Football Knocks Off #21 East Carolina, 20-10

Saturday, November 1

Philadelphia, PA

12:00 p.m.

Temple University

5-3 , 3-2

East Carolina

6-2 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Carolina

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Football Knocks Off #21 East Carolina, 20-10

11.1.14 | Football

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA- In the rain and cold of the first November day, the forecast turned beautiful for the Temple Owls who knocked off the #21 East Carolina Pirates 20-10 in front of a crowd of 22,130. This is the first time the Owls have upset a ranked team at home and just the third time overall. The Owls won at #16 Pitt, 24-21, in 1987 and defeated #14 Virginia Tech, 28-24 in 1998.

The Owls defense seemingly owned the game, forcing five turnovers. In the first quarter, DL Praise Martin-Oguike forced a turnover which was recovered and returned by DB Tavon Young for a 63-yard touchdown. Martin-Oguike forced another fumble later in the game, which was recovered by DL Tyler Matakevich. DB Will Hayes also had two recoveries, after DL Nate D. Smith stripped the ball from RB Breon Allen and after QB Shane Carden fumbled the ball. DB Boye Aromire also had a strip and recovery in the fourth quarter. The Owls have now forced seven turnovers in the last two games.

Temple's offense accounted for 135 yards of total offense, but RB Kenneth Harper was able to find the end zone twice. Harper now has 16 rushing touchdowns in his career, which ties him for eighth on the all-time list with Todd McNair and Henry Hynoski. QB P.J. Walker was held to only 70 yards of passing yards, completing 7of 19 passes.

On the other side of the ball, the Temple offense did their job protecting the ball not allowing a turnover the the first time this season. The last time the Owls had zero turnovers in a game was at Idaho in 2013. Unfortunately, it was also the first game whereQB P.J. Walker did not throw a touchdown pass, ending his streak at 15 straight games.

Matakevich had 16 total tackles in the game, all of which were solo. This ties an individual game record set by Lance Johnstone in 1995 and gave Matakevich's career total to 307, which places him 10^th on the all-time list. DB Sean Chandler was the second leading tackler on the team with 12 solo tackles.

Martin-Oguike, in addition to his two fumbles and blocked punt, picked up four tackles, three solo, 3.5 tackles for a loss of 18 yards, and one and half sacks for 10 yards.

In the first half of the game, the Pirates (6-2, 3-1) dominated in every aspect on offense, totaling 432 yards of offense on 88 plays and 30 first downs, which overshadowed the Owls' 10. However, the Owls held the East Carolina to only a field goal in the first 30 minutes of play. The last time the Pirates were held without a touchdown in any half was October 12, 2013 at Tulane; the score at the half was 6-6 and the Green Wave went on to win 36-33 in triple overtime.

Carden finished the day 24-41 for 217 yards. The Pirates lone touchdown came on a two-yard run by RB Mrquez Grayson. This was the second score the Owls have allowed to come in the fourth quarter, but the first touchdown to be scored in the final 15 minutes since week 11 against Connecticut in 2013.

WR Justin Hardy entered the game averaging 111.3 receiving yards per game, but was held to only 35 yards on four catches in the game. RB Chris Hairston was the Pirates leading rusher on 21 carries for 153 yards.

The Owls will take on the Memphis Tigers at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, November 7. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU with a kickoff time at 7:30 pm.

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