By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Temple stuffed USF's attempt at another memorable comeback Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Maikon Bonani's 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked with 1:11 remaining and the Owls sealed a 37-28 victory with a 35-yard touchdown run by Montel Harris on the next play. 

B.J. Daniels tied the USF record for career rushing touchdowns with a 1-yard scoring run that cut the Bulls' deficit to 30-28 with 5:19 remaining. The field goal block by Marcus Green gave Temple (2-2) its first Big East win since 2004, while USF (2-4) dropped its fourth straight game.

Lindsey Lamar had another strong game with a 24-yard scoring reception and a 19-yard touchdown run for a USF team that nearly got back to even ground in the conference.

Saturday's first-ever meeting between the programs started off in sloppy fashion with three missed kicks and nine punts in the opening half.

The USF defense stuffed Temple on the first drive of the game, but didn't have much luck the second time around. The Owls capped off a 65-yard scoring drive with a 24-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chris Coyer, who ran untouched to the end zone after a perfectly disguised fake draw. Temple kicker Brandon McManus missed the extra point attempt a drive after USF's Bonani hooked a 52-yard field goal attempt to the left.

Bonani wound up giving the Bulls the lead with an extra point with 3:34 remaining in the opening quarter at the end of a quick scoring drive. Daniels hit Lamar for a 24-yard touchdown pass that completed a five-play, 46-yard sprint to the end zone. It was Lamar's third touchdown catch of the season and the sixth of the senior's career.

USF was consistently winning the field position battle until late in the third quarter when Daniels was sacked by Tavon Young and Temple's Nate Smith recovered the fumble at the Bulls' 10. No damage was done by the Owls, however, after McManus missed a 22-yard field goal attempt with 2:59 to play in the half.

Temple gave McManus one last shot in the first half and the senior nailed a 50-yard attempt as time expired to give the Owls a 9-7 lead at the break.

What was a struggle to put up points in the first half turned into a scoring spree after the break.

USF looked much sharper at the start of the second half and leaned on the running game to grab a 14-9 lead. The Bulls rushed for 44 of their 75 yards on the scoring drive that was completed with a 19-yard touchdown carry by Lamar less than 4 minutes into the third quarter. It was Lamar's second rushing TD of the season and the fourth of his career.

The Bulls' lead lasted about as long as it took to get it after Temple went 74 yards to the end zone on its opening drive of the half. Matt Brown gave the Owls a 16-14 lead with a 15-yard scoring run with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter.

Temple got the ball back less than 2 minutes later when John Youboty forced a fumble on a carry by Demetris Murray that was recovered by Hersey Walton at the USF 31. The Owls pumped their lead up to 23-14 three plays later when Coyer found Cody Booth open in the middle of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown.

Demetris Murray continued the scoring outburst for USF with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter. Again, the Bulls drove 75 yards while Daniels' arm started to heat up. The senior completed four of his five attempts for 48 yards, which was only 19 yards fewer than he had in the entire first half.

Temple accomplished both of its objectives on the ensuing drive – scoring a touchdown and using up a lot of clock. Harris, a transfer from Boston College, scored a 3-yard touchdown at the end of an 11-play, 79-yard drive that gave the Owls a 30-21 advantage with 7:29 remaining in the game.

Daniels made things happen much quicker for USF in its attempt to pull off another memorable comeback on the road. The quarterback completed a 2 minute, 10 second scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that helped the Bulls cut their deficit to 30-28 with 5:19 remaining. It marked USF's third 75-yard drive of the half and it was highlighted by a 41-yard toss to Derrick Hopkins that got the Bulls to Temple's 11.

The USF defense stepped up by forcing a three-and-out and the Bulls had the ball at their own 32 with 3:49 remaining. Daniels' incomplete pass on a fourth-and-5 at USF's 47 appeared to end the Bulls' drive, but a roughing the passer call kept it alive with a 15-yard push toward the end zone. Temple's huge special teams play came four plays later.

The Bulls get to rest up during a bye week before traveling to Louisville on Saturday, Oct. 20.