Temple Soccer obtained blown out 45-14 towards East Carolina and its remaining schedule will make qualifying for a bowl recreation tough.
Temple had the possibility to bury the final half-decade’s lows previously towards East Carolina on Saturday. A win towards the Pirates would have given the Owls their first bowl recreation look since 2019.
The Pirates entered the sport with 16 days of relaxation and the finest scoring protection within the American Convention, making a win removed from a assure. After 60 minutes of soccer, the potential of reaching a bowl recreation 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 probability they had. The outcome was a 45-14 thrashing that left the Owls in disarray strolling again to the locker room.
The loss is much from the finish of Temple’s season because it nonetheless has three extra possibilities to succeed in bowl eligibility. Nevertheless, the Owls’ subsequent three video games usually are not straightforward and their flaws on either side of the sector will preserve resurfacing.
“[East Carolina] completely out-physicaled us all over the place although: offense, protection and particular groups,” stated head coach Okay.C. Keeler. “That’s disappointing, however at the identical time, that’s a very good soccer group. That’s a mature group.”
Temple was not imagined to be in place to qualify for a bowl recreation on the starting of the season. Keeler inherited a program that wandered by means of an abyss of disappointment and underperformance. It was anticipated to take time to construct a program to the extent they had been at when Faculty Gameday visited Philadelphia in 2015.
As an alternative, Keeler resurrected the Owls and has given followers optimism. There has been a constructive vibe across the group, 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, essentially 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 resulting from 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 issues towards the Pirates. Even although it had been rolling, the Pirates’ protection solely permits 17 factors per recreation and outmatched them. Quarterback Evan Simon performed his worst recreation of the 12 months, throwing his first interception and continually trying uncomfortable within the pocket with off goal throws. He practically threw two extra interceptions.
Temple’s may have one other alternative to make a bowl recreation towards Military on Nov. 8. Whereas the Black Knights’ 2-3 convention file is just not eye-catching, they’ve instruments to simply exploit the Owls’ weak rush protection.
Military runs the triple-option offense, which focuses virtually 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 recreation with 265. The Owls should repair their points towards the run earlier than taking over one of many high rush offenses within the nation.
“We simply obtained to take satisfaction in first and second down,” stated defensive deal with Allan Haye. “We obtained 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 obtained to verify the offense stays off schedule so we are able to be capable of cease the run and get our cross 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 recreation. Their protection will likely be trigger for concern for an Owls offense that had their wings clipped towards one other high protection within the convention.
The Owls’ two video games after Military are arguably their hardest convention checks. 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 file 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 group that’s vying for the convention championship. The Imply Inexperienced boast one of essentially the most prolific offenses within the nation, averaging 44 factors per recreation, which is second within the FBS. They’re handiest within the passing recreation, the place quarterback Drew Mestemaker leads the convention in passing yards, touchdowns and yards per recreation.
Temple has the power to win any of these ultimate three contests for a bowl recreation, however all of them current vital challenges. The Owls’ defensive flaws and new offensive issues had been evident towards ECU on Saturday. Military, Tulane and North Texas can additional expose these troubles, which may forestall Temple from going bowling.
“My message to the group was easy,” Keeler stated. “We misplaced to a very good soccer group. We didn’t play our greatest soccer.
Do me a favor, I’ve performed it is a very long time, look [inward] first, not [outward.] We’re an in depth group, so I feel they’ll do this. I don’t suppose they’ll panic over this.”
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