For the first time since 2019, the Temple Owls are 2-0 after defeating FCS foe Howard University 55-7 in the home-opener at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday.
In addition, this is the first time Temple has won two straight games since 2021.
Temple quarterback Evan Simon, who threw a career-high six touchdown passes last week in the team’s win over UMass and won the American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, continued to shine with another stellar performance against Howard.
The redshirt senior completed 8-of-10 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Simon threw touchdown passes of 24, eight, and four yards, all in the first half. Simon gave way to Gevani McCoy midway through the third quarter, and McCoy finished the game, completing 6-of-6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Simon was solid, but Temple really dominated Howard at the line of scrimmage. The Owls rushed for an impressive 329 yards. Running back Jay Ducker led the way with a stellar 87 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Smith added a solid 80 yards and a touchdown, and Terrez Worthy chipped in with 58 yards and a touchdown.
Temple did what they were supposed to do against Howard, which is not a surprise. Now, K.C. Keeler’s squad will face a significant challenge next week when they host the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. These two teams clashed last season in Norman, and Oklahoma dominated Temple 51-3. This upcoming game is a chance for Temple to show how much they’ve improved since then.
We’ll see what happens this time around, but no matter who you play, winning breeds confidence, and Temple should have some confidence after the first two weeks of the season.
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