So close Temple. The Owls were one half away from winning their first bowl games in 30 years, but too many mistakes in the fourth quarter. UCLA doesn't have a ton of offense, but a little Kevin Prince and key defensive plays was all the Bruins needed.
Game Recap
Akeem Ayers returned an interception two yards for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and UCLA shut down Temple in the second half for a 30-21 victory Tuesday in the EagleBank Bowl. The Bruins rallied from a 21-7 first-half deficit to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2006. That mini-slump by UCLA pales in comparison to the decades of futility endured by the Owls, whose only previous bowl appearances in school history were the inaugural Sugar Bowl in 1935 and the Garden State Bowl in 1979. Full story
Team Reports
UCLA: UCLA was the last team into the postseason, advancing to the EagleBank Bowl against Temple only after Army failed to upset Navy and achieve a sixth victory on Dec. 12. More
Temple: For the first time in 30 years, Temple is going to a bowl game, the EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 29. Al Golden's Owls will face up-and-down UCLA in the bowl game. More -- Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Gallery
UCLA safety Rahim Moore (center) celebrates an interception with teammates Sheldon Price (left) and Glenn Love. (AP)
"I know they were saying the West Coast Cali boys were going to be soft and used to surfing and things like that. I'm not going to lie; it was cold. But football is football, the field is still 100 yards long and we still played."
-- UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter
"Some of our best players are young players. We're excited about the direction we're going. ... To go toe-to-toe and mix it up with that kind of team, we haven't been able to do that."
-- Temple coach Al Golden
