The Temple Owls returned home on Friday to face the Army Black Knights in Temple’s American Conference opener after a tough loss to Toledo in overtime last Saturday.
Temple took a 17-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Army responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with quarterback Cale Hellums’ three-yard touchdown run, lifting the Black Knights (2-1, 1-1) to a 21-17 victory over the Owls (1-3, o-1) at Lincoln Financial Field.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved because of a conflict with an AC/DC concert at Lincoln Financial Field.
After defeating Rhode Island in the season opener, the Owls have now dropped three straight.
Hellums, who completed 3-of-6 passes for 36 yards, had 104 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns as Army rushed for 279 yards.
Temple had one final opportunity, but quarterback Ajani Sheppard’s fourth-down pass intended for Jayce Freeman was knocked away deep in Army territory.
Bottom Line:
The Owls will look back at this game as another missed opportunity. Temple amassed 459 total yards and rushed for 217 yards. Sheppard, in his first career start in place of the injured Jaxon Smolik (foot), hit on big plays in the passing game (11-of-20, 242 yards, two touchdowns). Running back Samuel Brown V produced 174 total yards, including 96 rushing yards and a 78-yard touchdown reception.
Sheppard has made a strong case to remain Temple’s starting quarterback after Smolik returns. The offense looks more dynamic and has greater big-play ability with Sheppard under center.
However, the defense couldn’t get off the field against Army. The Black Knights nearly doubled Temple in time of possession (38:21 to 21:59), and Army’s game-winning drive consumed much of the fourth quarter, keeping Temple’s offense off the field until late in the game.
After a great performance against Rhode Island and a respectable showing against Penn State, Temple’s defense has struggled over the last two weeks. That unit will have to be better going forward.
The Owls have to find ways to finish games. They couldn’t finish against Toledo, and they couldn’t finish against Army.
If Temple wants to be bowl-eligible this season, they’ll have to start finding ways to win these types of games. Losing to Penn State was understandable, but losing the last two was not.
Temple goes on the road next Saturday to face South Florida, while Army goes on the road to face Louisiana Tech.
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