Temple has a record-setting day in monster win over conference foe South Florida
The Owls earned its first conference win of the season in their offensive performance of the season
It was not only a win, but a record-setting one for several players.
In Temple’s 54-28 dismantling of South Florida, the Owls not only earned their first American Athletic Conference win this season, but also had their first 50-point performance since a 2019 victory over Bucknell.
“This really does feel good for them to get a win to top off some of the hard work that they’ve been embracing,” said Temple coach Stan Drayton. “This proves that they’re buying in.”
Owls freshman quarterback E.J. Warner had his first 300-yard passing game as he finished with 344 yards on 27-for-36 passing with two touchdowns, while sophomore Edward Saydee had his first 200-yard rushing game.
It marked the first game since a 2020 loss at Memphis that the Owls (3-6, 1-4 The American) had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard receiver (wide receiver Jose Barbon finished with 103 yards and a touchdown), and 100-yard rusher.
Camden Price, a graduate transfer from Miami, had Temple’s first four field goal game since current Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus did it in a 2010 win against Villanova.
What we saw
Temple’s offense struggles mostly due to its inconsistent offensive line. The Owls started their ninth different line combination in nine games. In an effort to make life easier on the unit, Owls offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf went with a no-huddle approach.
Edward Saydee gained 334 all-purpose yards — the fourth-most in Temple history — with three touchdowns. His 265 rushing yards on 24 carries were the fifth-most in Temple history.
“It’s been a shuffling of the deck on the offensive line all year round,” Drayton said. “Those guys don’t provide excuses for themselves so we don’t provide excuses for them.”
Aside from safety Alex Odom’s second-quarter interception and two tackles for loss, Temple’s secondary took a step back. South Florida receiver Xavier Weaver moved all around the field, exploiting Temple for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Temple also struggled to stop the run, allowing 281 rushing yards.
Breakthrough performance
Saydee had the best performance of his career. The redshirt sophomore ran for 104 yards on 14 carries in the first half alone. He followed that up with a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. It was Temple’s longest touchdown run since Ryquell Armstead went for 75 yards in a 2018 game at Boston College.
On the next drive, he broke several tackles en route to a 40-yard touchdown that put him up to 227 yards . It was the first 200-plus rushing performance by an Owl since Armstead’s 210-yard effort against Houston in 2018. A 61-yard screen in the third quarter was the longest reception of Saydee’s career as he finished with a career-high 69 yards receiving.
“When your name is called, you’ve got to answer every time,” Saydee said. “I feel great. It didn’t hit me yet, but I know it will later.”
Key takeaway
It’s been a rough season for Temple, but that doesn’t make them the conference’s worst team. While the Owls just picked up their third win of the season, USF (1-8, 0-5) is stuck at one. The Bulls have just four victories in coach Jeff Scott’s three years on the job in addition to the worst scoring and total defense statistically in the conference.
While next-to-last isn’t something for a college football to aspire to, it does show Drayton can hang his hat on having as many wins in the first year of his rebuild as Rod Carey did to end his Temple career in 2021.
Up next
Temple travels to Houston on Saturday (2 p.m., ESPN+). The Cougars – who lost to Cincinnati in last year’s conference championship – beat the Owls, 37-8, at Lincoln Financial Field last year.