Temple University Athletics
Saturday, November 21
Lincoln Financial Field
12:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Memphis
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Football Returns Home for Key Matchup with Memphis
11.17.15 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple football returns to Lincoln Financial Field where the Owls will close out the 2015 regular season with two home dates. Up first is Memphis on Saturday (Noon/ESPNU), ranked 21st in the College Football Playoff. Both teams played key divisional matchups on the road. Temple lost to South Florida, 44-23, in Tampa, while Memphis fell in Houston to the Cougars, 35-34.
Temple is approaching a record season thanks to a balanced attack. Junior Jahad Thomas became the first running back under head coach Matt Rhule to gain 1,000 yards in a season. His high school teammate, junior quarterback P.J. Walker has his third consecutive 2,000-yard season. They are the first duo to hit these marks for Temple in the same season since 1979. Walker has also improved his accuracy from 2014 and minimized errors. With his 15 touchdowns on the season and 48 in his career, he only needs one more to surpass Henry Burris for thetop spot in career touchdown passes. He also has reduced his interceptions from 15 last season to five. The return of redshirt senior widereceiver Robby Anderson has helped this resurgence, as has the emergence of redshirt freshman Ventell Bryant. Memphis brings a challenging defense that forced three takeaways three different times thisseason.
Memphis' explosive offense, led by redshirt junior quarterback Paxton Lynch, has garnered national attention. Lynch leads the conference in yards and completions per game. He brings an imposing 6'7 frame and reads the field well. He'll face a veteran Temple defense, led by Bednarik, Rotary Lombardi, and Lott IMPACT Award semifinalist Tyler Matakevich. The senior linebacker is just four tackles from becoming the first Owl and seventh college player ever to make 100 tackles in his four collegiate seasons. He also has five interceptions on the season, leading the team. Senior defensive back Tavon Young and sophomore Sean Chandler will be charged with defending the Tigers' potent passing. Chandler has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season and leads the Owls' in passes defended.
The Last Time
Memphis defeated Temple 16-13 in the schools' first meeting in Philadelphia on November 7, 2014. The game was back and forth but decided by Jake Elliot's 31-yard field goal as time expired. The Owls limited Lynch to 230 yards and just one touchdown on the day.
Up Next
The Owls host UConn for Senior Day on the 28th.
Game Notes | Conference Release | Coach Rhule's Press Conference | Players Address the Media | Buy Tickets
Temple is approaching a record season thanks to a balanced attack. Junior Jahad Thomas became the first running back under head coach Matt Rhule to gain 1,000 yards in a season. His high school teammate, junior quarterback P.J. Walker has his third consecutive 2,000-yard season. They are the first duo to hit these marks for Temple in the same season since 1979. Walker has also improved his accuracy from 2014 and minimized errors. With his 15 touchdowns on the season and 48 in his career, he only needs one more to surpass Henry Burris for thetop spot in career touchdown passes. He also has reduced his interceptions from 15 last season to five. The return of redshirt senior widereceiver Robby Anderson has helped this resurgence, as has the emergence of redshirt freshman Ventell Bryant. Memphis brings a challenging defense that forced three takeaways three different times thisseason.
Memphis' explosive offense, led by redshirt junior quarterback Paxton Lynch, has garnered national attention. Lynch leads the conference in yards and completions per game. He brings an imposing 6'7 frame and reads the field well. He'll face a veteran Temple defense, led by Bednarik, Rotary Lombardi, and Lott IMPACT Award semifinalist Tyler Matakevich. The senior linebacker is just four tackles from becoming the first Owl and seventh college player ever to make 100 tackles in his four collegiate seasons. He also has five interceptions on the season, leading the team. Senior defensive back Tavon Young and sophomore Sean Chandler will be charged with defending the Tigers' potent passing. Chandler has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season and leads the Owls' in passes defended.
The Last Time
Memphis defeated Temple 16-13 in the schools' first meeting in Philadelphia on November 7, 2014. The game was back and forth but decided by Jake Elliot's 31-yard field goal as time expired. The Owls limited Lynch to 230 yards and just one touchdown on the day.
Up Next
The Owls host UConn for Senior Day on the 28th.
Game Notes | Conference Release | Coach Rhule's Press Conference | Players Address the Media | Buy Tickets
Players Mentioned
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