Temple University Athletics
Saturday, November 26
Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia
7:30 p.m.
Temple University
9-3 , 7-1
37
vs
10
East Carolina
3-9 , 1-7
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
East Carolina
7
0
0
3
10
Temple
7
14
6
10
37
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple Clinches American Athletic Conference Division Title with 37-10 Win over East Carolina
11.26.16 | Football
PHILADELPHIA — In need of a victory to advance to the American Athletic Conference Championship for the second straight season, senior QB Phillip Walker and the Temple offense outpaced the potent East Carolina air raid to seal the East Division behind a 37-10 mark Saturday evening at Lincoln Financial Field.
With their sixth straight win, the Owls improve to 9-3 (7-1 American) on the season, locking up the title of East Division Champions on the way. With USF knocking off rival UCF, 48-31, earlier on Saturday, a victory over the Pirates was required to finish atop the hotly contested division.
The first half featured a quick start from both offenses, as East Carolina snapped the Owl defense's 10-quarter scoreless streak on the game's opening possession. Primarily due to the efforts of QB Gardner Minshew, the Pirates orchestrated an 11-play drive capped with a 13-yard touchdown pass, showing little fear in facing off against the conference's top passing defense.
Walker and the offense responded immediately on the ensuing drive, however, as sophomore RB Ryquell Armstead punched in a two-yard score after a perfectly placed 44-yard toss to junior WR Adonis Jennings, who had a career-high 100 yards on six receptions, set up the Owls in the red zone.
A slew of defensive stands from both squads ratcheted down the excitement throughout the remainder of the first quarter and well into the second. With just 2:04 remaining in the half, though, Armstead notched his second touchdown of the game — this time from one-yard out — to close out a 68-yard, 12-play possession.
During that drive, Walker earned himself another place in the school record books, breaking the 10,000-yard passing mark on a short six-yard out route, a first for any Temple quarterback. The senior would conclude his final home game with the Owls a statistically strong 12-of-20 for 158 yards and no touchdowns, ending his career in Lincoln Financial Field the essence of a true game manager.
The Temple defense continued to dominate the point-of-attack after a deep kickoff return by East Carolina, as senior DL Praise Martin-Oguike broke through the offensive front to force a fumble during a sack of Minchew, recovering the ball in the process.
The Owls' offense capitalized in decisive fashion over the course of two plays, both courtesy of senior RB Jahad Thomas. First, the elusive tailback turned what looked to be a dead-end sweep into a 28-yard scramble before forcing his way into the endzone on a three-yard rush up the Pirate center, securing a 21-7 lead for Temple entering halftime.
On the evening, Thomas would rack up a team-best 155 yards on 24 carries for two scores, balancing out the precise passing attack Walker consistently imposed upon the East Carolina defense.
The scoring would not continue until late in the third quarter, as once again the Temple ground game paid dividends with a three-yard Thomas rush for the score. With the touchdown, the senior running back has now notched a pair of endzone appearances in nine of his 10 games this season.
The final period saw only a pair of field goals, one from each team, before sophomore RB Jager Gardner put an exclamation point on the win with an untouched 14-yard touchdown sprint. It was the fifth rushing score on the night for the Owls.
As for the Temple defense, the unit wrapped up another stellar performance, allowing just 225 total yards with the only serious blemish coming on the matchup's opening drive, garnering a single turnover as well.
Up next, Temple advances to the American Athletic Conference Championship in the program's second consecutive appearance, set to face off against West Division victor No. 25 Navy next Saturday in Annapolis, MD. Following the result of the match with the Midshipmen, the Owls will receive news on their bowl invitation Sunday afternoon.
Video Highlights | Box Score | Pre-Game Gallery | Game Action Gallery | Post-Game Quotes
Press Conferences: Rhule | Walker | Martin-Oguike
With their sixth straight win, the Owls improve to 9-3 (7-1 American) on the season, locking up the title of East Division Champions on the way. With USF knocking off rival UCF, 48-31, earlier on Saturday, a victory over the Pirates was required to finish atop the hotly contested division.
The first half featured a quick start from both offenses, as East Carolina snapped the Owl defense's 10-quarter scoreless streak on the game's opening possession. Primarily due to the efforts of QB Gardner Minshew, the Pirates orchestrated an 11-play drive capped with a 13-yard touchdown pass, showing little fear in facing off against the conference's top passing defense.
Walker and the offense responded immediately on the ensuing drive, however, as sophomore RB Ryquell Armstead punched in a two-yard score after a perfectly placed 44-yard toss to junior WR Adonis Jennings, who had a career-high 100 yards on six receptions, set up the Owls in the red zone.
A slew of defensive stands from both squads ratcheted down the excitement throughout the remainder of the first quarter and well into the second. With just 2:04 remaining in the half, though, Armstead notched his second touchdown of the game — this time from one-yard out — to close out a 68-yard, 12-play possession.
During that drive, Walker earned himself another place in the school record books, breaking the 10,000-yard passing mark on a short six-yard out route, a first for any Temple quarterback. The senior would conclude his final home game with the Owls a statistically strong 12-of-20 for 158 yards and no touchdowns, ending his career in Lincoln Financial Field the essence of a true game manager.
The Temple defense continued to dominate the point-of-attack after a deep kickoff return by East Carolina, as senior DL Praise Martin-Oguike broke through the offensive front to force a fumble during a sack of Minchew, recovering the ball in the process.
The Owls' offense capitalized in decisive fashion over the course of two plays, both courtesy of senior RB Jahad Thomas. First, the elusive tailback turned what looked to be a dead-end sweep into a 28-yard scramble before forcing his way into the endzone on a three-yard rush up the Pirate center, securing a 21-7 lead for Temple entering halftime.
On the evening, Thomas would rack up a team-best 155 yards on 24 carries for two scores, balancing out the precise passing attack Walker consistently imposed upon the East Carolina defense.
The scoring would not continue until late in the third quarter, as once again the Temple ground game paid dividends with a three-yard Thomas rush for the score. With the touchdown, the senior running back has now notched a pair of endzone appearances in nine of his 10 games this season.
The final period saw only a pair of field goals, one from each team, before sophomore RB Jager Gardner put an exclamation point on the win with an untouched 14-yard touchdown sprint. It was the fifth rushing score on the night for the Owls.
As for the Temple defense, the unit wrapped up another stellar performance, allowing just 225 total yards with the only serious blemish coming on the matchup's opening drive, garnering a single turnover as well.
Up next, Temple advances to the American Athletic Conference Championship in the program's second consecutive appearance, set to face off against West Division victor No. 25 Navy next Saturday in Annapolis, MD. Following the result of the match with the Midshipmen, the Owls will receive news on their bowl invitation Sunday afternoon.
Video Highlights | Box Score | Pre-Game Gallery | Game Action Gallery | Post-Game Quotes
Press Conferences: Rhule | Walker | Martin-Oguike
Team Stats
ECU
TEM
Total Yards
225
414
Pass Yards
183
158
Rushing Yards
42
256
Penalty Yards
33
0
1st Downs
13
23
3rd Downs
10
6
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
27:05
32:55
1st Quarter
ECU 7, TEM 0
ECU - WILLIAMS, Jimmy 13 yd pass from MINSHEW, Grdnr (PLOWMAN, Davis kick) 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 5:08
ECU 7, TEM 7
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 2 yd run (BOUMERHI,Aaron kick), 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:07
2nd Quarter
ECU 7, TEM 14
TEM - ARMSTEAD,R. 1 yd run (BOUMERHI,Aaron kick), 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 6:03
ECU 7, TEM 21
TEM - THOMAS,Jahad 3 yd run (BOUMERHI,Aaron kick), 2 plays, 34 yards, TOP 0:39
3rd Quarter
ECU 7, TEM 27
TEM - THOMAS,Jahad 3 yd run (BOUMERHI,Aaron kickblocked), 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:46
4th Quarter
ECU 10, TEM 27
ECU - PLOWMAN, Davis 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:37
ECU 10, TEM 30
TEM - BOUMERHI,Aaron 35 yd field goal 10 plays, 48 yards, TOP 5:16
ECU 10, TEM 37
TEM - GARDNER,Jager 14 yd run (BOUMERHI,Aaron kick), 5 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:28
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
12
TD
0
YDS
158
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballTemple Men's Basketball | Mic'd Up at Temple Women's Volleyball Game
Friday, September 19
Ep. 4: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Men's Soccer Captain Lukas Egarter
Tuesday, September 16
Avery Powell, 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
JoJo Bermudez, 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
