Temple University Athletics
"Just the Facts" Machine
10.2.16 | Football
News & Notes Following Temple's 45-20 victory Over SMU…
Temple scored 21 points in the first quarter and 35 points in the first half. It was the first time that Temple scored 30-or-more point points in a half in consecutive weeks since 2009 when they did so against Akron and Kent State.
Temple has now scored 40+ points in the last three games against SMU, the first time they have done that against one opponent since doing so against Army in 2010, '11, and '12.
Temple has scored 40+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since the first two games of 2011 (Villanova and Akron). It marks the first time they have done that against FBS opponents since 2009 (Kent State and Akron).
In the three wins, Temple's defense has faced 41 opponent's possessions. Only one, SMU's second quarter touchdown following an interception, has started in Temple territory.
Temple lost a fumble for the first time this season. It was the first time since the AAC Championship game they have lost a fumble, a span of 434 offensive plays.
Senior RB Jahad Thomas rushed for two touchdowns on 16 carries and 80 yards. He has now scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games. He is the first Temple player to do that since Bernard Pierce accomplished that feat in 2011. With those two touchdowns, Thomas has now scored 26 TDs, moving into third on the school's all-time list. His 23 career rushing TDs also places him third in the TU record books. He trails only Bernard Pierce (54/53) and Paul Palmer (43/39) on both lists.
Junior kicker Austin Jones connected on a 30-yard field goal. He now holds the active streak among FBS kickers with 17 consecutive field goals (his last miss was at USF on 11/14/15). He is 8-for-8 this season and is also perfect on 21 PATs. His 45 points leads the team, and his 227 career points move him into fifth place on the school's all-time list, just one behind Bill Wright.
Redshirt senior Nate L. Smith started at free safety in place of injured Sean Chandler, and recorded his first interception of the season as well as matching a career-high with seven tackles.
Redshirt senior DL Haason Reddick notched a career-high 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble on each. One was recovered by redshirt senior Romond Deloatch and returned for a score to give the Owls a 35-7 lead. Reddick also recovered a fumbled punt return by SMU (punter Alex Starzyk hit the SMU returner in the back with a rugby style punt) which led to Temple's first score.
Along with the return of a fumble for a score, Deloatch nearly scored a touchdown on offense. The tight end, who has been getting additional snaps at defensive end recently, had a 35-yard TD declared down at the one-yard line after replay review. There was no denying his defensive score after grabbing the fumble and taking it eight yards to the end zone.
Sophomore RB Ryquell Armstead had a career day, rushing 15 times for 159 yards and two scores. Armstead broke free multiple times with runs of 31-, 34- and 37-yards. The 37-yard burst closed out the scoring and virtually ended the game.
The youthful defense featured redshirt sophomore DL Michael Dogbe and redshirt freshman LB Chapelle Russell getting their first career sacks and redshirt sophomore LB Jared Folks with his first career interception.
Temple scored 21 points in the first quarter and 35 points in the first half. It was the first time that Temple scored 30-or-more point points in a half in consecutive weeks since 2009 when they did so against Akron and Kent State.
Temple has now scored 40+ points in the last three games against SMU, the first time they have done that against one opponent since doing so against Army in 2010, '11, and '12.
Temple has scored 40+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since the first two games of 2011 (Villanova and Akron). It marks the first time they have done that against FBS opponents since 2009 (Kent State and Akron).
In the three wins, Temple's defense has faced 41 opponent's possessions. Only one, SMU's second quarter touchdown following an interception, has started in Temple territory.
Temple lost a fumble for the first time this season. It was the first time since the AAC Championship game they have lost a fumble, a span of 434 offensive plays.
Senior RB Jahad Thomas rushed for two touchdowns on 16 carries and 80 yards. He has now scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games. He is the first Temple player to do that since Bernard Pierce accomplished that feat in 2011. With those two touchdowns, Thomas has now scored 26 TDs, moving into third on the school's all-time list. His 23 career rushing TDs also places him third in the TU record books. He trails only Bernard Pierce (54/53) and Paul Palmer (43/39) on both lists.
Junior kicker Austin Jones connected on a 30-yard field goal. He now holds the active streak among FBS kickers with 17 consecutive field goals (his last miss was at USF on 11/14/15). He is 8-for-8 this season and is also perfect on 21 PATs. His 45 points leads the team, and his 227 career points move him into fifth place on the school's all-time list, just one behind Bill Wright.
Redshirt senior Nate L. Smith started at free safety in place of injured Sean Chandler, and recorded his first interception of the season as well as matching a career-high with seven tackles.
Redshirt senior DL Haason Reddick notched a career-high 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble on each. One was recovered by redshirt senior Romond Deloatch and returned for a score to give the Owls a 35-7 lead. Reddick also recovered a fumbled punt return by SMU (punter Alex Starzyk hit the SMU returner in the back with a rugby style punt) which led to Temple's first score.
Along with the return of a fumble for a score, Deloatch nearly scored a touchdown on offense. The tight end, who has been getting additional snaps at defensive end recently, had a 35-yard TD declared down at the one-yard line after replay review. There was no denying his defensive score after grabbing the fumble and taking it eight yards to the end zone.
Sophomore RB Ryquell Armstead had a career day, rushing 15 times for 159 yards and two scores. Armstead broke free multiple times with runs of 31-, 34- and 37-yards. The 37-yard burst closed out the scoring and virtually ended the game.
The youthful defense featured redshirt sophomore DL Michael Dogbe and redshirt freshman LB Chapelle Russell getting their first career sacks and redshirt sophomore LB Jared Folks with his first career interception.
Players Mentioned
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