Football Hosts USF For Homecoming Game

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Hosts USF For Homecoming Game

10.12.20 | Football

Full Schedule ESPN+Rod Carey Press Conference Khris Banks Availability Joseph Hooper Availability David Martin-Robinson Availability Jordan Magee (audio only)Anthony Russo Availability Temple Game Notes USF Game Notes AAC Notes

This Week
Temple will celebrate a virtual homecoming when the Owls play their first game at Lincoln Financial Field this Saturday. Kickoff against USF at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 12:00pm and will broadcast on ESPN+.

Last Week
The Owls lost a tightly-contested season opener at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The game was a high-scoring affair with neither team being forced to punt until the second half. The Owls outgained the Midshipmen 407-299 and were 75% on third-down conversions, but a pair of failed two-point conversions in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game. Trailing 28-17 early in the fourth quarter, Anthony Russo's second rushing touchdown made it a one possession game, but a failed two-point conversion kept the Navy lead at five. On the ensuing Navy drive, the Midshipmen dominated the clock and the time of possession like they had throughout the game, and ended the drive with a 5 0-yard field goal to extend the lead back to eight. In a game in which Temple never led, the Owls had a chance with just over a minute remaining in the game to force overtime after a one-yard touchdown run from Re'Mahn Davis trimmed the Midshipmen lead to 31-29. However, the deciding moment for the Owls came shortly after when a failed two-point conversion try from Russo to Davis fell short. Wide receiver Branden Mack and tight end David Martin-Robinson both recorded over 70 yards receiving while Mack added a 13th receiving touchdown to his career totals. On the defensive side, Isaiah Graham-Mobley set a career-high for tackles (14) and Will Kwenkeu logged 11 stops in his single-digit debut.

Last Time vs. USF
The last time the Owls faced off against the Bulls was November 7, 2019 at Raymond James Stadium. Temple won 17-7 in a low scoring affair that saw the Owls take the lead late in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Anthony Russo to Kenny Yeboah. From there, the Owls never let go of the lead thanks in part to a 39-yard fumble return by Sam Franklin midway through the third quarter. Jager Gardner rushed for a season-high 133 yards on 25 carries to close the game out for the Owls while Jadan Blue recorded 11 catches for 121 yards to lead Temple in receiving. On the defensive side of the ball, Quincy Roche logged a season-high 3.5 sacks while the defense held their opponents to under 10 points for the second time in 2019.

Last Time vs. USF @ Lincoln Financial Field
The Owls and the Bulls last met at Lincoln FInancial Field on November 17, 2018 where Temple overcame a 17-0 deficit by scoring 27 unanswered points to win 27-17. After a quiet first half for the Owls, Ryquell Armstead got the scoring started for Temple five minutes into the third quarter to trim the deficit. Not even a minute later, Delvon Randall snatched a one-handed interception to turn the momentum in favor of the Owls. For the rest of the game, the special teams took control when a couple of Will Mobley field goals had Temple down 17-13 in the early stages of the fourth quarter followed by a 73-yard punt return by Isaiah Wright to give the Owls their first lead of the game. The Bulls had one last chance with under two minutes left to spoil the comeback until Dana Levine strip sacked the USF QB and Chapelle Russell recovered the ball in the end zone to put the game out of reach.

Up Next
The Owls will be back on the road next weekend as they travel to Tennessee to take on the Memphis Tigers on October 24. Kickoff is set for 12:00pm and will air on ESPN+.