Football Rebounds with Dominant Victory over Navy, 34-26

Thursday, November 2

Philadelphia, Pa.

8:00 p.m. EST

Temple University

4-5 , 2-3

Navy

5-3 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

NAVY

TEMPLE

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Rebounds with Dominant Victory over Navy, 34-26

11.2.17 | Football

PHILADELPHIA - In a dominant performance reminiscent of last season's conference title game, QB Frank Nutile and the Temple offense took care of business in a 34-26 victory over Navy in front of a nationally-televised audience Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. The redshirt junior signal-caller guided the Owls' offense on six consecutive scoring drives throughout the win, including four for touchdowns, ending just two on negative plays (interception & punt).

Keys to the Game

> After receiving the opening kickoff, the Owls offense went to work immediately, driving the field behind a methodical composition of air attack and ground game. The possession would sizzle out inside the Navy five-yard line, setting up K Aaron Boumerhi for a 22-yard field goal and an early 3-0 edge.

> The Naval Academy took advantage on the ensuing kickoff, as the return team set up the Midshipmen offense on the Temple 36-yard line. The Owls' defense proved stout, however, forcing a 48-yard field goal as Navy knotted the game at 3-3.

> Under the guidance of Nutile, Temple responded on its next possession in quick-strike fashion. On a short third-and-three, Nutile dropped a 40-yard dime to senior WR Adonis Jennings as he streaked up the left sideline, recapturing the lead, 10-3.

> Following a defensive stand, Nutile and the Owls' offense once again put on a clinic against the Midshipmen defense. The redshirt junior quarterback went 5-for-5 throughout the drive, finishing off the possession with two straight to senior WR Keith Kirkwood for the TD and a 17-3 advantage.

> With one second remaining in the first half, Navy was forced into a short field goal after the Temple defense made a stand inside the five-yard line, ending the initial two periods up 17-6.

> The Temple offense continued its scoring streak on its opening possession of the second half, as the Nutile-to-Jennings connection remained in-sync. This time around, the signal-caller found his the senior wideout on a 34-yard pass in the end zone, jumping Temple out to a 24-6 lead.

> On the ensuing Navy drive, the Midshipmen finally found some traction as they drove 75 yards over 10 plays for their first touchdown of the day, cutting their deficit to a 24-13 difference.

> Nutile's career night continued one possession later as he once again led the Owls on a scoring drive, their fifth consecutive of the night. After once again finding Jennings on a 33-yard pass, this time down to the one-yard line, Nutile tossed a three-yard gem to redshirt sophomore TE Jake Robinson for the score, both the first catch and TD of his career.

> Midway through the final period, Boumerhi drilled a field goal attempt from 33 yards out, extending Temple's streak of scoring drives to six and its lead over Navy to 34-13.

> The Navy offense was able to generate some points after an interception of Nutile snapped Temple's streak of scoring possessions, finding the end zone on a 16-yard pass. The touchdown would cut the Owls' lead down to 34-19 with just under six minutes to play.

> Under guidance of a back-up quarterback, the Midshipmen would cut the lead one more time with a late touchdown pass, finalizing the score at 34-26 in Temple's favor.

Game Notes

> Redshirt junior DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd earned his first start of the season, filling in for banged up tackles Jullian Taylor and Michael Dogbe.

> The Owls' 10 first quarter points marks the team's best showing in the opening period this season, as they had previously combined for just 16 points in the first eight matchups.

> Nutile carried a streak of 10 consecutive completions from midway through the first quarter all the way to his first attempt of the third, the longest of his career.

> For the game, Jennings grabbed five receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. The pair of scores stand out in particular, as each was 30-yards or more, meaning all four of his TD catches this year came from that distance or greater. Further, the 127 yards marks Jennings' third career 100-yard receiving game.

> Early in the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman Isaiah Graham-Mobley picked up his first career sack.

> Near the conclusion of the third period, Robinson earned his first-ever touch with the team as he grabbed a three-yard catch for a touchdown, career-firsts in both categories.
> Nutile finished the game 22-of-30 for 289 yards and four touchdowns, career-highs in completions, attempts and TD throws. Coincidentally, the redshirt junior came up just two yards shy of snapping his career-best in passing yards, set two weeks prior against on the road against Army in his first-ever start.

> Late in the final period, junior S Delvon Randall grabbed his fourth pick of the season and eighth overall, tying him once again with fellow safety and senior Sean Chandler on the all-time Temple leaderboards at 11th in program history.

> Redshirt sophomore Dana Levine broke through the Navy offensive front to earn special teams coach Ed Foley and his unit their first blocked kick of the year, helping the team hold onto title as the NCAA leader in the category over the past four seasons.

Up Next

The Owls take to the road once again, this time traveling to Ohio to face division opponent Cincinnati in a nationally-televised Friday night matchup on November 10.