Tag: Temple

Oct 22, 2022; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen head coach Ken Niumatalolo calls timeout during the first half against the Houston Cougars at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

In battle between Temple, Navy, two sides aim to snap losing slides

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Temple will look to bury a three-game losing streak when it plays Navy in an American Athletic Conference matchup Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

It’s a rebuilding year for the Owls (2-5, 0-3 AAC), who are guided by first-year coach Stan Drayton and freshman quarterback E.J. Warner. Temple’s only wins to date came against FCS Lafayette and FBS independent UMass.

After UCF drilled Temple 70-13 on Oct. 13, the Owls played better last Friday in a home loss to Tulsa. Temple scored the game’s first 10 points before falling 27-16.

The Owls’ defense showed improvement, but they struggled to generate offense — just 280 total yards. Senior wide receiver Adonicas Sanders missed the second half due to injury and running back Jakari Norwood was out for personal reasons.

“Anytime there’s new guys, you have to get used to it,” Warner said. “But we’ve been putting in work in practice. We put in work all camp, all summer. So, it’s not an excuse with no chemistry or anything like that.”

Navy (2-5, 2-3) has lost two straight, including last week’s 38-20 defeat to Houston in which Cougars quarterback Clayton Tune threw for five touchdowns.

One bright spot for the Midshipmen has been fullback Daba Fofana. Playing a position important to Navy’s triple-option offense, Fofana has emerged as a go-to back over the past three games. He racked up 159 yards and three scores in a win over Tulsa, then added 61 yards against SMU and 89 yards with a touchdown against Houston. He took at least 20 carries in all three games.

“He’s still learning … he’s still a sophomore, still figuring things out,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said of Fofana. “But I think his consistency in the overall offense — running, blocking, just all of it — just feel like he’s been the most consistent. He’s a kid that just comes in, brings his lunch pail every day, works every day and you see him improving daily and weekly.”

Navy has won the past two meetings between the programs. The all-time series is knotted 8-8. In 2016, Temple won the AAC Championship in the Mids’ stadium.

–Field Level Media

Sep 3, 2022; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane quarterback Davis Brin (7) warms up before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Tulsa, Temple seeking first AAC win on Friday night

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When Tulsa and Temple meet Friday night in Philadelphia in American Athletic Conference play, both teams will be looking to break losing streaks in a season that has become slightly derailed.

Tulsa (2-4, 0-2 AAC) has lost three in a row and Temple (2-4, 0-2) has dropped two straight. The Golden Hurricane and Owls are tied for ninth in the conference ahead of only 1-6 South Florida.

Through its first four games, including a 35-27 loss to then-No. 16 Ole Miss, Tulsa’s offense managed to post points freely, but that productivity dwindled during setbacks against Cincinnati and Navy.

After his squad ran for just 25 yards on 18 carries in a 53-21 loss to the Midshipmen on Oct. 8, Golden Hurricane coach Philip Montgomery said a better effort on the ground will help quarterback Davis Brin open up the passing game.

“We got to get our run game more established,” Montgomery said. “I probably gave up on the run a little bit too quick, but we got to be better in that area.”

The Owls have struggled to move the ball, too, scoring a combined 16 points in consecutive road defeats against Memphis and UCF.

First-year coach Stan Drayton said he is particularly interested in the mental aspect of how his group responds to a humbling 70-13 walloping by the Knights in Orlando on Oct. 13.

“Every opportunity is a great opportunity to learn,” Drayton said. “We have an opportunity to learn who we are as a football team as a result of this loss. I need to see how they’re going to respond to this.”

E.J. Warner continues to get the bulk of the snaps, completing 86 of 153 passes for 1,040 yards. The son of former NFL star quarterback Kurt Warner has tossed six touchdowns against six interceptions.

Brin has thrown for 1,839 yards with 14 TDs and five interceptions for the Golden Hurricane.

The teams have split six career matchups. Tulsa won last season 44-10 by building a 27-0 halftime lead behind Brin’s two TD passes, while Temple claimed all three meetings from 2014-18.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Javon Baker (1) runs the ball against Southern Methodist Mustangs safety Nick Roberts (22) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

UCF seeks fourth straight win, faces Temple

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After losing to Louisville in Week 2, UCF has rebounded and will seek its fourth straight win when it hosts Temple on Thursday night in American Athletic Conference play at Orlando, Fla.

Second-year coach Gus Malzahn and his Knights will be facing the Owls in UCF’s annual Space Game, a contest that honors the long relationship between the central Florida school and the nearby U.S. space program.

During their three-game winning streak, the Knights (4-1, 1-0 AAC) have played in another galaxy and put a vast amount of space between themselves and the opposition on the scoreboard — a combined 108-43 upper hand in points.

UCF collected a conference-opening 41-19 win over SMU last Wednesday, pouring it on by a 31-6 margin in the second half after trailing at halftime. The Knights’ defense made big plays in the second half of the game that pitted new SMU coach Rhett Lashlee and Malzahn, who have worked together on five previous teams.

“We played our best football game,” Malzahn said. “We dominated the second half.”

Though they allowed 476 total yards to the offensive-minded Mustangs, the Knights held them to 4-for-16 on third downs. UCF had seven tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.

In its last outing on Oct. 1, Temple (2-3, 0-1) led 3-0 at halftime in Memphis before the Tigers awakened and scored four times in the final 17 minutes for a 24-3 conference win.

Owls first-year coach Stan Drayton said his team isn’t playing complementary football, with the defense leading the way and the offense trying to keep up.

Penalties and turnovers have also been a problem, as E.J. Warner — the son of former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner — threw three interceptions.

In three of its games, Temple’s defense has held the opposition to 16 points or fewer, including a 28-0 blanking of UMass.

“The defense played lights out for about 2 1/2 or three quarters,” Drayton after the Memphis defeat. “They’re playing 89 plays compared to 50-some-odd plays on offense. That’s just not a good formula we’re living by right now.”

UCF has won five straight in the series and owns a 7-2 all-time edge.

–Field Level Media

Aug 6, 2022; Canton, OH, USA; Kurt Warner arrives on the red carpet during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: QB E.J. Warner, Kurt’s son, to start for Temple

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Temple freshman quarterback E.J. Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Kurt Warner, will make his first collegiate start on Saturday against Rutgers in Philadelphia, ESPN reported.

Warner replaced ineffective starter D’Wan Mathis in the second quarter last week and led the Owls to a 30-14 win over Lafayette. He was 14-of-19 passing for 173 years and two touchdowns.

Warner, who was lightly recruited out of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, entered the season behind Mathis and Quincy Patterson, who played at Virginia Tech and North Dakota State, on the depth chart.

Mathis is 14-of-29 passing for 125 yards in the first two games for Temple (1-1). Patterson has thrown for 31 yards on 3-of-8 passing.

Rutgers is 2-0 on the season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Jaylen Coleman (22) gestures after scoring a touchdown during first half of the game against Temple University at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Duke trounces Temple 30-0 to open Mike Elko era

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Riley Leonard threw for two touchdowns and completed his first 15 passes as Duke opened the season with a 30-0 victory over visiting Temple on Friday night in Durham, N.C.

The outcome gave Duke coach Mike Elko a successful debut. It was a dismal opener for first-year Temple coach Stan Drayton, whose team was held to 179 yards of total offense.

Duke recorded its first shutout of a FBS opponent since 1989 against North Carolina.

Leonard, a sophomore making his second career start, completed his first 15 passes. That left him one shy of the school record for consecutive completions in a game.

Leonard finished 24-for-30 for 328 yards through the air. He also was the game’s top rusher with 64 yards on 11 carries.

Duke went 75 yards in five plays on the game’s opening possession, scoring on Jaylen Coleman’s 1-yard run. Charlie Ham’s 29-yard field goal later in the first quarter made it 10-0.

Leonard threw 4 yards to Jordan Moore, who was the runner-up in the preseason quarterback competition, for a touchdown with 11:49 left in the second quarter.

Temple didn’t pick up a first down until about the 10-minute mark of the second quarter.

Duke was back on the board on Leonard’s 39-yard strike to Sahmir Hagans, making it 24-0 by halftime.

Ham, who missed two attempts on field goals in the first half and another in the fourth quarter, was good from 37 yards out for the only points of the third quarter. He added a 38-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Duke and Temple were both 3-9 last year. The only other meeting between the teams resulted in Duke’s victory at the 2018 Independence Bowl.

Elko replaced David Cutcliffe, who coached the Blue Devils for 14 seasons. Duke is coming off three consecutive losing seasons with a combined record of 10-25 during that stretch.

–Field Level Media

Jul 21, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Head Coach Mike Elko talks to the media during the second day of ACC Media Days at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Duke, Temple take first steps in fresh start

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A first-year coach will collect a victory in the season opener when Temple visits Duke on Friday night in Durham, N.C.

A significant difference is that Temple is accustomed to playing under new leadership as Stan Drayton is the fourth coach to begin a season with the Owls in a seven-year span.

Duke had more stability, but a recent slide invited a switch. Mike Elko was hired to try to reverse the trend.

“As of right now we’re taking the right steps,” Blue Devils defensive back Jaylen Stinson said. “We’re not where we want to be but we’re heading in the right route. You can tell everyone is bought in and we’re moving in the right direction toward the season opener.”

Drayton and Elko are both first-time head coaches.

It might be difficult to tell which team is further along in the reconstruction project based on one game.

“We’ve kind of put these guys in situations where we’ve had to kind of challenge their routine,” Drayton said. “I think our guys are getting a much better sense of what’s being asked of them schematically.”

Drayton, who had been associate head coach at Texas, knows the first impression of the season will be important.

“We really have to prepare ourselves to have success on that Friday,” he said.

Both teams are coming off 3-9 seasons. Duke carries an eight-game losing streak into the season. With one exception, the Blue Devils lost each of those games in the skid by at least 25 points.

Elko arrived from Texas A&M, where he was a defensive coordinator after holding a similar role at Wake Forest. He replaces long-time coach David Cutcliffe.

“Expectations are always the same to me,” Elko said. “The expectation is that we go out and lay it on the line for Duke every week. … I think you focus on what you can control now, what you can improve now.”

The Blue Devils had major issues on defense last year, regularly unraveled by big plays. But the offense needs upgrading as well.

On Sunday, redshirt freshman Riley Leonard was named the starting quarterback ahead of sophomore Jordan Moore. Both players held backup roles last season.

D’Wan Mathis, who was the starter for Georgia in the 2020 opener, is in his second season with the Owls and he’s the incumbent starter at quarterback. Reduced to playing seven games because of injuries, he threw for six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Duke hasn’t had a winning season since 2018, when it capped an 8-5 mark by defeating Temple in the Independence Bowl. Temple went 8-5 in 2019 for its most recent winning campaign.

“It’s important in the sense that we’re trying to set a standard,” Drayton said. “We’re trying to get this program back to a Temple-tough standard.”

Temple’s team is so young that more than half of the players on the roster have four years of eligibility remaining.

–Field Level Media

Brophy Prep quarterbacks coach Kurt Warner practices with players at the Brophy Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. on April 26, 2021. Brophy Football Practice April 26 2021

QB Elijah Warner, Kurt’s son, commits to Temple

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Quarterback Elijah “EJ” Warner, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Kurt Warner, committed to play at Temple.

The younger Warner played at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. He intends to make his commitment to Temple official next Wednesday on National Signing Day.

“EJ is one of the sharpest and smartest football players I have ever been around,” Brophy head coach Jason Jewell told USA Today. “He absolutely loves football and is a student of the game.”

In the 2021 season, he passed for 2,742 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, per USA Today. Brophy was 7-5 on the season, and Kurt Warner was the quarterbacks coach.

“He was our point guard,” Jewell said of EJ Warner. “Got us in the right plays and protections. So happy that he landed at Temple.”

The 6-foot, 200-pound Warner is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 123 quarterback by the 247Sports composite. His dad, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, was undrafted out of Northern Iowa and cut by the Green Bay Packers in training camp in 1994.

Kurt Warner went to work stocking shelves in a grocery store and played in the Arena Football League before getting his chance as a backup in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams in 1998. A year later, he was league MVP, a first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Temple Owls place kicker Rory Bell (47) is congratulated by his teammates after his second half field goal against the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Temple introduces Stan Drayton as new head coach

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Temple introduced former Texas assistant coach Stan Drayton as the Owls’ new football coach on Thursday.

Drayton, 50, replaces Rod Carey, who was fired late last month after three seasons and a 12-20 record.

“I’ve always wanted to lead men on a large scale,” Drayton said in his opening remarks Thursday, addressing the players in attendance. “I want you to go for the top. I want you to be great. … That’s what this program is going to be about.”

Drayton also said this was the second time he interviewed for the position at Temple; he lost out to Matt Rhule in 2012.

Drayton reunites with Arthur Johnson, who left Texas in October to take the athletics director job at Temple.

Drayton was the running backs coach at Texas the past five seasons, working first under Tom Herman and then Steve Sarkisian. Drayton also coached RBs at Florida and Ohio State, working under Urban Meyer. He also spent five years as an assistant coach in the NFL, with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Temple Owls head coach Rod Carey reacts in the second half against the Memphis Tigers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Temple fires Rod Carey after three seasons

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Temple fired football coach Rod Carey on Monday after three seasons and a 12-20 record.

The Owls went 8-5 and lost in the Military Bowl in his first season in 2019, but slipped to 1-6 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Temple finished 3-9 this season (1-7 in the American Athletic Conference) and ended the year with a seven-game losing streak.

“It’s never an easy decision to replace a head coach,” Temple athletic director Arthur Johnson said in a release. “The past two seasons have not been easy with the challenges of the pandemic. I want to thank Rod for staying committed to our student-athletes and wish him and his family well in their next chapter.”

Assistant coach Thad Ward was named the Owls’ interim head coach.

Carey, 50, went to Philadelphia after leading Northern Illinois to a 52-30 record from 2012-18.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Temple Owls quarterback D'Wan Mathis (18) looks over at the sidelines during the first half against the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Temple tries to snap five-game skid, ruin Tulsa’s senior day

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Temple will hope to avoid a sixth consecutive loss when it battles host Tulsa on Saturday.

The Owls (3-7, 1-5 American Athletic Conference) last won 34-31 against Memphis on Oct. 2. Since then, they’ve been outscored by a whopping 217-35.

Temple has been besieged by injuries and has continued to play a bevy of freshmen.

“I feel like we have a good, young nucleus,” Temple head coach Rod Carey said. “They’re on their way to being experienced.”

The Owls’ most recent defeat came against No. 24 Houston, falling 37-8 last Saturday.

Once again, they will have some uncertainty at quarterback going into this road matchup. D’Wan Mathis has been struggling with a couple of nagging injuries and it’s unclear whether he’ll start. Justin Lynch is also a strong possibility.

“I know there’s improvement,” Carey said of Mathis’ health. “I don’t know the extent of that improvement.”

The Owls don’t have much to play for except to carry positive momentum over into the offseason. But don’t tell that to Carey with all the hard work the senior leaders have put in to the program.

“We have a good group of seniors that are fully engaged and competing,” he said.

Tulsa will look to keep its postseason bowl hopes alive with a win over Temple. Tulsa also has one final regular-season game against Southern Methodist and could finish 6-6 to potentially qualify for a bowl.

The Golden Hurricane (4-6, 3-3) put themselves in position to inch closer to bowl contention with a thrilling 20-13 win in overtime over Tulane last Saturday.

Justin Wright played a large role in the victory with 12 tackles on his way to being named AAC Defensive Player of the Week.

While Tulsa looks to be favored over the reeling Owls, nothing is guaranteed.

“It’s college football,” Tulsa’s Jaxon Player said. “You can’t base (an opinion of) anybody off their record. Everybody shows up on Saturday.”

Tulsa will be facing Temple for the first time since 2018.

Since this will be the final home game for the Golden Hurricane, especially their 23 seniors, they hope to come out with extra intensity. Especially if they want to keep their bowl hopes alive.

“We’ve been in a lot of tight ballgames. We’ve won a few. We’ve lost a few,” Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery said. “All of our intentions are on the next game. All of our focus is on Temple. To have control of our destiny is a good thing.”

–Field Level Media