'Just the Facts' Machine - Volume 9

News & Notes Following Temple's 23-20 loss at Rutgers

RB Kenneth Harper was 12-491TD rushing and 1-4-1TD receiving. It was the second straight game in which he had a rushing and receiving TD. It was also the 4^th game of the season that he had multiple TDs. He now has 11 TDs in 9 games and has scored at least one TD in 7 of those contests.

Harper and WR Robby Anderson became the 3^rd and 4^th Owls players to catch TD passes in back-to-back games (joining WRs Jalen Fitzpatrick and John Christopher). That feat hadn't been accomplished by an Owl since Michael Campbell did so in 2010.

QB P.J. Walker was 21 of 31 passing for 203 yards and 2 TDs. He has now thrown for 11 TDs on the season in just 4 starts. That total would have led the Owls in each of the past two seasons. He has thrown for at least 200 yards and at least 2 TDs in each of his 4 starts.

WR John Christopher was the leading receiver with 5 catches (a personal best) for 41 yards. He became the 6^th different player be the game's leading receiver this year joining WRs Ryan Alderman, Robby Anderson, Jalen Fitzpatrick, TE Chris Coyer and RB Zaire Williams. Only Alderman (3 times) and Fitzpatrick (twice) have done it more than once.

After Coyer went down in the 3^rd quarter, TE Chris Parthemore was pressed into more duty. The 5^th year senior who entered the game with 2 career catches (both in the previous three weeks), doubled his output with 2 catches for 14 yards.

WLB Tyler Matakevich added to his team leading total with 10 tackle, 4 solos, 1 sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. He now has 113 tackles for the season, and has 10+ tackles in 7 of 9 games.

Punter Paul Layton punted 5 times for 40.6 and 2 inside the 20. In the 2^nd quarter he made a 54 yard punt that went out of bounds at the 1. After a quick 3 and out, Rutgers punted just 26 yards and Temple received the ball at Rutgers 36. That 28 yards field position change led Temple to its second TD and a 13-3 lead.

SS Jihaad Pretlow, one of three true freshmen from Elizabeth, NJ, making a contribution for the Owls, made his 2^nd career start at Rutgers and collected 4 tackles. Pretlow's father and uncle were both 4-year starters for the Scarlett Knights.

The Owls held a halftime lead for the 4^th straight week and 5^th time this season.

In 5 of the teams 8 losses, they have surrendered a lead to Fordham (29-23) with 0:04 left, and Rutgers (20-16) with 0:35 on the clock; lost to Idaho (26-24) by one score; and were within one score to Houston (15-13) with 1:06 remaining, and SMU (45-42) with 9:49 left.

SLB Haasan Reddick and WLB Michael Felton made their first career starts.

Temple University Athletics

'Just the Facts' Machine - Volume 9

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