Football Falls to Notre Dame in Season Opener, 49-16

Saturday, September 2

South Bend, Ind.

3:30 p.m. EST

Temple University

Notre Dame

Football Falls to Notre Dame in Season Opener, 49-16

9.2.17 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery Geoff Collins Press Conference PDF Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Temple could not start the Geoff Collins era in the win column Saturday afternoon as the Owls lost, 49-16, at Notre Dame Stadium against the Fighting Irish. This completes the three-game series between the schools.

Keys to the Game

Notre Dame jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on the Owls and scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives to increase the lead to 28-3.
Redshirt freshman QB Logan Marchi, who started and played the entire game, found redshirt senior WR Keith Kirkwood for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 28-10 prior to halftime.
Following Kirkwood's TD, Temple held Notre Dame scoreless until Tony Jones, Jr. rushed in from seven-yards out to make it 35-10.
Marchi then connected with redshirt junior WR Brodrick Yancy for an 11-yard score to cut the margin to 35-16, early in the fourth quarter, but two late Irish scores sealed the win.
Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush was impressive in his first start, throwing for 184 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown.
On the day, Marchi went 19 of 35 for 245 yards and two touchdowns, while distributing the ball to nine different receivers.

Game Notes

Five Temple players made their first career starts – linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley, center Matt Hennessy, Marchi, defensive tackle Dan Archibong, and linebacker Sam Franklin.
Three Owls saw their first game action of their careers – Graham-Mobley, wide receiver Branden Mack, and defensive lineman Quincy Roche.
In his first game at Temple, Jones also made his first interception as an Owl.
Marchi's TD pass to Kirkwood was the first of his career.
Redshirt junior S Delvon Randall and redshirt freshman DL Quincy Roche each registered their first career sacks.
Sophomore WR Isaiah Wright had a career day with four catches and 79 yards receiving - both game highs.

Quoatable

"I love them, I'm proud of the way they competed, the way they fought, they never quit," said Collins.

"Logan [Marchi] came in and played admirably and moved the offense really well at times, threw some really nice balls and threw some balls that not a lot of kids in the country can make. And I thought the rest of the offense kind of rallied around him," said Collins.

Up Next

Temple (0-1) heads home to Lincoln Financial Field next weekend to take on the Villanova Wildcats in the team's home opener. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Geoff Collins Press Conference