Football Improves to 4-0 with 37-3 Win at Charlotte

Friday, October 2

Jerry Richardson Stadium - Charlotte

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

4-0

Charlotte

2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Temple

Charlotte

Photo by: Bob Leverone

Football Improves to 4-0 with 37-3 Win at Charlotte

10.2.15 | Football

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Temple Owls defeated the Charlotte 49ers, 37-3, at a rain-soaked Jerry Richardson Stadium Friday night. A crowd of 13,105 braved the elements and watched the Owls improve to 4-0 (1-0 The American), marking the program's best start since 1974. Junior RB Jahad Thomas rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and junior QB P.J. Walker threw two scores to redshirt senior WR Robby Anderson.

The defense was impressive all night and held the hosts scoreless in the second half. Junior DL Sharif Finch blocked a punt and Nate L. Smith returned it 16 yards for a score.

The rain led to some sloppy conditions in the first half. Walker was plagued by receiver drops, but passed Adam DiMichele for fourth place all-time in passing yards with his first completion to Brodrick Yancy. Temple's first long drive led to a 36-yard field goal attempt by Austin Jones. The Owls reliable kicker then missed his first attempt of the season. However, the Owls defense forced a long field goal by 49ers kicker Blake Brewer, but he missed from 55. Temple took the ball and broke the stalemate in the second quarter as Jones connected from 39 yards away. Charlotte drove into the red zone but Brewer's 26-yard attempt missed.

After an exchange of punts, the Owls got down to business. Walker led the Owls on a signature long march, 76 yards in 13 plays, converting three times on third down. Thomas punched in his fourth rushing touchdown of the season to cap the 6:19 drive. Charlotte got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal. With a five-yard tackle for loss to stall the drive, Temple LB Tyler Matakevich passed Taylor Suman and Al Singleton for third all-time in career tackles. He finished the game with eight tackles, and now has 392 for his Temple career which is the most among active players.

As the rain intensified following halftime, so did the Owls. After forcing a three-and-out, the offense took a short field and Thomas scored his second touchdown of the game from one-yard out. The defense forced a second three-and-out and another short punt gave the Owls good field position. This time Walker moved the team 39 yards and found Anderson from 11 yards out to make it a 24-3 lead. The defense stood tall again and Finch then made his huge play, blocking Arthur Hart's punt. Smith corralled and ran it in for a touchdown, the first blocked punt return to paydirt since Samuel Benjamin's at UCF last season. However, Jones' extra point was blocked, marking the first miss of his career.

Walker led a final scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Following a season-long 74-yard interception return by Nate L. Smith, Walker connected with Anderson again, this time 13 yards for the score. The catch gave Anderson his fourth career multiple touchdown game and his first since the 2013 finale at Memphis. Walker finished the game 11 for 23 with two touchdowns and no interceptions and no sacks. He also rushed four times for 18 yards. Redshirt freshman Frank Nutile finished the game behind center as Owls coach Matt Rhule got many players on the field. That included North Carolina native freshman Jager Gardner. The win gave the Owls their first three-game road trip sweep in program history.

Temple returns home on October 10 for an American Athletic Conference match-up with Tulane. It's Homecoming at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for noon.

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