Sheppard's late TD run pushes Temple past previously unbeaten South Florida, 17-13

Oct 4, 2026

Quarterback Ajani Sheppard breaks loose on a 34-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes left to help Temple defeat previously unbeaten South Florida 17-13 on Saturday night

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Quarterback Ajani Sheppard broke loose on a 34-yard touchdown run with 3:08 remaining to help Temple knock off previously unbeaten South Florida 17-13 on Saturday night.

Sheppard's TD run capped a 10-play, 96-yard drive that chewed 5:24 off the clock. South Florida then had two possessions, but couldn't convert on fourth-and-8 near midfield and then fumbled the ball at its own 38 to end it.

Sheppard carried the ball 14 times for 87 yards and completed 9 of 14 passes for 92 yards. His 24-yard touchdown pass to JoJo Bermudez in the second quarter helped give Temple (2-3, 1-1 American Conference) a 10-3 lead at the break.

Michael Van Buren Jr. was 17-of-32 passing for 205 yards for South Florida (4-1, 1-1). D.J. Crowther had a short-yardage touchdown run and finished with 68 yards rushing for the Bulls. Nico Gramatica made field goals from 35 and 49 yards but missed a 52-yard attempt in the second quarter.

Up next

Temple: Hosts Connecticut on Saturday.

South Florida: At UTSA on Thursday.

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