Temple: 2017 Gasparilla Bowl Champions

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Geoff Collins has lofty expectations for Temple.

"The future is bright," the first-year coach said after Frank Nutile threw for 254 yards and a touchdown to lead the Owls to a 28-3 victory over Florida International in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday night.

Nutile teamed with Isaiah Wright on 45-yard TD play in the fourth quarter and also scored on a 4-yard run to give the Owls (7-6) an early lead. He completed passes of 13 and 17 yards to escape a first-and-30 hole before throwing 39 yards to Adonis Jennings to set up another TD.

The victory was the fourth in five games for Temple, which rebounded from a 3-5 start to finish with a winning record. The Owls, American Athletic Conference champions a year ago, won a bowl game for the first time since the 2011 New Mexico Bowl.

"The ceiling is the roof," Collins said amid a celebration at Tropicana Field.

FIU (8-5) matched a school record for victories in its first year under Butch Davis, the former Miami, North Carolina and Cleveland Browns coach.

"Nobody's ever happy about losing a game," Davis said. "But what these kids accomplished this year, nobody thought was even remotely possible."

The Panthers played most of the night without quarterback Alex McGough, who left in the opening quarter with what Davis said was a fractured collarbone. Maurice Alexander replaced him, but had limited success throwing the ball and was intercepted twice.

Nutile finished 17 of 27 passing with no interceptions and was named game MVP. He threw 13 yards to Keith Kirkwood and 17 yards to Isaiah Wright on consecutive plays before Jennings' long reception moved the Owls into position to go up 14-3 on David Hood's 1-yard TD run.

Wright's TD reception made it 21-3 midway through the fourth quarter. Ryquell Armstead also scored on a 5-yard run for Temple.

"It means a lot. ... We've been through a lot," Nutile said. "Our team's mindset was to go out there and leave it all on the field."

FORCED INTO ACTION

Alexander completed 16 of 33 passes for 162 yards for FIU. The Panthers were unable to run the ball consistently to take pressure off the backup quarterback, finishing with 88 yards on the ground and avoiding a shutout with Jose Borregales' 27-yard field goal in the third quarter.

WHAT A RUSH

Temple's defense set a Gasparilla Bowl record with seven sacks. LB William Kwenkeu led the way with two. The Owls also forced three turnovers, including a fumble that Freddie Booth-Lloyd recovered to set up Armstead's late TD.

THE TAKEAWAY

Temple: Collins inherited a program that won the American Athletic Conference in 2016, the Owls' first league crown since 1967. After a slow start that saw them lose five of eight, the Owls returned from a bye week to win three of four to become bowl eligible. This year's senior class won 33 games over four seasons, an Owls record.

FIU: The Panthers hope to raise their profile under Davis, and matching the school record for wins and appearing in a bowl for the first time is a start. The Panthers finished second in Conference USA's East Division and placed 12 players on the league's all-conference team.

UP NEXT


Temple: The Owls made significant strides in first-year offensive coordinator David Patenaude's system after Nutile, a redshirt junior moved into the starting lineup in October. Starting receivers Kirkwood and Jennings are seniors, however Wright, a sophomore, led the Owls with 46 receptions for 668 yards with four TDs and will provide some continuity at the position.

FIU: Key changes on offense. McGough, the Panthers' career leader in TD passes and No. 2 in career completions and passing yards, is a senior. Alexander appeared in seven games during the regular season, however the sophomore only attempted six passes. Leading receiver Thomas Owens (59 receptions, 887 yards, 6 TDs in nine games) is also a senior.

AFC Wimbledon: League One, Here They Come!

Unstoppable Dons march into League 1

 A superb strike from Lyle Taylor and a late penalty from Bayo Akinfenwa earned promotion for AFC Wimbledon on a fantastic day for the club.

Taylor’s brilliant goal after a great ball in from Callum Kennedy put the Dons in charge against Plymouth and Akinfenwa's cool spot-kick capped a magnificent season for Neal Ardley’s men. Over 21,000 Dons fans celebrated the 2-0 win in style at the famous stadium and it was a fully deserved victory on the day.

With an 11-day gap since Wimbledon booked their place at Wembley by beating Accrington Stanley, it had seemed like a long build-up to the big day, but now it was finally here. Both sets of supporters created a brilliant atmosphere at Wembley as we approached kick-off.

There was just one change to Neal Ardley’s starting line-up with Connor Smith thrown straight back in after injury in place of Sean Rigg. Wimbledon settled into the game well and there was a half chance early on when a Callum Kennedy free-kick fell for Lyle Taylor, but he was unable to get a proper connection and Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick gathered comfortably.

In the first half hour, Wimbledon were looking for the height of Tom Elliott at every opportunity and the towering striker was causing problems galore. It was his smart flick-on that sent Taylor racing clear on the right for another sight of goal, but his shot was deflected into the side netting. Another half chance followed when the subsequent corner was only half cleared and Jake Reeves volleyed just wide.

With Wimbledon’s back four producing a solid start, Plymouth barely had a sight of goal in the first half an hour. All of Wimbledon’s best moments came through Elliott and it was another of his headers that so nearly created a chance for Paul Robinson, but Plymouth defender Kelvin Mellor just got there first. With Dannie Bulman and Jake Reeves controlling matters in midfield, Wimbledon had plenty of possession in the first half an hour. Plymouth did threaten in the 32^nd minute though when Jake Jervis found space in the box, but his shot was blocked.

As the first-half wore on, Plymouth gradually started to come into it and Darius Charles showed what he is all about with great defending to stop Jake Jervis getting in at the far post after a lovely ball in from Gregg Wylde. These two teams had been so closely matched in previous meetings during the regular season and the 0-0 score line at half-time suggested it was going to be tough to separate them again.

Plymouth came out the traps fast at the start of the second-half, but Wimbledon remained resolute at the back. At the other end, there was relief for Plymouth when Carl McHugh got a defensive clearance all wrong and his lob flashed just past the post. At this stage, the Dons were really piling forward as they played towards the end containing Wimbledon’s great support.

Though Wimbledon were forced to defend deep as Plymouth started to gain more possession, gaps started to open up for Wimbledon to exploit. A great chance so nearly materialised for Wimbledon when Barry Fuller’s pass picked out Bulman in space down the right, but he was just unable to slide a pass through for Barcham, who was waiting on his own in the middle.

Derek Adams’ side had their best spell of the game midway through the second-half and twice in a matter of minutes Wimbledon needed Kelle Roos to be alert. First, the Dutch goalkeeper got down well to save a long-range free-kick from Graham Carey and then he held on well to a header from Peter Hartley.

With 68 minutes on the clock, Neal Ardley made a change with Jon Meades earning deserved reward for his excellent season and comeback from injury. Meades replaced Smith and there was another change shortly afterwards with Bayo Akinfenwa entering the fray for Tom Elliott.

The changes seemed to reinvigorate Wimbledon and the all-important opener followed 12 minutes from the end of normal time. The ball was only half cleared to Callum Kennedy and his wonderful ball in was met with a superb low finish from Lyle Taylor. It was typical of the form that Taylor had shown all season and the celebrations were not bad too as he wheeled away to give his manager a hug on the touchline.

The goal had sparked ecstatic scenes among the Wimbledon support and they were so nearly celebrating a second when Barry Fuller was sent racing through, but he was just foiled by McCormick. Akinfenwa was also denied by the Plymouth goalkeeper in a frantic finale, but he scored from the spot to seal a fantastic promotion after Ade Azeez had been brought down in the box . What an achievement and what a way to do it for Neal Ardley’s men.    

AFC Wimbledon: Kelle Roos, Barry Fuller, Callum Kennedy, Paul Robinson, Darius Charles, Andy Barcham, Dannie Bulman, Jake Reeves, Tom Elliott (Bayo Akinfenwa), Lyle Taylor (Ade Azeez), Connor Smith (Jon Meades).

Relive the action!

Pre-Match

First Half

Second Half

Trophy Presentation
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Second Half