Football Drops Final Game to ECU, 49-46

Saturday, November 26

1:00 PM

Temple University

3-9 , 1-7

East Carolina

7-5 , 4-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Carolina

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Drops Final Game to ECU, 49-46

11.26.22 | Football

Box Score Game Book Photo Gallery Stan Drayton Adam Klein and Xach Gill E.J. Warner and Jordan Magee

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., - Temple (3-9, 1-7) was defeated by East Carolina (7-5, 4-4) by a score of 49-46. Quarterback EJ Warner had a career day, completing 45 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns. However, the Owls could not contain running back Keaton Mitchell and the Pirates' offense, forcing them to fall up short in the high scoring affair.

Keys of the Game

In Temple's second possession of the game, quarterback EJ Warner would connect with an assortment of receivers, helping to set kicker Camden Price up with a 21-yard attempt, giving the Owls a 3-0 lead.
East Carolina bounced right back however, with running back Keaton Mitchell rushing in a 49-yard touchdown to give the Pirates a 7-3 lead.
The Owls came storming back, once again with their strong passing game. The drive was capped off by a six-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver, Amad Anderson Jr., giving Temple a 10-7 lead, early in the second quarter.
ECU would keep up the scoring fest, as quarterback Holton Ahlers completed a 14-yard touchdown to wide receiver Isaiah Winstead to give the Pirates a 14-10 lead.
Tight end Jordan Smith then gave the Owls a 17-14 lead after he caught a 40-yard touchdown off the hand of Warner.
On the ensuing kickoff, ECU kick returner Jsi Hatfield would take a kickoff 97-yards to the house to give the Pirates a 21-17 lead.
ECU once again tacked on a long touchdown, this time coming from running back Keaton Mitchell as he took a reception 73-yards for a touchdown, giving the Pirates a 28-17 touchdown.
On the ensuing drive, Warner would cap off a 78-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown to wide receiver Zae Baines, knocking it down to a one score game, 28-24 ECU.
In just 1:22, ECU drove down the field and attempted a field goal but the kick would go wide right to close out the half.
To open up the second half, ECU cornerback Malik Fleming intercepted a pass setting up the Pirates with prime position to score. Using this field position, Mitchell would rush in his third touchdown of the game giving the Pirates a 35-24 lead.
RB Edward Saydee would then cut down the Pirates lead to four with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, making the score 35-31 ECU with 9:43 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
For his fourth touchdown of the day, Mitchell would give the Pirates a 42-31 lead.
Warner then would connect with Smith once again for a 38-yard touchdown, a two point conversion between QB Quincy Patterson and TE David Martin Robinson would bring the Owls within three, making it 42-39.
Cornerback Cameron Ruiz would then deflect a pass on a huge fourth down in their own zone to get the offense back the ball with 8:19 remaining in the ball game.
Warner then drove the Owls all the way down the field to take the lead when he connected with Martin-Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown to give Temple a 46-42 lead.
LB Jordan Magee then made a monumental third-down sack to force ECU to punt with 4:50 remaining in the game.
With 1:11 left in the game, Ahlers connected with WR Jaylen Johnson for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Pirates a late 49-46 lead.
The Owls' redemption attempt would then fall up short, ending the game.

Notes

QB EJ Warner surpassed former Owl Anthony Russo for the most pass completions in a season with 278 total.
With 3,028 total passing yards, Warner moved into sole possession of second place on the all-time single season passing leaderboard in school history.
Warner also set the record for most yards (527) and completions (45) in a single game, while also becoming the first Temple quarterback to throw for over 500 yards in a game.
WR Jose Barbon added his 6th 100-yard receiving game in 2022, making it the most in a season in Temple history. Barbon also broke his career high in yards (160) and catches (13).
TE Jordan Smith broke his career high in receiving yards with 85, Smith also caught two touchdowns on the day, marking his career high.
WR Zae Baines broke career high in receiving yards with 73.
DL Lancine Turay made his first career start.