Temple not taking Delaware State lightly

Temple (1-1) wasn't entertaining too much talk this past week about the possibility that it might overlook Delaware State (0-3) on Saturday.

Returning to action following their first of three bye weeks this season, Temple will host Football Championship Subdivision Delaware State at Lincoln Financial Field. And while some have attempted to paint this meeting between the Owls and the Middle Eastern Athletic Conference opponent as an easy win, Temple coach Matt Rhule is not buying into it.

"We understood it as coaches because many of us coached at FCS schools," Rhule, referring to his coaching staff, said. "But I don't think a lot of our kids understood it until they stood on the sideline last year and watched Fordham beat us. For the players to go through it last year, I think that has given them the sense of urgency to concentrate on this opponent."

The Owls are 90-85-11 all time vs. FBS schools. Their most recent game against an FBS school saw them yield 200 yards rushing and a 29-yard touchdown pass in the final four seconds in a crushing 30-29 loss to Army just over one year ago.

Delaware State, however, does not appear to present the same type of threat that Fordham, which went 12-2 and reached the FCS quarterfinals in 2013.

Following a 21-7 loss to Towson State last weekend, the Hornets have been outscored, 100-37, in three games. However, Rhule is cautious because in their loss to Towson, last season's FCS runner-up, Delaware State led in the fourth quarter before allowing a pair of special teams' touchdowns.

Milton Williams, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver is the Hornets best weapon. The 2013 all-MEAC selection leads a big and physical group of receivers with 15 receptions for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

On the other side, Aris Scott, a 6-2, 210-pound receiver out of Harrisburg that Temple and other Division I programs recruited, is another physical receiver that Delaware will try to get involved in a passing game that has been subpar this season.

When: Saturday at 1 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Financial Field

Records: Delaware State (0-3, 0-0 MEAC); Temple (1-1, 0-0) American Athletic Conference.

TV/Radio: ESPN3; 97.5 FM The Phanatic.

Coaches: Delaware State, Kermit Blount (fourth season, 14-22, 105-109-3 overall); Temple, Matt Rhule (second season, 3-11).

Series: This is the first meeting between the schools.

Three Things to Watch

Quarterback P.J. Walker has been nursing a high ankle sprain suffered against Navy. It will be interesting to see if this restricts his movement in the pocket.

Rhule was disappointed in the running attack. With Zaire Williams on the shelf with a back injury, look for Jahad Thomas and Jamie Gilmore to get more opportunities running the football.

The Hornets have a pair of big receivers. Keep an eye on 6-foot-3, 200-pounder Milton Williams.

Three Things You Might Not Know

Temple is undefeated against MEAC teams, having beaten Florida A&M, 38-7 (Sept. 18, 2004), and Howard, 40-0 (Sept. 28, 1991).

Temple is coming off a bye week. The Owls have three bye weeks this season, two of them coming in their first five games.

The tri-state area (Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey) has been rough on Temple. Temple is 26-45 against teams from the area. - John N. Mitchell

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@JmitchInquirer