Football Dominates on Defense, Wins First Home Game of the Season 31-17 over Tulsa

Thursday, September 20

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:30 P.M.

Temple University

2-2 , 1-0

Tulsa

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

University of Tulsa

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Dominates on Defense, Wins First Home Game of the Season 31-17 over Tulsa

9.20.18 | Football

PHILADELPHIA- The Temple Owls opened up American Athletic Conference play at home in front of 24,217 fans with a commanding win over Tulsa, 31-17. Temple forced a season high five turnovers, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in the win. RB Ryquell Armstead rushed for 108 yards and recorded his first career sack while playing DE. LB Shaun Bradley led the Owls with 11 tackles (7 solo) and had a fake punt run for 28 yards. The Owls are now 2-2 (1-0 AAC) on the year.

How It Happened
> The Owls took the opening drive down to 15-yard line before a batted ball at the line was picked off by Tulsa.

> The Owls then got a pick of their own. Ty Mason jumped a pass and returned the interception 36-yards for the touchdown. Temple took a 7-0 lead and scored first for the second game in a row.

> Tulsa countered with a touchdown on a 3-yard touchdown run by Cory Taylor. The drive went 16-plays and 75-yards. Temple would get the ball back with 0:36 left in the first quarter.

> The Owls started out the second quarter with a long pass from Anthony Russo to WR Randle Jones for 41 yards to the four-yard line. Three plays later Russo ran the ball in from the one to make it 14-7.

> Temple forced another turnover on the following Tulsa drive. Rock Ya-Sin grabbed an interception on a one-on-one deep pass, his second pick of the season.

> After a defensive stop the Owls would march down the field 66 yards on seven plays in just 2:38. Armstead scored for the first time this season on a 22-yard carry to push the lead to 21-7.

> Tulsa would end the half by kicking a field goal to make it 21-10.

> In the opening drive of the second half, Quincy Roche forced two fumbles. The second fumble was recovered by DT Karamo Dioubate and returned 50-yards for a touchdown to make the score 28-10 Temple.

> In the opening drive of the fourth quarter, Russo's pass was bobbled and picked off by Tulsa which led to a 14-play 53-yard drive and a score to make it 28-17 with 9:58 left to play.

> Tulsa got the ball back, but Temple created another turnover, a strip sack by LB Sam Franklin which was recovered by LB Chapelle Russell. Fellow LB Shaun Bradley was then able to extend the ensuing offensive drive for Temple on a fourth down fake punt direct snap that he ran for 28 yards to the Tulsa 16 yard line.

> The recovered fumble led to a 33-yard field goal by kicker Will Mobley to make it 31-17 Temple.

> On the following drive, the Owls forced another turnover, their fifth of the game. CB Benny Walls intercepted the ball to seal the game for Temple.

Notes
> Ty Mason's interception for a touchdown was his second score of the season. The first was on a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown against Buffalo.

> Ryquell Armstead surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards and has 2,078 after today's game. He is one of nine Owls to rush for over 2,000 yards in their career.

> Armstead also scored for the first time this season and has 22 total rushing touchdowns putting him tied for fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns for Temple.

> Armstead recorded his first career sack and ran for 108 yards. This was his third consecutive game with 100 rushing yards, the last Owl to do so was Bernard Pierce in 2011.

> Armstead is the third player ever to have 100-yards rushing and a sack in a game. The other two are Anthony Samuel (9/1/2011 for Bowling Green) and Vic Hall (11/29/08 for Virginia).

> CB Rock Ya-Sin had 10 tackles and an interception.

> Chapelle Russell, Michael Dogbe, Sam Franklin, and Quincy Roche all had eight tackles.

> Franklin and Roche both had two sacks.

> Karamo Dioubate's fumble return for a touchdown was Temple's first in exactly a year. DE Jacob Martin returned a fumble 44-yards for a touchdown against USF on 9/21/17.

> The last time Temple forced five turnovers was at Cincinnati on September 12, 2016. The Owls had one fumble recovery and four interceptions in that contest.

> This was the second consecutive game the Owls scored as many defensive touchdowns as they allowed their opponent.

> Tulsa ran 107 plays for 403 yards compared to Temple's 57 plays for 300 yards.

Next Up

> Temple travels to #23/25 Boston College next Saturday to take on the Eagles, who are under the direction of former TU coach Steve Addazio. Kickoff is scheduled for noon (ESPNU/2).