Football Travels to Navy Looking to Remain Undefeated in AAC Play

This Week

The Temple Owls are coming off the largest margin of victory in program history over an FBS opponent in a 49-6 win at home against ECU. Temple held ECU without a touchdown, the first time the Pirates were held out of the end zone in AAC play. This week, the Owls are heading to Maryland for the second time this season to take on conference foe Navy. Temple grabbed its first win of the season at the University of Maryland in week three. Kickoff is set for Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 3:30 ET and will air on CBS Sports Network and 1210 WPHT.

Temple and Navy first squared off in September, 1988. The game took place at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and resulted in a 12-7 win for the Owls. Temple has the slight advantage in the series 7-6 but has won two in a row and three of the last four matchups. The most notable game was the American Athletic Conference Championship in 2016 hosted by Navy. Temple won easily, 34-10, and captured its first ever conference championship game victory.

This past weekend, QB Anthony Russo had the breakout game of his career, throwing four touchdowns to four different Owls' receivers. He also diversified his passing game - completing passes to 11 different Owls. Russo went 21-25 for 254-yards, he had the same amount of incompletions as touchdowns. WR Isaiah Wright scored two touchdowns, returning a punt 59 yards for a score and catching a 19-yard touchdown from Russo in the blowout win. He led the team with 192 all-purpose yards. RB Ryquell Armstead carried the ball 20 times for 91 yards and added a touchdown of his own. A week after having his first career reception, WR Sean Ryan grabbed his first career touchdown on a 24-yard ball from Russo. He finished the game with four catches for 57 yards and the score. WR Brandon Mack led the team with five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. WR Randle Jones continues to prove his deep threat abilities. He had a one-handed 31-yard touchdown catch and finished with three catches for 47 yards.

Defensively, the Owls didn't let up an inch. Temple allowed a season low 196 total yards and didn't allow the Pirates to score a touchdown. They forced ECU to go three-and-out on nine of 16 drives and only allowed four third down conversions on 18 attempts. The Owls had their best starting field position of the season and forced ECU to punt 11 times. This allowed the offense to score at will. The defense had nine tackles-for-loss and three sacks in the game.

LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley led the team with six tackles. DT Michael Dogbe had three tackles, a sack, and a TFL. SAF Benny Walls had three tackles, a sack, and a TFL. LB Sam Franklin also recorded a sack.

Last time vs. Navy

The last time Temple and Navy faced off was on November 2, 2017, in a Thursday Night battle under the lights of Lincoln Financial Field. Temple came out on top at the end of a high-scoring affair with the final of 34-26. The game was really the breakout party for the Owls offense as QB Frank Nutile threw for 289 yards and 4 TD's. SAF Delvon Randall iced the game with a fourth quarter interception to give the Owls their second conference win of the season.

Last time @ Navy

The last time last time Temple and Navy played in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was on December 3, 2016, for the American Athletic Conference Championship. The Owls won in dominating fashion 34-10. This was the first conference title the Owls had won since the 1967 Middle Atlantic Conference title. This was also the first time Temple had played and won an actual conference championship game, the other championship was awarded based on conference record. It was also the second season in a row the Owls reached the 10 win mark. QB Phillip Walker led the offense with 199 yards and two touchdowns in the air. The Owls defense played well throughout the entire afternoon forcing three turnovers. Temple returned to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium two weeks later to play in the Military Bowl.

Up nexT

After Navy, Temple hosts undefeated #25 Cincinnati Bearcats for the homecoming game at 12:00pm ET.