American Conference/ Ben Solomon

Football

Game Preview: Temple, USF Clash Thursday In Key East Division Matchup

TEMPLE at USF
Thursday, Sept. 21 • 7:30 p.m. • ESPN
Raymond James Stadium (65,857/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida



Television
ESPN
Dave Flemming, Joey Galloway, Booger McFarland and Laura Rutledge

Radio
WPEN-FM 97.5 (Temple) • WWBA-AM 820 (USF)
SiriusXM 84 (Temple feed)

THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the fourth meeting between Temple and USF … The home team has won each of the last three meetings as Temple holds a 2-1 series lead … Last year’s matchup saw Temple RB Ryquell Armstead spring touchdown runs of 76 and 42 yards in the Owls’ 46-30 win in Philadelphia.
TEMPLE
2-1, 0-0 American

Head Coach

Geoff Collins (Western Carolina ’94)
2-1, first season

Notes
Temple has won back-to-back games after the Owls scored a 29-21 win against Massachusetts … That win came on the heels of a 16-13 decision against Villanova and a season-opening 49-16 setback at Notre Dame … Temple has averaged 356.7 yards of offense, but has allowed 488.7 yards per game … The offense is led by QB Logan Marchi, who has completed 61 of 106 passes for 767 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in his first year as the starter … WR Keith Kirkwood has 12 catches for 185 yards and two TDs to lead the receivers … RB Ryquell Armstead has rushed for 177 yards on 48 carries … The defense has registered 14 sacks and has forced six fumbles in three games … DE Quincy Roche, a redshirt freshman, has team highs of 4.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for losss.

21/17 USF
3-0, 0-0 American

Head Coach

Charlie Strong (Central Arkansas ’82)
3-0, first season at USF
55-37, eighth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
USF takes an eight-game winning streak into its conference opener after the Bulls took a 47-23 victory against Illinois … The win gave head coach Charlie Strong a combined 15-1 record as an American Athletic Conference coach … USF has been outscored 25-16 in the first quarter this season, but has outscored its opponents by a 104-37 margin after the first 15 minutes, including a 31-0 margin in the third quarter … QB Quinton Flowers has completed 45 of 82 passes for 678 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 243 yards and two TDs … RB Darius Tice has a team-high 256 rushing yards with four touchdowns, while RB D’Ernest Johnson has 215 yards and two TDs … WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has 14 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns.