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AAC Championship Halftime Update: Houston 17, Temple 3

Houston salvaged a field goal out of a trip to Temple's end zone, and then Greg Ward Jr. struck.

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

It's halftime at TDECU Stadium, and the Houston Cougars are firmly in control of the American Athletic Conference championship game. The Coogs started out the 2nd quarter scoring by taking the ball inside the red zone of the Temple Owls, then stalling and settling for a 24 yard Ty Cummings field goal.

Both defenses settled in from there and exchanged possessions, but with 5 and a half minutes left, Houston's outstanding quarterback showed off his mobility that makes him so dangerous.

That was Ward's longest touchdown run of the year, and it sent the mostly full Cougar crowd into a delerium.

Temple, however, would answer with a drive into Houston territory off of passes of 10 yards or more to Brandon Shippen, Adonnis Jennings, and Saledeem Major. UH's defense stepped up with a sack of PJ Walker on 2nd down and stalled Temple's drive at the Houston 25, forcing a 40 yard Temple field goal.

Tyler Matakevich is as active as ever for Temple, as he is the Owls' leading tackler with 8 total and 1 tackle for loss, but it hasn't been enough to stop UH's high-powered offense. Houston's defense, for their part, has kept PJ Walker completely uncomfortable in the pocket and have completely shut down Temple's rushing attack (36 yards total).