Temple Facing Tough Task Saturday vs. East Carolina
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- After two straight losses, the Temple Owls will look to get back on track on Saturday, but it won't be easy as they host #21 East Carolina at the Linc.
The Owls lost on the road at Central Florida this past Saturday, 34-14. Temple got down 17-0 in the first quarter and never recovered.
"It was disappointing for us to spot them those points early on," Temple head coach Matt Rhule tells KYW Newsradio. "I was proud of the guys, I thought they played tough down the stretch, we had our chances to get back in the game, blocked a couple punts, had the ball inside the five, and just weren't able to get it done."
Listen to the whole interview with Temple's Matt Rhule
The Owls offense struggled against the Knights. Temple finished with just 10 first downs and 182 yards of offense. Quarterback P.J. Walker completed 15 of 26 passes, but for just 111 yards. He did throw a touchdown, but he was also intercepted twice. Walker shared time under center in this one with back-up signal caller Connor Reilly, who went 4 of 9 for 25 yards and an interception.
"P.J., he rolled his ankle early in the game and just didn't look comfortable," Rhule says. "And Connor's done everything we've asked. So I gave him a chance to go out there and show what he could do and give P.J. a couple series just to kind of relax, let the game come to him. I thought as (P.J.) went back out there down the stretch, he made enough plays to show that he definitely is our guy."
The Owls now focus on an East Carolina team that is 6-1 (3-0 in the AAC). Their offense is led by a senior quarterback named Shane Carden. He has thrown for 2,574 yards and 18 touchdowns.
"They're one of the most prolific offenses in the country," Rhule says. "Shane's a tremendous, tremendous player and then they have skill all over the place. They play as hard as anyone you'll see and they are one of those really fast, no-huddle teams. They fly up and down the field."
Carden and the East Carolina offense averages just under 40 points a game. The defense allows 23.4 per contest.
"They're extremely big up front," Rhule says. "They're a 3-4 defense. They have a couple nose tackles that are in the 350 (pound) range, couple of defensive ends in the 300 (pound) range. They're just a complete and total team. They play well together, their styles fit each other. They'll be one heck of a test for us."
Saturday's game at the Linc will kick-off at noon.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
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