Temple Football (0-1) is set to square off with the FCS-division Stony Brook Seawolves (1-0) on Saturday in another home matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls will look to bounce back, and retrieve their first win since November of 2016. The matchup is set to be the first ever meeting of the two teams.
Temple will come into the matchup after losing 5 starters to injury last week. Sitting out will be RB Jahad Thomas, WR’s Ventell Bryant & Keith Kirkwood, TE Colin Thompson, and DE Jacob Martin. Four of the five unable to play are from the offense, which couldn’t find a rhythm in their loss to Army, managing just 13 points.
QB Phillip Walker will have to throw to even less experience at wide receiver, after week 1 starters Bryant & Kirkwood were ruled out. Just leading receiver Marshall Ellick, and Broderick Nancy will return in week 2, which can pave the way for newcomers to make their marks. Keep your eye on #13, true freshman Isaiah Wright to get some game action this week.
On the other end, senior LB Avery Williams will look to rally a defense that allowed 329 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns a week ago. With the injury to DE Jacob Martin, the defense will be down just one starter. Stony Brook’s football program comes into the game with just one career win over an FBS (division 1) team in seven tries.
Stony Brook, featuring 8 players who have competed at the Division 1 level, got off to a hot start in 2016. The Seawolves managed to pull off an upset over #19 North Dakota State 13-9 last Thursday, without an offensive touchdown. In the defensive, slow-paced game Stony Brook’s only touchdown came when TE Cal Daniels fell on a lose ball in the end zone- sealing their first win against a ranked opponent in over two years.
Stony Brook finished the 2015 season with a 5-5 record against all non-FBS programs, as the top FCS defense in the country. Forcing the fewest opponent first downs, second most sacks, and fifth fewest opponent passing yards, the defense held opponents to under seven points per game in their five wins in 2015. Look for S Jaheem Woods, who jumpstarted the season with an outstanding 3-sack, 11-total tackle performance in the victory. Returning starting LB’s Shayne Lawless & Royce Tyrice Beverette also played well in the .
Matt Rhule as well as the rest of the Temple team is looking to put the opening loss behind them, and finish “1-0” every week for the rest of the season. Phillip Walker noted, “maybe we needed this game to make us realize what type of team we are.” Look for the Owl’s to come out with a chip on their shoulder on Saturday.
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