PHILADELPHIA -- Isaiah Wright returned a punt 73 yards for a go-ahead touchdown and Chapelle Russell recovered a fumble in the end zone to cap a big second half as Temple rallied for a 27-17 victory over USF on Saturday.

The Owls (7-4, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) trailed 17-0 at halftime, but forced five second-half turnovers to aid their comeback. Temple remained alive in The American's East Division race pending Saturday's game between No. 11 UCF and No. 19 Cincinnati. The Owls need a Cincinnati win to enter the final week of the regular season with a shot at the East Division title.

Temple got on the scoreboard with its first possession of the third quarter when Ryquell Armstead capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run. The Owls recovered a fumble on the Bulls' ensuing possession and marched 43 yards before Will Mobley's 33-yard field goal pulled them within 17-10. Temple forced a punt and the Owls drove 61 yards in nine plays and used Mobley's 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13. Temple forced a three-and-out and Wright returned the punt to put the Owls up 20-17. Russell capped the scoring for Temple when he recovered a fumble in the end zone after a strip-sack of Dana Levine by Blake Barnett.

Anthony Russo passed for 264 yards for the Owls, connecting with 11 different receivers.

Jordan Cronkrite ran for 87 yards and two first-half TDs for the Bulls (7-4, 3-4).