PHILADELPHIA – After allowing 556 total yards to South Florida in last week’s loss, Temple’s focus quickly shifted to its next two games, signaled by a quiet plane ride back to Philadelphia. With the upcoming test against Memphis’ offense, which averaged 43.7 points per game coming into play, the Owls’ defense sought to get the sour taste out its mouth.
“We didn’t like last week,” redshirt junior defensive lineman Haason Reddick said. “We didn’t like the way we played. We promised each other that we would come back in this week and fix it and that’s what we did.”
In some ways, losing to South Florida Nov. 14 allowed the Owls to refocus,
“Last week was a blessing in many ways because we were locked in and focused and ready to go,” head coach Matt Rhule said.
The Owls’ defense limited the sixth ranked offense in the NCAA Football Subdivision to four field goals, defeating the No. 21 ranked Tigers 31-12 Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. Tigers junior quarterback Paxton Lynch, who many scouts consider a first round NFL talent, did not throw a touchdown pass in a game for the first time this season. Even when faced with the high-scoring Memphis offense, preparation did not change for Temple’s defense. The difference in the on-field results came down to energy, said Reddick.
“A lot of guys were energetic,” Reddick, who had three tackles said. “We fed off each other more this week than any of the last two weeks…You could feel the energy on the sideline. You could feel it on the field.”
Tyler Matakevich, who became the seventh player to register 100 or more tackles in four different seasons Saturday, celebrates Temple’s 31-12 with the fans. - Evan Easterling
Temple turned over the ball on its first two drives. Junior running back Jahad Thomas fumbled on the Owls’ first drive of the game, giving Memphis the ball at its own 27 yard line. The Owls defense forced a three and out following the turnover. The second turnover, an interception by redshirt defensive back Reggis Ball at the one yard line, led to an 86 yard drive by the Tigers. Junior kicker Jake Elliott’s 31 yard field goal made it 3-0 Memphis with 3:34 left in the first quarter.
Temple’s defense forced field goal attempts after two other miscues. When Tigers senior linebacker Wynton McManis blocked Alex Starzyk’s punt early in the third quarter, Memphis took possession with great field position at the Owls’ 21 yard line.
The defense made the Tigers settle for a 36 yard field goal attempt by Elliott, which rang off the upright for his fourth miss of the season.
On the ensuing drive, Temple advanced to its 35 yard line after a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty on Memphis linebacker Jackson Dillon. Because the referees determined the hit to meet the criteria for targeting, Dillon was ejected and will have to sit out the first half of the Tigers game next week against Southern Methodist. The Owls’ drive stalled after the first down. Temple went for it on 4th and 1 from its own 44 yard line, but the Tigers defense stopped Thomas at the line of scrimmage for the Owls third failed 4th down attempt of the game. Memphis got two first downs, but settled for Elliott’s fourth field goal of the game with 3:41 left in the 3rd quarter.
Rhule said he did not like the way the game went early on, but commended his defense for making plays when it counted. His quarterback had full trust in the defense.
“I’m always confident in our defense,” junior quarterback P.J. Walker said. “I feel if we get up offensively, our defense is light out.”
Walker helped pace the Owls offensively, completing 14 of his 26 passes for 261 yards. His two touchdowns put him past Henry Burris for the most passing touchdowns in school history with 50. After the first quarter, Walker was 3 for 6, passing for 59 yards and one interception. Redshirt-senior Robby Anderson accounted for all receiving yards in the first quarter. As the game went on, more players got involved offensively. Five different players carried the ball, including tight end Kip Patton who ran for his first career touchdown, and eight receivers caught passes. Five different receivers had receptions in the second quarter.
“In the second quarter, things just started opening up,” Walker said. “I think they started to play their secondary towards Robby, so everybody else started opening up and getting opportunities.”
Because South Florida defeated Cincinnati 65-27 Friday and Temple won, the Owls (9-2, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) maintain their one game lead in the American East Division over South Florida. A South Florida loss would have clinched a spot in the conference title game for Temple. A win at home against Connecticut (6-5, 4-3 The American) next week would cement a spot in the conference championship game. For Rhule, it is a chance to control his team’s own destiny.
“This was a moment for me like, ‘Are we going to do it or not?’” Rhule said. “I don’t want to slide into a championship game. I don’t want someone else to lose. It’s like when USF won yesterday, it was almost exhilarating.”