Temple Notes: Fitzpatrick, Young play well despite injuries
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - For two Owls who spent the week on the mend - receiver Jalen Fitzpatrick and cornerback Tavon Young - the game against Penn State was a good outing.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - For two Owls who spent the week on the mend - receiver Jalen Fitzpatrick and cornerback Tavon Young - the game against Penn State was a good outing.
Neither practiced much with injuries last week, but both made contributions during the Owls' 30-13 loss to the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Fitzpatrick, who injured his ankle in the third quarter of the Owls' previous loss, to Memphis, spent much of the week in a walking boot. However, the Owls' leading receiver had a strong game, finishing with four catches for 113 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown.
Young, who left the Memphis game with a head injury and, like Fitzpatrick, was a game-time decision, picked off Penn State's Christian Hackenberg for his team-leading fourth interception of the season.
Owls off again
Temple has its third bye week of the season this week and won't return to the field until Nov. 29, when it hosts Cincinnati at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls close the season one week later on the road at Tulane.
"We've got to finish strong, and that's what the next two games are about," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "This is a crucial test for us to see how we bounce back and finish strong. We've still got an opportunity against teams that are playing very well. We'll use this time to get healthy and finish hard."
The Owls (5-5) are one win from becoming bowl-eligible.
Rhule back at Penn St.
Rhule, who walked on as a linebacker at Penn State in 1994, gave a tip of the hat to former coach Joe Paterno after the game.
"I was affected and greatly influenced by Coach Paterno as a coach, and maybe that's why I'm disappointed now," Rhule said. "He taught us how to play the game the right way. I talk to Coach [Wayne] Harding, another mentor of mine, and he says the same thing."
Rhule said he was a little disappointed by some of his players' dancing and celebrating on the field during the game.
"It's not about dancing," Rhule continued. "It's about how you play. For us to do that in the second half, it bothered me."