Temple wins AAC, ends Navy’s Cotton Bowl dreams
By John Buhler
The Temple Owls throttled the Navy Midshipmen, 34-10 in the 2016 AAC Championship Game. This loss ends Navy’s chances at a New Year’s Six bowl bid.
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The Temple Owls were on a mission Saturday afternoon to destroy the No. 19 Navy Midshipmen in their place for the 2016 AAC Championship. Temple clobbered Navy, 34-10 to win the 2016 AAC Championship Game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
This gave Temple its second consecutive 10-win season. It was the first time Temple has ever done this as a football program. Keep in mind that the Owls lost to the Houston Cougars in the inaugural AAC Championship Game in 2015.
For Navy, this loss ends their shot at making it to the Cotton Bowl as the Group of 5 team. The Midshipmen had a sliver of an opportunity to get to Arlington, but this loss to the Owls would make the undefeated 13-0 MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos a certain lock to play in the Cotton Bowl.
Temple would beat Navy on the road with a healthy combination of run and pass. Owls quarterback Phillip Walker would complete 16 of 25 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His favorite target on the day was Keith Kirkwood, who had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Ventell Bryant would also have five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground, Temple actually outgained the Navy triple-option attack 189 yards to 168. Leading the way for the Owls were Ryquell Armstead and Jahad Thomas. Armstead would have 10 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. Thomas would have 19 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Navy was only a three-point favorite at home over Temple. What this AAC Championship Game taught us is that this Group of 5 conference has several great football programs: Navy, Temple, Houston, the Memphis Tigers, and the South Florida Bulls among them. They may be labeled as Group of 5 teams, but the AAC can play some serious football.
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As for the national picture, Temple had a great season, but won’t be good enough to get to the Cotton Bowl in Arlington. It will be completely shocking if another Group of 5 team robs Western Michigan of their earned trip to the Cotton Bowl.