Temple Soccer acquired blown out 45-14 towards East Carolina and its remaining schedule will make qualifying for a bowl sport tough.
Temple had the possibility to bury the final half-decade’s lows prior to now towards East Carolina on Saturday. A win towards the Pirates would have given the Owls their first bowl sport look since 2019.
The Pirates entered the sport with 16 days of relaxation and the greatest scoring protection within the American Convention, making a win removed from a assure. After 60 minutes of soccer, the potential for reaching a bowl sport felt additional than earlier than, as ECU beat down Temple in each facet.
The Pirates bottled up the Owls’ offense whereas exploiting their protection any likelihood they had. The outcome was a 45-14 thrashing that left the Owls in disarray strolling again to the locker room.
The loss is way from the finish of Temple’s season because it nonetheless has three extra probabilities to achieve bowl eligibility. Nonetheless, the Owls’ subsequent three video games aren’t simple and their flaws on either side of the sphere will hold resurfacing.
“[East Carolina] completely out-physicaled us all over the place although: offense, protection and particular groups,” mentioned head coach Okay.C. Keeler. “That’s disappointing, however at the identical time, that’s a superb soccer staff. That’s a mature staff.”
Temple was not alleged to be in place to qualify for a bowl sport on the starting of the season. Keeler inherited a program that wandered by an abyss of disappointment and underperformance. It was anticipated to take time to construct a program to the extent they had been at when School Gameday visited Philadelphia in 2015.
As a substitute, Keeler resurrected the Owls and has given followers optimism. There has been a constructive vibe across the staff, however points stay on the subject that had been evident once more towards ECU.
The Pirates ran circles round Temple’s protection for 358 yards on the floor, probably the most they have allowed this season. The Owls’ defensive woes have been within the highlight a number of instances, with equally poor performances towards Navy on Oct. 11 and Georgia Tech on Sept. 20, when it allowed 243 and 307 dashing yards, respectively.
The secondary was a problem towards Tulsa on Oct. 25, permitting 296 passing yards and these issues repeated towards the Pirates. The Owls had been down three secondary starters because of accidents and ECU quarterback Katin Houser took benefit. He dominated Temple’s depleted again line, finishing 19-24 passes for 254 yards and two landing passes.
The defensive struggles aren’t new, however the offense raised considerations towards the Pirates. Even although it had been rolling, the Pirates’ protection solely permits 17 factors per sport and outmatched them. Quarterback Evan Simon performed his worst sport of the yr, throwing his first interception and continuously trying uncomfortable within the pocket with off goal throws. He almost threw two extra interceptions.
Temple’s could have one other alternative to make a bowl sport towards Military on Nov. 8. Whereas the Black Knights’ 2-3 convention document shouldn’t be eye-catching, they’ve instruments to simply exploit the Owls’ weak rush protection.
Military runs the triple-option offense, which focuses nearly solely on operating the ball. The Black Knights lead the American in dashing makes an attempt with 490 and are second in dashing yards per sport with 265. The Owls should repair their points towards the run earlier than taking over one of many prime rush offenses within the nation.
“We simply acquired to take pleasure in first and second down,” mentioned defensive sort out Allan Haye. “We acquired to cease the run. We can’t cease operating if we can’t cease first or second down. We can’t let guys get 4 or 5 yards on first down. We acquired to ensure the offense stays off schedule so we are able to be capable of cease the run and get our move rush on the market on third down.”
The Black Knights additionally boast the third-best scoring protection within the convention, permitting simply 23 factors per sport. Their protection shall be trigger for concern for an Owls offense that had their wings clipped towards one other prime protection within the convention.
The Owls’ two video games after Military are arguably their hardest convention assessments. Temple has a bye week earlier than enjoying Tulane on Nov. 22. The Inexperienced Wave entered the season as one of many presumed favorites within the American and has lived as much as these expectations.
Tulane is tied for first within the American with a 3-1 convention document and is understood for its physicality within the trenches. The Owls struggled with ECU’s toughness and Tulane offers the identical hurdle.
Temple closes the common season towards a North Texas staff that’s vying for the convention championship. The Imply Inexperienced boast one of probably the most prolific offenses within the nation, averaging 44 factors per sport, which is second within the FBS. They’re simplest within the passing sport, the place quarterback Drew Mestemaker leads the convention in passing yards, touchdowns and yards per sport.
Temple has the flexibility to win any of these remaining three contests for a bowl sport, however all of them current important challenges. The Owls’ defensive flaws and new offensive considerations had been evident towards ECU on Saturday. Military, Tulane and North Texas can additional expose these troubles, which might forestall Temple from going bowling.
“My message to the staff was easy,” Keeler mentioned. “We misplaced to a superb soccer staff. We didn’t play our greatest soccer.
Do me a favor, I’ve completed this can be a very long time, look [inward] first, not [outward.] We’re an in depth staff, so I believe they’ll do this. I don’t assume they’ll panic over this.”
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