Football Set To Duel ECU Pirates in Second AAC Game of Season

THIS WEEK
The Temple Owls suffered a loss in a back-and-forth scoring showdown with Boston College in the final non-conference game of the season for the Owls. Temple scored the most points in a loss (35) since 2013 when they scored 36 in a 39-36 loss to #15 UCF. This week, the Owls are continuing conference play at home against ECU. Kickoff is set for Saturday, October 6, 2018, at 12:00 ET and will air on ESPNews and 97.5 The Fanatic.

Temple and ECU first met in November, 1982. The game took place at Veterans Stadium and resulted in a 23-10 win for the Pirates. ECU has the slight advantage in the series 8-7, but Temple has won four in a row since 2014.

This past weekend, RB Ryquell Armstead had a career game as he rushed 24 times for 171 yards and four touchdowns. That was his eighth career 100-yard rushing game and fourth straight 100-yard rushing game. His four scores bring him to 26 total career rushing touchdowns. QB Anthony Russo went 20-45 for 255-yards in his third career start. WR Isaiah Wright had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season as he led the team with seven catches and had 114 yards. He led the team with 196 all-purpose yards and Armstead barely trailed with 187 yards. It was the first time since November 2016 that Temple had a 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher in the game. Branden Mack had four catches, Ventell Bryant had three catches, and Sean Ryan had his first career catch.

Defensively, the Owls struggled against the strong running game from Boston College. Temple was able to make up some ground thanks to some crucial special teams plays, but ultimately the high-powered Eagles' offense outscored the Owls' offense. On a re-kick caused by penalty, Rob Ritrovato forced a fumble that was scooped and scored by Isaiah Graham-Mobley to put Temple up early in the game.

LBs Shaun Bradley and Graham-Mobley led the team with 11 tackles apiece and Bradley had one TFL, DE Quincy Roche and SAF Delvon Randall had nine tackles each, and CB Rock Ya-Sin had eight tackles.

LAST TIME vs. ECU
The last time Temple and ECU faced off was on October 7, 2017. The game took place in week six last year, the same week the game is taking place this season. The Owls won easily, 34-10, and put up a whopping 24 points in the second quarter of the game to go up 24-3 before halftime. Temple cruised to victory as RB David Hood ran for 106 yards and a touchdown and QB Logan Marchi threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns.

LAST TIME @ LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
The last time Temple and ECU faced off at Lincoln Financial Field was on November 26, 2016. In the final game of the regular season the Owls clinched the American Athletic Conference Division title with a 37-10 win over the Pirates. The Owls rushed for 256 yards and three different running backs scored including two who are still active, Ryquell Armstead and Jager Gardner. The Owls went on to beat Navy 34-10 to capture the AAC Conference Championship one week later.

UP NEXT
Temple heads to Annapolis to take on Navy as the Owls reach the midway point of the season. This will be the second of two games the Owls have played in Maryland this season. The first resulted in the Owls first win of the season, 35-14, over Maryland.