Temple Notes: Defense puts points on the board again
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Temple continued its streak of scoring either a defensive or special teams touchdown on Saturday, this time notching two more defensive touchdowns in their 36-10 win over Connecticut.
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Temple continued its streak of scoring either a defensive or special teams touchdown on Saturday, this time notching two more defensive touchdowns in their 36-10 win over Connecticut.
The first when cornerback back Tavon Young intercepted Chandler Whitmer at the Temple 7 and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown with 6 minutes, 23 second to play in the first quarter.
But the Owls weren't done.
They got another defensive touchdown in the third quarter when Praise Martin-Oguike recovered a fumble and scored.
The Owls even recorded their first safety of the season, when Tyler Matakevich sacked Whitmer in the end zone.
"You never get tired of that," Owls defensive coordinator Phil Snow said. "I just think that guys have finally gotten to the point where they are not reacting and they are just going out and doing. It's the same defense, same schemes that we ran last season. They just understand them so much better."
Thompson debut
Before the Owls travelled to Connecticut, coach Matt Rhule indicated that Florida transfer tight end Colin Thompson might see some game action on Saturday but most likely would make his debut on Oct. 11 vs. Tulane.
But Rhule put Thompson, an Archbishop Wood product, in the game for a few snaps against the Huskies.
Davis moves up
UConn is in rebuilding mode under new coach Bob Diaco.
However, their top player, receiver Geremy Davis, is a good one. Davis finished the game with eight catches for 80 yards. He was lined up mostly against freshman corner Sean Chandler, a matchup Rhule briefly talked about.
Chandler "got the chance to face one of the best receivers in the league, and he did a good job," Rhule said. "He won some, and he lost some. It's just going to make him a better player in the future."
Davis has 146 career catches, seventh all-time at UConn.
Herbin struggles
One week after he returned a punt 84 yards for his first career touchdown, Khalif Herbin had a tough time returning kicks on Saturday. He fumbled a punt in the second quarter that gave the UConn possession at the Temple 17.
He dodged a bullet at the start of the second half, when a UConn penalty nullified what would have been a fumble recovery for a touchdown on the second-half kickoff.
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