Temple runs all over Rhode Island in an impressive season-opening performance at the Linc
Owls runningback Keveun Mason ran roughshod over Rhode Island's defense, while Temple's defense accounted for three turnovers.
Temple kicked off its much-anticipated 2026 season on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. While many of the program’s burning questions remain unanswered, the Owls still delivered a strong performance in nearly every facet of the game to fuel a 38-14 win over FCS opponent Rhode Island.
Temple paired balanced production from both quarterback contenders with a breakout performance in the backfield, while its defense stymied the defending Coastal Athletic Association champions in the second half.
“We did a really good job at keeping them down in the second half,” Owls coach K.C. Keeler said. “We held them to a second-half shutout, and I’m happy with a lot of parts of this performance.”
The quarterback rotation
After an offseason of speculation about which quarterback would take the field first for Temple, K.C. Keeler went with both — Jaxon Smolik at quarterback and Ajani Sheppard at running back.
Smolik shuffled the ball to Sheppard, who made the on-the-run throw to Colin Chase, who took it 21 yards.
That set up a 19-yard run from Keveun Mason, which was followed up by an 18-yard strike from Smolik to Jayce Freeman, putting the Owls up, 7-0, with not even three minutes gone by in the first quarter.
The Owls would score twice more in the half, while Smolik had control on all three scoring drives in the first half.
Both Sheppard-led drives in the first half ended with punts, while Smolik’s inaugural drive of the second was thwarted when the Penn State transfer fumbled trying to escape a sack.
“It’s an ongoing competition,” said Keeler. “It would be a disservice to those guys for me to name anyone right now. That’s [offensive coordinator] Tyler [Walker’s] job, and he’s handling that.”
Sheppard went on to lead the Owls’ only scoring drive of the second half.
Defensive tone
Since the onset of spring camp, offensive and defensive coaches alike have praised Temple’s defense at every chance.
The Owls’ defense backed up that praise at every level in their first opportunity of the season. After letting up a touchdown on Rhode Island’s opening drive, Temple forced two punts and saw true sophomore Jamarcus Pierre take a 35-yard interception into the end zone, making it 17-7 Temple.
The second half began with three consecutive drives of four plays or less while Tyree Alualu put an end to the Rams’ first drive of the half with any promise when he gave Temple its second pick-six of the day, taking the score back 63 yards and compounding things to make the score 38-14 Temple.
The defense finished its day with three turnovers.
Second-team walk-on linebacker Reggie Jones, who has grown a social media following for his series, “Road to One Tackle,” got in on the defensive festivities as well and recorded his first career tackle, taking down Rams wideout Marquise Buchanan on a short crossing route midway through the fourth quarter.
The Keveun Mason game
Projected first-team runningback Sam Brown sat out of the Owls’ opening game despite being a full participant in team warm-ups, paving the way for Keveun Mason to receive the bulk of the snaps.
Mason carried the ball 20 times for the Owls and broke off a couple of big runs early in the game before punching his first score of the year in from one yard out to give Temple a 24-14 halftime lead just before time expired.
Mason added another score in the second half, running through a couple of defenders to find the end zone and make it 31-14 Owls. He’d finish the day with 158 yards and two scores.
Up next
Temple will prep for its much-anticipated home matchup with Penn State when the Nittany Lions visit South Philadelphia on Sept. 12 (12 p.m., ESPN2).
