Temple to play Stony Brook without several injured players
Temple football coach Matt Rhule said that tight end Colin Thompson and defensive end Jacob Martin likely won't play in Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Lincoln Financial Field against Stony Brook.
Temple football coach Matt Rhule said that tight end Colin Thompson and defensive end Jacob Martin likely won't play in Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Lincoln Financial Field against Stony Brook.
Both suffered undisclosed injuries during Friday's opening 28-13 loss to visiting Army.
"I doubt they will be available," Rhule said during Monday's American Athletic Conference call.
Rhule also indicated the injury status of wide receiver Keith Kirkwood is uncertain.
As for running back Jahad Thomas, who missed the opener with a dislocated thumb, Rhule said he won't play this week.
Rhule added that redshirt sophomore safety Jyquis Thomas, who has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, practiced on Monday.
Rhule also reiterated that he was disappointed that his team didn't show more toughness in Friday's game. But he said he was heartened by how willing the players were to put the loss behind them and get to work, and he cited a few defensive players who played well Friday.
Linebacker "Avery Williams played as good a game on defense as we have seen in a long time," Rhule said.
Williams had a team-highs with 12 tackles and 1 1/2 tackles for loss.
Rhule also mentioned senior nose tackle Averee Robinson and redshirt junior defensive lineman Julian Taylor. Robinson had eight tackles, and Taylor recorded five.
Stony Brook competes on the Football Championship Subdivision level. The Seawolves are coming off a 13-9 home win over North Dakota, which was ranked as high as No. 19 in last week's FCS polls.
Coach Chuck Priore said he is looking forward to making the trip for Saturday game. He was an assistant coach at Penn from 1992-1999 and is the brother of Ray Priore, Penn's second-year head coach.
"Visiting the stadium will be exciting, and it's challenging playing a top team at the FBS level," Priore said Monday.
Temple had trouble dealing with Army's blitzing defense, which sacked quarterback Phillip Walker four times. Rhule said he expects more of the same against Stony Brook. Senior defensive back Jaheem Woods, named the CAA defensive player of the week, is likely to lead that charge.
Woods had 11 tackles, five for loss, and three sacks against North Dakota.
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