Navy's triple option will test Temple

Having already handled their business late Thursday night in steamy Nashville, the Temple football team gathered Saturday one story above its practice field at Edberg-Olson Hall to take a look at their next opponent, Navy.

And while they were no doubt riding high after a season-opening 37-7 victory against Vanderbilt, it didn't take long for the Owls to realize that they have their work cut out for them if they hope to improve their record to 2-0 for the first time since 2010.

Navy (0-1), which joins the American Athletic Conference next season, wore down and eventually fell at home to No. 5 Ohio State, 34-17. But before it was over, the Owls watched the Midshipmen's lethal triple option fire off scoring drives of 75, 84, and 61 yards.

With dangerous dual-threat junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds orchestrating the offense, Navy rushed for 370 yards against an Ohio State defense whose front seven is one of the best in the country.

"We know that we have our work cut out for us trying to defend the triple option and trying to defend Keenan Reynolds," coach Matt Rhule said of the Owls, who limited Vanderbilt to 54 yards rushing in their lightning-delayed opener.

Last season, Reynolds set an NCAA record for quarterbacks with 31 rushing touchdowns and broke the Navy record for points in a season (188) that had stood since 1917. He rushed for 1,346 yards and completed 53.1 percent of his passes for another 1,057 yards and eight touchdowns.

The last time the Owls faced the triple option was last season against Army, a 33-14 victory that ended a six-game Temple losing streak. Army rushed for 255 yards.

"I think it is similar to what Army did. They just do it on a higher level," Rhule said. "It starts with their quarterback, and they have a really physical offensive line, more physical than anything we saw last season. They've just taken the option, and they have perfected it and mastered it."