Temple Heads to Annapolis to Take on Navy for the Conference Title Game

PHILADELPHIA - For the second year in a row, the Owls have been crowned American Athletic Conference East Division champs after their 37-10 victory over ECU. Temple (9-3, 7-1) will head to Annapolis to take on Navy (9-2, 7-1) in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at 12:00 p.m. and will air nationally on ABC, as well as 97.5 The Fanatic, Temple football's flagship radio station. Temple is riding a six-game win streak and has beaten its opponents by an average margin of 19.5 points during that streak. QB Phillip Walker continues to lead the team down the stretch of the season. He now has 19 total TDs and 2,700 passing yards which is third all-time among Owl quarterbacks for a single season. The two-headed attack of Temple RBs Jahad Thomas and Ryquell Armstead continues to shine as they now have combined for 31 total touchdowns this season. The defense builds on its stellar play allowing only 273.4 YPG, which is third behind only Alabama and Michigan. Standout performances were turned in by DL Haason Reddick who has 21.5 TFLs this season and DL Praise Martin-Oguike who has had 6.0 sacks in the last six games. The secondary is also allowing just 145.8 passing yards per game which is second in the nation behind only Michigan. The Owls' defense will have its hands full against a Navy offense that averages 342.0 YPG which is second nationally.

The American Athletic Conference will be providing press conference coverage as well as a live pregame and postgame show. ESPN3 will make the game and postgame trophy presentation available online as well..
Press Conference
Pregame Show
GameWatch
Trophy Presentation
Postgame Show

LAST WEEK
Temple returned to Lincoln Financial Field for its final regular season matchup, facing off against East Carolina with a trip to the American Athletic Conference title game hanging in the balance. Senior QB Phillip Walker and Co. came through, plundering the Pirates in a 37-10 victory. The four-year starter at quarterback had a strong game, hitting 12-of-20 for 158 yards and breaking the 10,000-yard passing mark, a first for any Temple signal caller. Helping out Walker in the air raid was junior WR Adonis Jennings, who grabbed six receptions for a career-high 100 yards. In another brilliant performance, senior RB Jahad Thomas notched 152 yards on 24 carries for two touchdowns, making it now nine of his 10 games with two endzone appearances. The defense as a whole dominated, as has been the usual lately, holding the powerful ECU air raid to just 225 total yards. Senior DL Praise Martin-Oguike earned the matchup's only turnover, as he forced a fumble during a sack of Pirate QB Gardner Minchew and ended up recovering the ball himself.

LAST TIME
The Owls came up short against the Midshipmen, 31-24, in 2014. Great performances by active players were turned in by QB Phillip Walker who threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns. DL Sharif Finch had four tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown to start the game. TE Romond Deloatch also caught the first touchdown of his career and Austin Jones hit a 28-yard field goal.

LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Temple fell short in last year's conference championship game to Houston, 24-13. Active players who had a good game included Phillip Walker who threw for 287 yards and a score. It was a matchup of the conference's top offense (Houston) against the stingiest defense. Houston came away with 339 total yards. Three current players who had 5-or-more tackles included Avery Williams (7), Haason Reddick (5) and Nate L. Smith (5).

UP NEXT
Temple will find out on Sunday (12/4) which bowl they will play in later this month. This will be the first time that Temple will play in bowl games in back-to-back seasons.

Game Notes | Coach Rhule Press Conference | Player Interviews

Temple Heads to Annapolis to Take on Navy for the Conference Title Game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ryquell Armstead

Romond Deloatch

Sharif Finch

Adonis Jennings

Austin Jones

Praise Martin-Oguike

Haason Reddick

Nate L. Smith

Jahad Thomas

Phillip Walker

Avery Williams

Temple University Athletics