Temple's Walker surpasses 10,000 yards passing
It was another milestone for Temple quarterback Phillip Walker during his final home game. Walker became the first Temple quarterback to reach the 10,000-yard passing mark in the first half against East Carolina on Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
It was another milestone for Temple quarterback Phillip Walker during his final home game. Walker became the first Temple quarterback to reach the 10,000-yard passing mark in the first half against East Carolina on Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Walker needed 86 yards to reach the milestone. He went over 10,000 on a 6-yard completion to Adonis Jennings in the second quarter. That gave Walker 10,005 yards.
Walker was already well ahead of the second player on the list, Henry Burris, who threw for 7,495 yards from 1993 to 1996.
Senior night
Temple had 17 seniors playing their final home game, who were introduced before the regular- season finale. They are linebackers Jarred Alwan, Stephaun Marshall, and Avery Williams; tackle Dion Dawkins; tight end/defensive end Romond Deloatch; defensive linemen Avery Ellis and Averee Robinson; cornerback Nate Hairston; safety Khiry Lucas; center Brendan McGowan; tight ends Colin Thompson and Jake O'Donnell; defensive ends Haason Reddick and Praise Martin-Oguike; safety Nate L. Smith; running back Jahad Thomas; and Walker. Two redshirt juniors who don't intend to return next year were also introduced, receiver/holder Tom Bradway and offensive lineman Semaj Reed.
Ali returns
Redshirt freshman cornerback Kareem Ali, who suffered an upper-body injury in the second game of the season, against Stony Brook, was available for action against East Carolina. Temple has been depleted at safety and Ali also provides depth at that position.
One of the safeties, redshirt senior Nate L. Smith of Archbishop Wood, suffered an injury in last week's 31-0 win at Tulane and wasn't available.
A product of South Jersey power Timber Creek, Ali saw action in one game last season, against Cincinnati, but it was his only playing time and he ended up redshirting.
Another record
East Carolina receiver Zay Jones entered the game with 392 career receptions, the most in Football Bowl Subdivision history.
Jones added another record in the first half. With five receptions (for 46 yards) he set a single-season FBS mark with 156 receptions.
That broke the record of 155 set by Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green in 2009. Barnes played in 13 games. This was Jones' 12th and final game of the season. He also caught at least one pass in his final 47 games.