Second Half Charge Lifts #18 SMU Past Temple, 47-23

Saturday, November 7

Philadelphia, Pa.

12:00PM

Temple University

1-4 , 1-4

SMU

7-1 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

SMU

Temple

Photo by: Jesse Garber

Second Half Charge Lifts #18 SMU Past Temple, 47-23

11.7.20 | Football

Box Score Game Book Rod Carey Press Conference Re-al Mitchell Press Conference William Kwenkeu Press Conference Tayvon Ruley Press Conference Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA – Temple's defense limited the high-scoring #18 SMU offense to 10 points and 196 yards of total offense in the first half and the Owls went into the locker room with a 13-10 lead. The Mustangs (4-2, 3-2 AAC), however, exploded after intermission, outscoring the Owls (1-4, 1-4), 37-10, in posting a 47-23 win Saturday in front of a 2,577 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

Missing starting QB Anthony Russo for the second straight week, Temple coach Rod Carey again rotated backups Trad Beatty and Re'al Mitchell. Each had solid moments with Beatty connecting on a 75-yard TD to Randle Jones on the game's first play and Mitchell running for 66 yards on 17 carries. Each directed touchdown drives in the game.

How it happened
First Quarter
Temple received the opening kickoff and were immediately off to the races with QB Trad Beatty recording his first career passing touchdown, hitting WR Randle Jones for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game. Rory Bell missed the point after to leave the score at 6-0.

SMU answered right back with a touchdown drive of its own. The Mustangs converted a few key third downs, capping off the drive with a 24-yard TD pass from QB Shane Buechele to WR Tyler Page. That made the score 7-6.

Following a Temple three-and-out, DE Manny Walker sacked Buechele on a fourth-and-eight from the Owls 33. TU QB Re-al Mitchell then led the team on an 11-play, 61-yard drive which was finished off by a three-yard rushing touchdown from Tayvon Ruley, his first of the season. That gave the Owls a 13-7 advantage.

Second Quarter
Defense was the name of the game in the beginning of the second quarter as neither offense could mount a drive into the other's territory until midway through the period. Buechele then marched the Mustangs on a 14-play drive to the Owls' 13, but a holding penalty on a 4^th-and-three negated a SMU touchdown. Chris Naggar connected on a 40-yard FG to cut the Temple lead to 13-10.

On the ensuing drive, Temple managed just one first down before a 62-yard punt from Adam Barry, his career best as an Owl, was downed at the one-yard line. This guaranteed the Owls would lead going into the break, 13-10.

Third Quarter
The Mustangs wasted no time starting the scoring in the third quarter, marching down the field in five plays thanks in large part to a 44-yard touchdown pass from Buechele to Page, their second touchdown connection of the afternoon. A quick three-and-out on Temple's opening drive of the half gave the ball back to the Mustangs. SMU mounted another scoring drive on its next possession, moving the ball into the red zone before the Owls defense held, forcing another Mustangs' field goal to keep the game within one possession, 20-13.

Mitchell then led the Owls offense down the field once again as Temple answered back on their next drive with a field goal of their own, this one a 26-yarder from Bell.

Fourth Quarter
The Mustangs would dominate in the final quarter, scoring touchdowns on all four of their possessions to break the contest wide open.

Buechele, who finished the day completing 24-of-35 passes for 355 yards, tossed two of his four touchdowns in the quarter. The other two touchdowns came on a two-yard run by Tyler Lavine and a 49-yard rush by TeMerick Williams.

Mitchell, who played the entire second half due to an injury to Beatty, connected with Aaron Jarman on a 11-yard TD pass with 35 seconds remaining for his first TD pass as an Owl.

Statistically Speaking

Arnold Ebiketie: One sack, six tackles
William Kwenkeu: Two tackles for loss, 10 total tackles
Jones: Two catches for 86 yards and one touchdown
Mitchell: Tied Ruley for team-best 66 yards rushing

Notes

Beatty: first career touchdown pass
Ruley: first rushing touchdown of the season
75-yard touchdown reception by Jones marked Temple's longest play of the season
De'Von Fox: first career reception and tied for team lead with five catches for 46 yards

Up Next
Up next, the Owls get ready to travel to UCF for their final road game of the season on Saturday, November 14. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm and will air on ESPNU and 97.5 The Fanatic.