I respect the hell out of the men and women who serve this country. Let’s get that out of the way first. But when Army rolls into the Linc on Friday, I want Temple to give the Black Knights a long ride home with an L.
The Owls open American Conference play coming off a 49–48 overtime loss at Toledo, and I’m still trying to process that one. Temple led by 14 with under seven minutes left. Sam Brown had 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Ajani Sheppard answered Toledo’s overtime score with a touchdown run of his own. Then Temple went for two and the win, and the pass fell incomplete. I liked the gutsy call. I would’ve liked the result a whole lot more.
The encouraging part? Temple can run the ball. The Owls have gained at least 176 yards on the ground in each of their first three games and are averaging 221.3 rushing yards per game. Keep that going Friday. Give Brown room to work, let Sheppard use his legs when the opportunity is there, and finish the drives that get into scoring range. Against Army, every possession feels a little more valuable because those dudes can hold onto the ball forever.
And yeah, stopping Army’s run game is the whole damn assignment. The Black Knights are averaging 394 rushing yards per game, best in the country. They opened the season by running for 569 against Bryant, then put up 219 on the ground in a 28–24 loss to South Florida. Quarterback Cale Hellums can hurt you with his legs, and Army has other backs who can break a play open. Temple’s defense has to stay disciplined, make the first tackle, and keep a four-yard gain from turning into a drive that eats half a quarter.
That doesn’t mean the Owls can ignore the pass, either. Hellums threw two touchdowns against South Florida. If Temple sells out against the run and loses track of somebody downfield, Army has shown it can make them pay. Linebacker Curly Ordonez, who has led the Owls in tackles in all three games, figures to have a busy Friday.
Army has won four straight against Temple, including a 14–13 game last season. There’s your extra motivation. This is a home conference opener, and after the way Toledo ended, the Owls have a chance to show they can respond instead of letting one painful loss turn into two.
Respect Army? Absolutely. Salute the people who serve? Every time. But for three hours Friday afternoon, I’m rooting for Temple to tackle like hell, run the ball down Army’s throat, and finally snap that streak.
Give me an Owls win, Cuz.
Temple vs. Army kicks off Friday, September 25, at 4 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The game airs on ESPN.
-Jawn Kruk
Side Jawn Sports
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