Cornist and Bowers finish UConn’s 34-20 road win over Temple

Trey Cornist ran for 114 yards on just seven carries, and Cyncir Bowers delivered the fourth-quarter touchdown that gave UConn room to finish a 34-20 victory over Temple on Saturday in Philadelphia. The Huskies reached 3-3 with four different players scoring rushing touchdowns, while Temple fell to 2-4.

The game remained within one possession well into the fourth quarter. Temple had trimmed UConn’s halftime lead to 24-20 on Carl Hardin’s 29-yard field goal late in the third. A sack and fumble recovery then gave the Huskies another opportunity, and Bowers finished a 10-play, 62-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run with 7:52 remaining.

Storrs Central’s game report identified K’Von Sherman as the player who recovered that fumble. It also described Kalieb Osborne’s third-down completion to Bowers for 18 yards during the ensuing drive. Those plays helped UConn convert a defensive stop into an 11-point lead instead of leaving Temple another chance to go ahead.

Cornist had already changed the first half with a 51-yard run during UConn’s response to a 17-14 deficit. He scored from 1 yard out with 5:55 left in the second quarter, restoring the Huskies’ advantage. UConn Football posted the long run from the game Saturday.

Osborne completed 17 of 23 passes for 257 yards without an interception. Although he did not throw a touchdown pass, the Huskies gained 505 total yards, including 248 on the ground. Bowers carried 18 times for 84 yards, and Kenji Christian turned his only rushing attempt into a 39-yard first-quarter touchdown. Osborne opened the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Temple answered UConn’s first score almost immediately. Ajani Sheppard found JoJo Bermudez for a 79-yard touchdown with 12:28 left in the first quarter, tying the game just 15 seconds after Osborne’s score. Temple Football shared the play from its official account Saturday.

The Owls tied it again at 14-14 when Colin Chase threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Peter Clarke. Hardin’s 26-yard field goal then put Temple ahead in the second quarter, but that was its last lead. Jack O’Connor’s 21-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half pushed UConn ahead 24-17.

Sheppard finished with 260 passing yards on 19-of-25 passing. Bermudez had two receptions for 96 yards, Clarke caught five passes for 88 yards, and Keveun Mason rushed for 88 yards. Temple produced 435 yards of offense, but lost two fumbles while UConn finished without a turnover.

O’Connor’s 27-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining completed the scoring. UConn has an open week before hosting Massachusetts on October 23. Temple hosts Charlotte next Saturday.