COLLEGE: Temple's Boumerhi found himself in a new situation against Villanova
Throughout Aaron Boumerhi's football career, he has never been called on to win a game. Until this past Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Boumerhi never had to make a game winning play throughout his football career. In high school, his teams barely even competed. Through three seasons as the place kicker for Philipsburg-Osceola High School, Boumerhi’s team was victorious only once. During 30 games from 2013 to 2015, the Philipsburg-Osceola Mountaineers won just a single game.
On Saturday, Boumerhi found himself in an entirely new situation at Lincoln Financial Field. The sophomore place kicker had a chance to break a tie score between Temple University and Villanova University in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.
Boumerhi measured his steps, focused on the moment and followed through on his kick. The field goal attempt sailed directly through the uprights, giving Temple a 16-13 lead with 2:23 left to play.
Aaron Boumerhi Post-Game Press Conference
“It was the first time I’ve ever had to make a crucial kick like that for the game,” Boumerhi said.
Temple’s defense sealed the game by creating a turnover inside the last minute of regulation after Boumerhi’s kick gave it the lead.
Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk completed a 16 yard pass to Matt Gudzak to the Temple 44 yard line with time running out. After breaking into the open field, Gudzak was met by Owl linebacker Shaun Bradley. Bradley’s hard hit on Gudzak forced the ball out of his hands, and Temple's Sharif Finch recovered the fumble.
The Owls took a knee to run out the nine seconds that were left on the clock and won 16-13.
“There was no doubt that we were going to kick the field goal if we were within the range,” Temple coach Geoff Collins said after the win. “And it was well within the range. With the distance today, we felt that [Boumerhi] had the leg for that kick.”
Geoff Collins Post-Game Press Conference
Throughout the first three quarters however, it did not seem as though Temple was going to need a game winning kick and fumble recovery to beat Villanova. The Owls led 13-0 until late in the third quarter.
Villanova scored its first points on a 44 yard field goal from Drew Kresge with 49 seconds left in the third quarter. The Wildcats went on to score 10 more points to tie the game at 13 with 3:29 left to play.
Bednarczyk threw for 382 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help Villanova stay in the game, but Temple’s two-minute drill was too much to handle for the Wildcats.
The Owls’ seven play, 42 yard drive in the final three and a half minutes showed its ability to manage the clock while driving the ball effectively down field. Logan Marchi’s 27 yard pass to Ventell Bryant highlighted the drive.
Bryant jumped up and grabbed the ball with one hand while a Villanova player was draped all over him. The pass was completed even though Villanova was called for a pass interference penalty. After the catch, Ryquell Armstead’s three runs for seven yards put Bouhmerhi in position to score.
“My mindset there was just do my job,” Marchi said. “To get the ball in the receivers’ hands, move the ball down the field and give our kickers a chance to win the game for us. Boumerhi came in and did a wonderful job for us.”
The 49 yard field goal make was a career long for Boumerhi.
Temple's win over Villanova on Saturday tied the all-time series results between the two rival schools. The record now stands at 16-16-2.
Villanova (1-1) takes on Lafayette College (0-1) next Saturday in Villanova for its next game.
Temple (1-1) will continue play next Friday against the University of Massachusetts (0-3) at Lincoln Financial Field.
(Main Photo courtesy of Temple Athletics)