Football Sinks ECU for First Conference Win, 34-10

Saturday, October 7

Greenville, NC

12:00 p.m. EST

Temple University

3-3 , 1-2

ECU

1-5 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Temple

ECU

Photo by: Karl Deblaker

Football Sinks ECU for First Conference Win, 34-10

10.7.17 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery - Game Action Video Highlights Geoff Collins Press Conference

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Highlighted by a much-improved offensive performance, Temple routed ECU in a 34-10 victory on the road, dominating throughout on both sides of the ball. The Owls revved their offensive engine early and often, balancing the unit via strong efforts from redshirt sophomore QB Logan Marchi, who finished the game 19-of-31 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns, and redshirt junior RB David Hood, who powered his way for 106 rushing yards and one touchdown on 20 carries.

Keys to the Game
> Both the Temple and ECU offenses got to strong starts, as each set up field goal attempts on their opening possessions. After driving 41 yards on nine plays, Owl kicker Aaron Boumerhi missed a 52-yarder wide left, setting up the Pirates to march 57 yards back the opposite direction and chip shot in a 25-yard attempt for the early 3-0 lead.
> As the second quarter began, Temple was able to find the board behind a 29-yard field goal from Boumerhi, leveling the score at 3-3. Earlier that drive, the Owls converted on a crucial third-and-long with a 48-yard pass to redshirt junior Brodrick Yancy, setting up the eventual short kicking attempt.
> After the Owls' defense forced a punt deep inside their own territory, Marchi orchestrated an eight-play, 91-yard touchdown drive, giving Temple its first lead of the day, 10-3. Marchi wrapped up the season's longest scoring drive with a five-yard connection to WR Adonis Jennings, his second TD catch on the year.
> A Delvon Randall interception on the ensuing Pirate possession gave Temple excellent field position on ECU's side of the 50, setting up a two-yard TD rush by Hood and a 17-3 Owls edge.
> Another defensive stand gifted the Temple offense with a short field, a position Marchi and company immediately sought to take advantage of. After a 45-yard bomb found sophomore WR Randle Jones inside the five-yard line, redshirt junior Rob Ritrovato powered his way into the end zone on a two-yard rush, surging Temple to a 24-3 lead heading into halftime.
> Following the halftime break, the ECU offense came out hitting on all cylinders, driving 11-plays and 75 yards for a touchdown and cutting the Temple lead down to 24-10.
> Two unsuccessful possessions later, Marchi and the Owls' offense returned looking to recapture their 21-point advantage. The redshirt sophomore quarterback was impressive, finding WR Isaiah Wright up the right sideline on a 32-yard touchdown pass late in the drive, securing Temple a 31-10 edge near the end of the third quarter.
> An ECU turnover-on-downs on their side of the 50-yard line set up yet another Boumerhi field goal attempt, this time from 39 yards out, for a 34-10 Temple lead.
> Under the supervision of back-up QB Frank Nutile, Temple finished the game with a drive inside the ECU red zone, running out the clock with a play to the Pirate four-yard line.

Game Notes
> For first-year Temple head coach Geoff Collins, the win marks his first road and conference victory with the Owls, his third try in both categories.
> For the first time this season, the Temple defense started the matchup with same 11 players: DE Sharif Finch, DL Julian Taylor, DL Michael Dogbe, DE Jacob Martin, LB Chapelle Russell, LB Shaun Bradley, CB Artrel Foster, CB Mike Jones, S Delvon Randall, S Sean Chandler and DB Linwood Crump.
> Midway through the second quarter, DE Sharif Finch picked up his third sack the season, a career-high for the redshirt senior.
> Meanwhile, senior DE Jacob Martin racked up his fourth and fifth sacks of the season, forcing an ECU turnover-on-downs with his first bout into the Pirate backfield.
> For the game, the Temple offense put together a season-high in terms of total offense (523), surpassing their previous mark set against UMass (387).
> The Owls' 34 points against ECU now serves as the season-high for the unit, which had previously only reached 29 versus UMass.
> After years playing power blocker in the Temple backfield, Ritrovato found the end zone for the first time in his career late in the first half, forcing his way in on a two-yard rush up the middle.
> Meanwhile, Hood racked up 106 yards rushing, a career-high, breaking the 100-yard plateau for his first time along the way.
> Throughout the game, Marchi completed a 25-yard or better pass to five different Owl receivers: Yancy (48), Jones (45), Keith Kirkwood (37 & 29), Isaiah Wright (32) and Adonis Jennings (25).
> Further, Marchi finished the game with 321 yards passing, topping the 300-yard mark for the first time in his short career with the Owls.
> Yancy's 48-yard first quarter reception, a catch that set up a game-tying field goal, now sits as the longest in the wideout's career with the Owls.
> Similarly, Jones grabbed a 45-yard reception of his own, a career-best, setting up the Owls inside the red zone for their third score of the game.
> Finally, redshirt freshman Branden Mack grabbed his first career reception with Temple, a 15-yard toss from Nutile late in the fourth quarter.

Up Next
The Owls return home to Lincoln Financial Field for their annual homecoming game on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Temple will take on division rival UConn, aiming to improve upon the program's current three-game win-streak over the Huskies (Noon, ESPNEWS, 97.5 The Fanatic).