Temple University Athletics
Temple University
0-1 , 0-0
Rutgers
1-0 , 0-0
Temple Falls to Rutgers in Season Opener
9.4.21 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Temple Owls (0-1, 0-0) dropped their opening game of the season to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-0, 0-0) by a score of 61-14. Three turnovers in the first half put the Owls in a 19-point hole going into the second half that they were unable to overcome.
How it happened
First Quarter
After forcing a three-and-out on Rutgers' opening drive, the Owls' first offensive possession started at their own one-yard line. Temple failed to get out of trouble as Rutgers forced a safety a few plays later. A 54-yard kickoff return on the next play set up a Rutgers field goal a few minutes later to put the Owls in a 5-0 hole. After a few stalled drives for both teams, the Scarlet Knights capitalized on an interception for their first touchdown of the day.
Second Quarter
Fumbles on consecutive possessions for the Owls set up back-to-back rushing touchdowns for Rutgers. On the next drive, the Owls mounted their first scoring drive of the day as WR Randle Jones hauled in a 38-yard catch down the sideline from QB D'Wan Mathis. A few plays later, RB Edward Saydee waltzed in for an 11-yard touchdown with just over nine minutes remaining in the half. A scoreless last nine minutes sent the Owls into the half trailing 26-7.
Third Quarter
On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Cherry & White marched straight down the field for a nine-play, 81-yard drive. After a few chunk gains by Saydee, Mathis hit WR Jose Barbon for 29 yards to move into the red zone before Mathis took it in himself for a three-yard scamper to cut the deficit to 26-14. An injury to Mathis shortly afterwards sidelined the quarterback for the rest of the afternoon. True freshman QB Justin Lynch took the majority of the snaps for the rest of the game for the Owls. Rutgers answered back a few minutes later, however, as a 40-yard passing touchdown put the Scarlet Knights back up by 19 points midway through the quarter. A pick-six later on in the quarter extended the Rutgers lead to 40-14.
Fourth Quarter
Twenty-one unanswered points in the fourth quarter gave the Scarlet Knights a 61-14 win.
Statistically Speaking
> Mathis: 148 passing yards, rushing TD
> Saydee: 82 total yards, two receptions, TD
> LB Jordan Magee: team-high eight total tackles
Notes
· WR Jadan Blue moved into 16th place all-time in Temple's history for receiving yards and is now at 1,496
Up Next
The Owls will be back in action next weekend when they travel to InfoCision Stadium to take on the Akron Zips. Kickoff will be at 3:30pm and will air on ESPN+.
Team Stats
TEM 0, RUT 2
RUT - Fatukasi,Olakunle 0 yd safety
TEM 0, RUT 5
RUT - Ambrosio,Valentino 25 yd field goal 8 plays, 26 yards, TOP 02:51
TEM 0, RUT 12
RUT - Langan,Johnny 2 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 1 plays, 2 yards, TOP 00:03
TEM 0, RUT 19
RUT - Langan,Johnny 1 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 6 plays, 28 yards, TOP 02:23
TEM 0, RUT 26
RUT - Monangai,Kyle 2 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 4 plays, 22 yards, TOP 01:39
TEM 7, RUT 26
TEM - Saydee,Edward 11 yd run (Bell,Rory kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:44
TEM 14, RUT 26
TEM - Mathis,D'Wan 3 yd run (Bell,Rory kick), 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 02:52
TEM 14, RUT 33
RUT - Melton,Bo 40 yd pass from Vedral,Noah (Ambrosio,Valentino kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:33
TEM 14, RUT 40
RUT - Melton,Max 46 yd interception (Ambrosio,Valentino kick)
TEM 14, RUT 47
RUT - Pacheco,Isaih 2 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 05:29
TEM 14, RUT 54
RUT - Young,Aaron 1 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 4 plays, 17 yards, TOP 01:29
TEM 14, RUT 61
RUT - Monangai,Kyle 7 yd run (Ambrosio,Valentino kick), 13 plays, 62 yards, TOP 06:37
