Davis, Stifling Defense Leads Football to 24-2 Win over Georgia Tech

Saturday, September 28

Philadelphia, Pa.

3:30 P.M.

Temple University

3-1

Georgia Tech

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Georgia Tech

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Davis, Stifling Defense Leads Football to 24-2 Win over Georgia Tech

9.28.19 | Football

Box Score Full Schedule Buy Tickets Game Book 9/28 Season Statistics Rod Carey Press Conference Benny Walls Press Conference Anthony Russo Audio Jager Gardner Audio Geoff Collins Audio

PHILADELPHIA – Temple used a big play defense and two touchdowns from freshman Re'Mahn Davis to defeat visiting Georgia Tech, 24-2, Saturday in front of 31,094 at Lincoln Financial Field. Davis, who had 135 yards on 29 carries, became the first true Temple freshman running back to rush for over 100 yards since his teammate, senior Jager Gardner, accomplished the feat in 2015.

The Owls improve to 3-1 on the season while the Yellow Jackets, under the direction of Temple's former coach Geoff Collins, fall to 1-3.

How it Happened

Senior S Benny Walls made two huge defensive plays, returning a fumble 74 yards for a third quarter touchdown and intercepting a pass in the end zone and bringing it back 65 yards to the Tech 35.
It was the lowest point total allowed by Temple since the Owls shut out Tulane on Nov. 16, 2016.
Temple's defense set the tone early, holding Georgia Tech scoreless in the first half. The Owls limited the Yellow Jackets to six first downs over the first 30 minutes of play.
The Cherry and White allowed only one sustained drive in the half, that being a 15-play, 85-yarder that ended when redshirt junior LB Isaiah Graham Mobley stripped Tech QB Tobias Oliver at the goal line on a third and nine play. The ball was recovered in the air by redshirt sophomore CB Christian Braswell for a touchback.
The Owls offense started strong, marching down the field on their opening drive. A 38-yard reception by redshirt sophomore WR Jadan Blue set up a first and goal at the Georgia Tech 10. Three plays later redshirt junior QB Anthony Russo was picked off by Kaleb Oliver in the end zone to end the Owls' drive.
Temple finally got on the scoreboard with its second drive of the second quarter. The Owls moved the ball 58 yards, all on the ground, with Davis capping the drive with an 18-yard touchdown off left tackle on 4th and one to put Temple in front 7-0.
The Owls increased their lead to 14-0 on their next possession as Davis again rushed to paydirt, this time from one-yard out to cap a 13-play, 73-yard drive. Davis rushed for 17 yards on the drive while senior WR Isaiah Wright made the big play, a 26-yard reception to give the Owls the ball on the Georgia Tech 24.
Redshirt sophomore DT Ifeanyi Maijeh stripped Oliver on the first drive of the second half. The fumble was recovered by Walls and returned 74 yards for the touchdown to give the Owls a 21-0 lead.
On its next possession, Georgia Tech punted to the Temple one to set up a safety on the Owls' opening drive of the second half. Davis was tackled in the end zone on the first play to make the score 21-2.
The Owls scored on their next possession, marching 47 yards on 11 plays with redshirt sophomore PK Will Mobley connecting on a 34-yard field goal to make it 24-2 with 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter. A 16-yard run down the right sideline by Gardner led the score.
Walls made his second huge defensive play of the game, intercepting Georgia Tech QB James Graham and returning it 65 yards to the Yellow Jackets 35 midway through the fourth quarter.
Temple closed out its stellar defensive effort by stopping Georgia Tech on a 4^th and two at its own 12. Maijeh tackled Dontae Smith for a one-yard loss to end the drive.

Statistically Speaking

Gardner joined Davis with a solid game of his own, rushing for 69 yards on 18 carries to give Temple 195 yards on the ground.
Russo was limited to nine-of-22 passing for 127 yards with Blue leading the receiving corps with four catches for 66 yards.
Senior LB Shaun Bradley led the defense with eight tackles, six solo while Walls and Braswell each had six solo stops.

Notes

Davis was the first Temple true freshman to rush for at least 100-yards since his counterpart, Gardner, did so against SMU in 2015.
Temple's defense has only given up two touchdowns at home in 2019.
The Owls stingy defense has shown up on third down. Georgia Tech was only able to convert 2-14 third downs and 2-4 fourth downs.

Next Up

It is a short week for Temple as the Owls travel to Greenville, N.C. to take on ECU Thursday night. The game will be televised live on ESPN with kickoff at 8 pm.