Football Defeats Norfolk State 41-9

Saturday, September 16

Philadelphia

2:00 P.M.

Temple University

2-1 , 0-0

Norfolk State

1-2 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Norfolk St.

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Defeats Norfolk State 41-9

9.16.23 | Football

Box Score Stan Drayton Press Conference Warner/Patterson Press Conference Magee/Francis Press Conference Stoffel/Smith/Hubbard Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA — Temple (2-1, 0-0) defeated Norfolk State (1-2, 0-0) at Lincoln Financial Field, 41-9, behind a strong rushing attack Saturday afternoon. The story of the game was freshman RB Joquez Smith, who compiled 157 total yards and two touchdowns. Smith's 142 rushing yards are the most by a Temple freshman since Re'Mahn Davis in 2019.

How It Happened

The Owls wasted no time taking an early lead. QB E.J. Warner went 3-for-5 with 64 yards and completed to Smith for a 15-yard touchdown reception to give Temple a 7-0 lead with 11:37 remaining in the first quarter.
With 1:09 remaining in the first quarter, QB Quincy Patterson scored a one-yard touchdown rush to extend Temple's lead to 14-0.
The Spartans scored their first points of the game with 10:23 remaining in the first half on a two-yard touchdown pass from QB Otto Kuhns to WR Aaron Moore that cut the Owls' lead to 14-7.
Smith broke loose for a 51-yard rushing touchdown with 9:00 left in the second quarter to give the Owls a 21-7 lead.
With 5:23 left in the first half, RB Darvon Hubbard scored on a 21-yard rushing touchdown to give Temple a 28-7 lead at the half.
Patterson rushed in a touchdown from two yards out with 3:24 left in the third. His second touchdown of the day gave the Owls a 38-7 lead.
The Owls held strong on a goal-line stand with 12:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, retaking possession after the Spartans progressed down to the Temple one-yard line. A holding penalty in the endzone on the following drive resulted in a Norfolk State safety, giving the team its final two points of the game.
Camden Price's second field goal of the game with 1:59 left on the clock sealed the Cherry and White's 41-9 victory.

Notes

Temple's opening drive touchdown marked the first time the Owls scored on the first possession of the game since the matchup with Houtson in Week 10 of the 2022 season.
Smith made his first career start and scored his first career rushing and receiving touchdowns. He became the first Owl to score a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since Re'Mahn Davis did so in the opening game of the 2019 season against Bucknell.
Patterson's two rushing touchdowns tie a career high.
DL Conlan Greene made his first career start.
The following players made their Temple debuts: K Carl Hardin, SAF Zyil Powell, CB Darrell Sweeting, DL Gensley Auguste, DL Tyrese Whitaker, WR Elias Collins.

Statistically Speaking

Smith set a career high in rushing yards with 142, one week after rushing for 48 yards in his collegiate debut against Rutgers. He is the first Temple rusher to eclipse 100 yards in a game since running back Edward Saydee did so against USF on Nov. 5, 2022.
OLB Diwun Black tied a career high with three tackles for loss.
The Owls' 290 rushing yards set a season-high.
Hubbard set a career high in receiving yards with 32.
LB D.J. Woodbury led the Owls with eight total tackles.

Up Next

The Owls return home to host No. 22 Miami at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 23. The game is set to air on ESPN 2.