Temple Opens up Conference Play vs. SMU

Saturday, October 1

Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia

12:00 p.m.

Temple University

SMU

Tickets

Photo by: Ben Solomon/American Athletic Conference

Temple Opens up Conference Play vs. SMU

9.27.16 | Football

Game Notes SMU Player Interviews Matt Rhule Press Conference

THIS WEEK
Temple will host its first conference game of the season against American Athletic West foe SMU. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1 at 12:00 p.m. and will air on ESPNews and 97.5 The Fanatic, Temple football's flagship radio station. During Temple's last seven seasons, the Owls have a 6-1 record when opening up conference play. Temple is coming off its second win of the year against Charlotte by a 48-20 margin while SMU comes to Philadelphia after a tough loss to TCU, 33-3. RB Jahad Thomas scored two touchdowns against the 49ers in his second straight game for the Owls, moving him to fourth in career scores in program history (24). QB Phillip Walker also flourished as he threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The duo will lead a Temple offense that now averages 345.8 yards per game against an SMU defense that has allowed 449.8 yards per game. The Owls' defense currently ranks 29th in the nation and fifth in the conference in total defense through its first four games. Temple's defense is highlighted by DB Sean Chandler and LB Avery Williams, who each have over 20 tackles this season. They will go up against an SMU offense led by QB Matt Davis, which currently averages 448.0 yards per game. SMU is led by head coach Chad Morris, who is now in his second season with the program and has already matched the two wins they accumulated a season ago.

LAST WEEK
Temple bounced back with a dominant win last week, defeating Charlotte 48-20 in the Owls' Homecoming game. RB Jahad Thomas had his second straight game with two touchdowns and reserve RB Ryquell Armstead also punched two touchdowns in from the one-yard line. QB Phillip Walker had a solid outing as he threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns to WR Adonis Jennings and WR Brodrick Yancy, the latter of which had a career-high in receiving yards (70). Defensive performances were highlighted by CB Derrek Thomas, who led the team with six tackles, DL Haason Reddick, who led the game with 1.5 TFL, and DL Praise Martin-Oguike, who had a fumble recovery for 20 yards.

LAST TIME
Last year's meeting between Temple and SMU in Dallas was a shootout. The Owls ultimately came out victorious, 60-40, as the win helped them move to 8-1 on the season. Current Owls who had stellar performances in that game included Walker, who threw for four touchdowns and ran for one, and Jahad Thomas, who rushed for 66 yards and had a score of his own. There were also some career highs during this game, as sophomore RB Jager Gardner's 94-yard touchdown marked the longest run in school history, junior WR Ventell Bryant caught a 75-yard pass for the longest touchdown of his career, and DB Sean Chandler returned a 41-yard pick-six for the longest interception return of his career.

UP NEXT
The Owls will be playing their first conference road game of the season against Memphis (10/6) in a nationally televised Thursday night game.

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