Temple University Athletics
Football Travels to Dallas to Take on #19 SMU
10.14.19 | Football
THIS WEEK
The Owls are 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference after beating #23 Memphis, 30-28, in a hard fought game on both sides of the ball. Now, Temple will head to Dallas to take on a second consecutive ranked opponent and the third of the season as the Owls take on the #19 SMU Mustangs. Kickoff is set for Saturday, October 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2 and 97.5 The Fanatic.
LAST WEEK
Against Memphis, the Owls capitalized on three early turnovers by the Tigers and were able to put points on the board early, and stave off a late comeback by Memphis in order to secure their second win over a ranked opponent this season. Temple was able to have a balanced attack on offense and come up with some big stops late in the game to prevail over the Tigers. QB Anthony Russo connected on 20-33 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. WR Branden Mack had another 100-yard receiving game. Mack caught nine balls for 125 yards and a touchdown and WR Isaiah Wright had six catches for 56 yards and a score on a pitch-pass from Russo that he took around the left-side, up the sideline and hurdled a defender as he crossed the pylon. RBs Jager Gardner (18 carries for 77 yards) and Re'Mahn Davis (23 carries for 72 yards) continued to be a duel-threat out of the backfield. QB Todd Centeio also contributed to the offense, he had seven carries for 44 yards and went 3-3 for 32 yards in the passing game while changing the pace for the offense.
The defense had three early turnovers and forced another one late in the game to help the Owls take down Memphis. CB Harrison Hand started the turnover frenzy by laying out and picking off a pass that turned into a field goal and a 10-0 lead to start the game. Hand also forced a fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter that stalled a long Memphis drive. The forced fumble eventually led to a touchdown pass by Russo to Mack. Hand led the team with nine tackles, two TFLs, a forced fumble, interception, and PBU. The defensive line continued to apply pressure upfront and gave Memphis problems early on. DE DeAndre Kelly had a strip sack that flipped the field for the Owls and led to another field goal. Kicker Will Mobley hit three field goals in the game, the last being a career high 44-yarder. DT Ifeanyi Maijeh recorded another sack, he has registered a partial sack in every game this season.
LAST TIME VS. SMU
The last time Temple and SMU faced off was October 1, 2016. The Owls soundly beat the Mustangs, 45-20 in the first conference game of the season. Despite throwing a pick-six less than a minute into the game, QB Phillip Walker and the offense responded with three quick scores in the first quarter, and never looked back from there. RB Ryquell Armstead had 159 of the 244 total rushing yards for the Owls. The win improved the Owls' record to 3-2.
LAST TIME VS. SMU @ GERALD J. FORD STADIUM
The last time Temple and SMU went head-to-head in Dallas was November 6, 2015. The Owls came in with a 7-1 record following their first loss of the season to #9 Notre Dame on Halloween night. On Temple's second offensive play of the game, RB Jager Gardner took a handoff 94 yards to the house. It is still the longest run in Temple Football history. QB Phillip Walker followed with four touchdown passes and score on the ground as the Owls pulled away from SMU 60-40. 60 points was the most Temple had scored since beating Holy Cross 63-34 on September 29, 1973.
UP NEXT
Temple will host UCF in a rematch of a high-scoring Thursday night affair in Orlando last season. Kickoff is set for Saturday October 26, 2019 at 7:00pm ET and will air on ESPN2, 97.5 The Fanatic, and WHIP Radio.
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The Owls are 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference after beating #23 Memphis, 30-28, in a hard fought game on both sides of the ball. Now, Temple will head to Dallas to take on a second consecutive ranked opponent and the third of the season as the Owls take on the #19 SMU Mustangs. Kickoff is set for Saturday, October 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2 and 97.5 The Fanatic.
LAST WEEK
Against Memphis, the Owls capitalized on three early turnovers by the Tigers and were able to put points on the board early, and stave off a late comeback by Memphis in order to secure their second win over a ranked opponent this season. Temple was able to have a balanced attack on offense and come up with some big stops late in the game to prevail over the Tigers. QB Anthony Russo connected on 20-33 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. WR Branden Mack had another 100-yard receiving game. Mack caught nine balls for 125 yards and a touchdown and WR Isaiah Wright had six catches for 56 yards and a score on a pitch-pass from Russo that he took around the left-side, up the sideline and hurdled a defender as he crossed the pylon. RBs Jager Gardner (18 carries for 77 yards) and Re'Mahn Davis (23 carries for 72 yards) continued to be a duel-threat out of the backfield. QB Todd Centeio also contributed to the offense, he had seven carries for 44 yards and went 3-3 for 32 yards in the passing game while changing the pace for the offense.
The defense had three early turnovers and forced another one late in the game to help the Owls take down Memphis. CB Harrison Hand started the turnover frenzy by laying out and picking off a pass that turned into a field goal and a 10-0 lead to start the game. Hand also forced a fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter that stalled a long Memphis drive. The forced fumble eventually led to a touchdown pass by Russo to Mack. Hand led the team with nine tackles, two TFLs, a forced fumble, interception, and PBU. The defensive line continued to apply pressure upfront and gave Memphis problems early on. DE DeAndre Kelly had a strip sack that flipped the field for the Owls and led to another field goal. Kicker Will Mobley hit three field goals in the game, the last being a career high 44-yarder. DT Ifeanyi Maijeh recorded another sack, he has registered a partial sack in every game this season.
LAST TIME VS. SMU
The last time Temple and SMU faced off was October 1, 2016. The Owls soundly beat the Mustangs, 45-20 in the first conference game of the season. Despite throwing a pick-six less than a minute into the game, QB Phillip Walker and the offense responded with three quick scores in the first quarter, and never looked back from there. RB Ryquell Armstead had 159 of the 244 total rushing yards for the Owls. The win improved the Owls' record to 3-2.
LAST TIME VS. SMU @ GERALD J. FORD STADIUM
The last time Temple and SMU went head-to-head in Dallas was November 6, 2015. The Owls came in with a 7-1 record following their first loss of the season to #9 Notre Dame on Halloween night. On Temple's second offensive play of the game, RB Jager Gardner took a handoff 94 yards to the house. It is still the longest run in Temple Football history. QB Phillip Walker followed with four touchdown passes and score on the ground as the Owls pulled away from SMU 60-40. 60 points was the most Temple had scored since beating Holy Cross 63-34 on September 29, 1973.
UP NEXT
Temple will host UCF in a rematch of a high-scoring Thursday night affair in Orlando last season. Kickoff is set for Saturday October 26, 2019 at 7:00pm ET and will air on ESPN2, 97.5 The Fanatic, and WHIP Radio.
Players Mentioned
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