Temple University Athletics
Temple Football Wraps Up Spring Ball with Cherry and White Scrimmage
4.11.26 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – The annual Cherry and White Spring Game was met with perfect conditions in North Philadelphia. The Owls went head-to-head in front of fans, alumni, and recruits to gain more scrimmage reps and show Owls Nation the new look team. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik shined for the offense today finishing 15/19 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. For the defense, newcomers Kolin Dinkins and Jaylon Joseph stood out. Both made timely tackles that stifled whatever momentum the offense may have had throughout the scrimmage.
Head coach K.C. Keeler spoke on his team and the progress he's seen throughout spring ball to the assembled media following today's scrimmage. "As I told the team, we are definately an unfinished product, but we have definitely made progress. All spring long it's been so back and forth. Offense is having a big day, and then the next day defense is having a big day and it's been like that all spring long. Again, we're not a finished product, but we've made great strides," said Keeler.
Offensive Highlights
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Quarterback Jaxon Smolik started off the day by connecting with wide receiver Jayce Freeman on a go-ball up the left sideline, making a toe-tapping catch on the boundary while falling out of bounds for a 25-yard gain.
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Smolik found running back Sam Brown V on an outlet pass, making the defender miss at the line of scrimmage for a 20-yard gain.
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Smolik found receiver Jojo Bermudez in stride for a 60-yard touchdown. Bermudez broke free on the right side of the boundary and was wide open as the receiver used his speed to bring him to the endzone untouched.
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Continuing his hot streak, Smolik threw a deep throw off his back foot to receiver Zander Baptiste up the left sideline to the 46-yard line for a 35-yard reception. Baptiste was able to stay inbounds, keeping both feet in play.
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Smolik connected with receiver Coen Logan for a touchdown as the quarterback faced heavy pressure, throwing the ball off his back foot to the endzone where Logan made a jump ball catch along the sideline, despite tight coverage,
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Smolik again found Baptiste on a run-pass option play with an outlet pass towards the top of the field. The quarterback found Bapitste at the line of scrimmage and navigated his way through defenders, fighting his way into the endzone.
Defensive Highlights
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On a 3rd and long, defensive lineman Joseph Auzenne beat his blocker and met the quarterback as he stepped out of the pocket to end the play and force a field goal attempt.
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Linebacker Eric Stuart read a run-pass option play in the backfield, identifying the gap and making a tackle on the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
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Cornerback Denzel Chavis made a shoestring tackle on the running back to limit what would've been a sizeable gain.
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Safety Kolin Dinkins applied pressure off the right side of the offensive line to disrupt the throw from the quarterback, forcing an inaccurate throw and an incompletion.
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Cornerback Asa Locks batted the ball down on one-on-one coverage towards the end zone, holding his position, so the receiver never had a chance to make the reception.
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Defensive lineman Jude Okeleke filled a hole in the middle of the line of scrimmage where the running back was running and made a solo tackle to force a short gain
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Dinkins again made an impact play, reading a swing pass to the tight end in the backfield, exploding behind the line of scrimmage to make a one-on-one tackle for a loss.
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Edge rusher Jaylon Joseph burst off the edge of the line to follow the running back, forcing him to gain only one yard and chasing him from behind to force the stop.
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While on the ground, defensive lineman Troy Cunningham ripped up the RB through the hole to force a punt for the offense.
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After a caught pass, safety Zyil Powell collapsed on the tight end who made the catch and making a huge one on one tackle, stopping him in his tracks on third down to force a fourth.
