Notre Dame a tall order for unbeaten Temple

When No. 9 Notre Dame (6-1) visits No. 21 Temple (7-0) in Saturday's 8 pm. sold-out game at Lincoln Financial Field, the host Owls will have plenty to worry about. There is a mammoth offensive line, and a truck of a running back in C.J. Prosise, who is averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

Couple that with explosive wide receiver Will Fuller, who is averaging 21.94 yards per catch, and it's easy to see why the Fighting Irish are so feared on offense.

The Owls, who are 7-0 for the first time in school history, will have to deal with a Notre Dame defense that includes menacing linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has a team-high 56 tackles, and immovable defensive tackle Sheldon Day, with a team-high eight tackles for loss.

Yet for the superstitious sort, Temple's biggest obstacle may be the calendar.

For all the crazy pregame statistics here is one treat for Halloween - Notre Dame is 15-0 lifetime when playing on Oct. 31.

Notre Dame's closest call on Halloween was a 25-22 win over Navy in 1959. The Notre Dame coach was Joe Kuharich, who later had one winning season in five less than distinguished years coaching the Eagles and inspired chants of "Joe Must Go" during a 2-12 campaign in 1968. Navy was guided by Wayne Hardin, who would later go 80-52-3 at Temple's head coach.

This game should come down to which of the teams' strengths is stronger - Temple's defense or Notre Dame's offense.

Temple is eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 14.6 points per game. Notre Dame is 18th in scoring offense, averaging 38.3 points.

During last week's 24-14 win over East Carolina, Temple pitched a second-half shutout for the fourth time this season. Temple has allowed just 29 second-half points all season.

Linebacker Tyler Matakevich is a tackling machine with 420 for his career, including 65 this year. Defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis has been playing at a high level, often occupying two blockers so Matakevich and fellow linebacker Jarred Alwan can clean up on ball carriers. Defensive end Nate D. Smith has 6.5 sacks. Corners Tavon Young and Sean Chandler have stood tall in coverage.

"It's an outstanding defense," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said of Temple. "They do everything well."

Of course the defense will be seriously tested by Fuller, the 6-foot, 184-pound junior. A product of Roman Catholic, Fuller hasn't hidden his excitement about his homecoming this week. He has 32 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns.

"I don't know if anybody can slow down Will Fuller," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "It is every game you see him open."

The Owls respect Fuller's ability, but they also have confidence in their own.

"We know he is a good receiver, really fast, but we have to go out and play our game," said Chandler, the sophomore from Camden, who has two interceptions, one that he took back for a touchdown.

And with a relatively inexperienced quarterback in sophomore DeShone Kizer, who stepped in when Malik Zaire suffered a season-ending broken ankle in the second game, Notre Dame has relied on its rushing attack.

Senior C.J. Prosise (6-01/2, 220) has rushed for 922 yards (7.1 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He has helped the Irish average 234.6 yards rushing per game, 15th nationally.

A main reason for the offense's high production is the offensive line. According to Notre Dame, its starters average 6-5.6 inches and 313.2 pounds.

The line consists of senior left tackle Ronnie Stanley (6-51/2, 315 pounds), sophomore left guard Quenton Nelson (6-4, 314), graduate school center Nick Martin (6-41/2, 301), right guard Steve Elmer (6-51/2, 315) and right tackle Mike McGlinchey (6-71/2, 310)

A Penn Charter graduate, McGlinchey joins Fuller and freshman running back Josh Adams (Central Bucks South) as the local players returning home for this game.

Temple's offense, will no doubt have to produce, but the defense has often kept the Owls in games until the offense has gotten on track.

And Temple's defense will have to continue its mastery if the Owls look to pull the upset and finally wreck Notre Dame's Halloween bonanza.

mjensen@phillynews.com

@jensenoffcampus