Temple smashes Delaware State, 59-0

Having felt the pangs of losing an embarrassing home game to what was believed to be a lesser opponent last year, the Temple Owls wanted to play as complete a game as they could on Saturday to set the table for play in the American Athletic Conference.

It turned out a full game wasn't needed.

The Owls scored 49 points by halftime in a 59-0 destruction of overmatched Delaware State (0-4) in front of an announced crowd of 19,202 at Lincoln Financial Field.

The 59-point victory was the largest by the Owls in the modern era of college football (since 1971). Prior to Saturday's game - which saw the Owls (2-1) lead by 21-0 midway through the first quarter despite running just two offensive plays - Temple's largest win was a 56-0 victory over Holy Cross in 1974.

It also marked the Owls' first shutout since they blanked Ball State (42-0) and Buffalo (34-0) in back-to-back victories in October 2011.

"I was really proud of our football team, because for the first time in a long time we didn't rise or lower our level of expectations based upon who we played against," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "I thought they came out right from the beginning. I thought it was really a good step for us to come out strong against an opponent I thought we should play well against."

Rhule was speaking with the memory of last season's home loss to Fordham, an FCS team. In that game, Fordham gouged the Owls for 200 yards rushing and held off a late Temple rally.

However, where that game ended with Temple's offense unable to make plays, the defense and special teams made Saturday's offensive problems a secondary story.

Rhule's wasn't pleased with a pair of P.J. Walker interceptions, one with the Owls up 28 at the end of the first quarter, the second with the Owls leading by 42-0 midway through the second quarter. Playing with a high ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago against Navy, Walker was 10 for 14 for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't play in the second half.

"I've just got to learn from my mistakes," said the sophomore quarterback. "We got a big lift from the defense today."

The Owls rushed for 172 yards. Freshman David Hood led the way, gaining all of his 62 yards on eight carries in the fourth quarter.

For the second game in a row, defensive end Sharif Finch scored a touchdown, picking off a pass and returning it 65 yards to give the Owls a 42-0 lead with 10 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The two special-teams scores came earlier. The first was on a blocked punt by Sam Benjamin that Artrel Foster scooped up and took 15 yards into the end zone for the Owls' first score with 11:49 to go in the first quarter. After the first of running back Kenneth Harper's two touchdowns, wide receiver Khalif Herbin's 84-yard punt return gave the Owls a 21-0 lead with 6:18 left in the first.