Temple demonstrated once again that they like to sleep walk in the first quarter of games and opened their first offensive possession with a fumble by Ryquell Armstead. Freshman Ryquell Armstead got the start at tailback for Temple due to Jahad Thomas being late to a team function. Tulane would turn that turnover into three points, but Temple would respond right away with a 22-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Walker’s favorite target, Robby Anderson. Temple played sloppy in the first half with two lost fumbles after putting the ball on the ground a total of six times, but were fortunate enough to escape with minimum damage. Freshman tailback Ryquell Armstead didn’t let the early fumble damper his game and he would finish with two rushing touchdowns. Jahad Thomas did see the field for Temple, but couldn’t find much daylight running the ball. Thomas did have a rushing and receiving touchdown becoming the first Temple player since Kenny Harper last year to record one of each P.J. Walker had one of his best games of the year completing 11 of 15 passes for 183 yards(12.2 yards per attempt) and two touchdown passes.
The biggest story of the game was the Temple defense, who held Tulane scoreless after the Green Wave had the touchdown pass early in the second quarter. The front four were relentless all game long and Tulane had no answer for it. They were able sack Tanner Lee four times and held him to 95 yards passing. Temple also picked off Lee twice, with one of those interceptions being a pick-six by Sean Chandler. Tulane couldn’t get anything going in the second half and they weren’t helped by the fact Temple held them to eight yards rushing. It was total domination by Temple, which was to be expected.
The 49-10 win gives Temple its first 5-0 start since 1974 and they are clearly the best football team in Philadelphia, sorry Eagles. The Owls brought in their largest non-Penn State crowd with an attendance of 35,179, which is encouraging for the team and university. Also Matt Rhule gained his 13th win at Temple that ties him for 10th on Temple’s all-time list with Steve Addazio among others. Temple will be back at the Linc next Saturday night to take on the 0-6 Knights of Central Florida in hopes of keeping their dream season alive.
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