Temple outlasts Navy

Annapolis, Md. — Temple quarterback Anthony Russo has impressed his coaches with his big arm and tendency to make game-changing plays at critical moments.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore delivered again in one of his team’s biggest road tests of the season.

Russo threw for 300 yards with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Ventell Bryant midway through the fourth quarter and Temple won for the fourth time in five games by running past Navy 24-17 on Saturday.

“It was a fun game,” Owls coach Geoff Collins said. “I am just so amazingly proud. Those guys fought back. They stayed together and made play after play after play in an adverse situation in a hostile environment. You just can’t say enough about that group of young men who were in there.”

Owls fullback Rob Ritrovato tied the game at 17 on a 1-yard plunge within 5:53 left in the third quarter. From there, the defense for Temple (4-3, 3-0 AAC) contained Navy’s triple-option attack.

Bryant, who had eight receptions for 147 yards, has caught a pass in 42 straight games, which is tied for the longest active streak in the FBS. He also had his first touchdown reception since a 34-10 win at Navy in the 2016 AAC championship game.

“Two years,” Bryant said. “The last time I was in the end zone was here. It felt so great. I had a great week of practice. I was doing all of the little things I needed to do.”

Senior Garret Lewis got his second career start at quarterback for Navy (2-4, 1-2) ahead of Malcolm Perry, who moved back to slotback. Lewis completed 3 of 11 pass attempts for 14 yards. He also ran for 56 yards with a 1-yard touchdown that gave the Midshipmen a 10-7 lead at the half.

Perry had a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown run called back because of an illegal block on center Ford Higgins.

“I thought that killed us,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said about the penalty. “I know I’m going to get reprimanded. I don’t care. I’ll take the fine. It was a horrible call. Just a flatout horrible call. It was one of the worst I’ve seen in my 29 years of coaching. The guy did not push him. It cost us the game.”