"Just the Facts" Machine

9.21.14 | Football

Delaware State Recap

News & Notes Following Temple's 59-0 victory over Delaware State

The 59 points were the most by Temple since 2012 (at Army).

The 59 point margin of victory was the most by Temple in the Modern Era.

It was the most ever scored by one team at Lincoln Financial Field. (The Eagles beat Detroit 56-21 in 2007.).

The 49 first half point were the most in the Modern Era (since 1971).

Temple scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams for the first time in the Modern Era.

Temple scored a touchdown on defense or special teams for the fourth consecutive game.

The shutout was the first by Temple's defense since 2011 (vs. Buffalo). (Note: In the season opening 37-7 win at Vanderbilt, the only score by Vanderbilt came via special teams.)

Temple now ranks ninth in the NCAA in fewest points allowed with 12.7 per game.

The Owls are one of only six teams in the FBS who have scored 40.0 points per game and allowed fewer than 15.0. They join Baylor (59.3, 9.0), Texas A&M (55.3, 11.8), Ole Miss (44.0, 10.3), Duke (43.5, 11.5), and Alabama (42.0, 14.0).

In the two wins this season, Temple's defense has score more points than it has allowed – Vanderbilt 7-0; Delaware State 7-0.

Through three games, the Owls defense has scored 18 points after scoring just 6 a year ago. Special teams has accounted for 42 points (2 TDs, 15 PATs, 5 FGs) after scoring just 49 points (1 TD, 34 PATs, 3 FGs) all of last season.

Temple scored 28 points off turnovers in addition to two special teams scores. Temple leads the country with 14 takeaways.

Temple hasn't allowed a 4^th quarter point through three games in 2014.

"The Sharif Don't Like it" – Just like the line from the '80's Clash hit, "Rock the Casbah," DE Sharif Finch don't like it when the opponent has the ball. Yesterday, he recorded his first career interception and returned it 65-yards for a TD. It marked his second TD in consecutive games (last week he forced a fumble that he recovered in the end zone for a TD vs. Navy.). Add in a blocked punt that was recovered for a TD in the end zone in the 2013 season finale and that's three TDs he has accounted for in four games.

WR Jalen Fitzpatrick led all receivers with 3-75-1TD. He has now scored a TD in every game this season.

WR Khalif Herbin returned a punt 84 yards for a TD. It was the second longest in Temple history (Rich Drayton had a 95-yard TD in 1990). The TD was the first of Herbin's career.

Temple recorded 3 INTs (Finch, Nate D. Smith and Khiry Lucas). For each it was the first with Temple (Lucas is a JUCO transfer). The Owls have now had two games with three interceptions after recording just three in all of 2013.

The following players also recorded firsts:
First career start: TE Saledeem Major, WR Romond Deloatch, WR Matt Eaton
First career game played: RB David Hood, LB Buddy Brown, DE Julian Taylor, LB Rob Ritrovato, DT Brian Carter, TE Thomas Rumer, DL Obi Onejeme, WR Rob Heyen, WR Dean Mosley, DB Shahid Lovett
First career reception: TE Saledeem Major, WR Zach Bambary, RB Hassan Dixon, TE Cole Boozer
First career TD: DE Sharif Finch, WR Khalif Herbin, CB Artrel Foster, RB Hassan Dixon
First career rushing TD: RB Jamie Gilmore, Hassan Dixon
First career sack: DE Julian Taylor
Fumble recovery: DE Jacob Martin
Blocked punt: CB Sam Benjamin

RB Hassan Dixon, a redshirt junior who walked on in 2011, recoded a number of firsts, He finished with 7-12-1TD rushing and 1-7 receiving after contributing just on special teams till this point. It was a special week for Dixon as he learned just a couple of days ago that his brother, Raheem Brock, will be inducted into the Temple Sports Hall of Fame next month. Their father, Zach Dixon, is also a former Temple football player.