Football Opens Up Conference Play At Home On Thursday Night

PHILADELPHIA-
THIS WEEK
The Temple Owls bounced back in a big way after heading down to Maryland and grabbing its first victory of the season 35-14. The Owls are home once again to host the University of Tulsa for their first American Athletic Conference game of the season. Kickoff is set for Saturday, September 20, 2018, at 7:30 ET and will air on ESPN and 97.5 The Fanatic. Temple will aim to get to .500 on the season and start conference play with a win.

Temple and Tulsa first met in October, 1987, and played at historic Veterans Stadium. The game resulted in a Tulsa win 24-17. The Owls are 1-2 this season as they return home to begin American Athletic Conference play. Tulsa is 1-2 this season and is coming off a 29-20 loss to Arkansas State.

This past weekend, RB Ryquell Armstead rushed 26 times for 118 yards. That was his sixth career 100-yard rushing game and second of the season. QB Frank Nutile didn't see action due to injury and was replaced by QBs Anthony Russo and Todd Centeio. Russo threw for 228-yards and a touchdown on 15-25 passing. Centeio threw one pass on a fake punt that was caught by WR Freddie Johnson for a 36-yard touchdown. Both Russo and Centeio threw their first career touchdown pass and Johnson caught his first career touchdown. TE Kenny Yeboah had one catch for 47-yards and his first career touchdown as well. WR Ventell Bryant led the Owls with five receptions and Johnson led the Owls with 86 yards. DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd had one carry for the Owls offense that was good for a 1-yard touchdown.

Defensively the Owls played their expected brand of football. They held the Terrapins to 63 passing yards between both QBs that played. They also got to the quarterback seven times. Temple only let up 132 rushing yards, most of which came in the final three series of the game. Sam Franklin led Temple with eight tackles and one TFL while roaming around playing LB and DE. DT Michael Dogbe had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3.5 TFLs. The 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs were career-highs for Dogbe. CB Linwood Crump and LB Shaun Bradley both had interceptions. Bradley took his 78-yards for the score that sealed the game against Maryland. Bradley also had a sack and three tackles.

Temple continues to prove how good its special teams are by scoring a touchdown for a third week in a row. The Centeio to Johnson touchdown was the first score of the game for Temple which marked the first time the Owls scored first in a game this season. Johnson has emerged a a top gunner for the Owls and has become a viable target in the offense as well.

At halftime of this week's game former Temple running back, David "Tre" Hood III, will perform his new Temple Athletics Anthem "Temple Made." Hood played at Temple from 2014-17 and is now pursuing a career in music full time.

LAST TIME vs. TULSA

The last time Temple and Tulsa faced off was on November 25, in the final week of the 2017 season. Temple clinched its bowl bid with a 43-22 win over the Golden Hurricane. Temple's offense piled on 43 points while amassing 451 yards. The Owls held Tulsa to 55 passing yards but gave up 314 yards on the ground. QB Frank Nutile threw for 262-yards and three touchdowns. RBs Ryquell Armstead and David Hood both scored rushing touchdowns.

LAST TIME @ LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD

The last time the Owls and Golden Hurricane played at Lincoln Financial Field was on October 11, in week five of the 2014 season. Temple trailed 24-21 early in the fourth quarter until QB P.J. Walker threw two touchdowns to put the Owls ahead and win the game 35-24. RB Jahad Thomas ran for 152-yards in the game as well.

UP NEXT

Temple heads up to Boston to take on the Boston College Eagles in its final non-conference game of the season.