The tailgate packed with fans, and the student section filled in what many were hoping to be a close game as fans returned to a full capacity Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in two years. However, the game didn’t go to plan at all for Coach Carey and the Owls as the Boston College Eagles had their way on the field
Game Recap
First-quarter saw a special teams miscue that led to Boston College running back Travis Lavy to a great kickoff return all the way to the Owls 29-yard line. Eagles quickly scored putting the Owls on the back foot early. Temple’s defense stepped up in key moments with a big interception by junior Keyshawn Paul and sack by graduate Manny Walker. The Owls offense was unable to capitalize on the chances.
The remainder of the first half saw the Eagles continue to run the football inside wearing down the defense. Boston College graduate running back Travis Lavy and sophomore running back Pat Garwo III each rushed into the endzone putting Temple in a big 21-0 hole at halftime.
After a miserable first half, the offense showed some signs of life. True freshman quarterback Justin Lynch only had 7 passing yards in the first half was able to open with a few good passes on a nice long drive. However, the Owls would come up empty-handed after failing to convert on 4th down in the Eagle’s RedZone.
Fourth-quarter saw much of the same story with Temple unable to capitalize on key moments. The Owls were just one of four on 4th down and three of fourteen on 3rd down. Discipline also became a key issue with a total of eleven penalties called on the Owls compared to just two on the Eagles. After a key miss on 3rd down by Lynch, the Owls settled for a field goal to prevent getting shut out.
Temple was unable to score anything more, losing to the Eagles, 28-3.
Reaction & Analysis
“All the penalties & key situational football failures led to that,” Rod Carey started his post-game press conference with that. “No one was playing the ball well offensively in the first half,”
The Owls just had 58 yards rushing and 7 yards passing on the offensive side in the first half. The offense saw a similarly slow start against Rutgers with back-to-back-to-back turnovers.
True freshman Justin Lynch got a lot of attention especially given his poor first half. Lynch has been the starting quarterback since D’Wan Mathis went down against Rutgers.
“His mechanics were all over, he said he was fine and he wasn’t and he was rushing things,” said Carey “nerves, jitters, first time at home, I don’t know.”
“He’s a true freshman, you feel me?” said senior wide receiver Jadan Blue. “He did as much as he could so I am not upset at him at all. We would have loved for him to stay in the pocket and throw that thing thirty yards but it didn’t happen like that,”
D’Wan Mathis according to Coach Carey in Monday’s press conference is still considered day-to-day and his start this weekend against Wagner would be based on his pain tolerance.
The defense, despite giving up 28 points, made several good plays holding Boston College to its lowest yard total of the season with only 221 total yards. Eagle’s quarterback Dennis Grosel was only 3 for 11 after the first drive for the rest of the game.
Next Game
The Owls sit in the middle of a three-game homestand will host Wagner for their last non-conference game of the season. Kickoff at Noon with coverage on ESPN+.
Be the first to comment