took it 29-yards untouched to the house. Temple continued to dominate the second half and took a commanding 42-17 lead.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

Fourth Quarter
The Owls defense continued to dominate in the fourth quarter and the offense continued to add more points. After Temple was denied a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal, the defense forced another three-and-out and got the ball back at the UConn 43-yardline. Working with a short field, Centeio and Ruley broke off rushes for 14 and 15 yards, respectively, that set up the Owls inside the 10-yardline. Ruley capped the drive off with a six-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. Temple maintained a 49-17 lead with two minutes to play in the game. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/11/30/football-shuts-out-uconn-in-the-second-half-dominates-on-senior-day-49-17.aspx

Kick-off is set for 12:00pm from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.