Temple Loses 49 – 46 on Late Touchdown By ECU
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/26/2022 –
In a back and forth game that was decided by an ECU touchdown with 1:16 left to play, E.J. Warner and Jose Barbon set school and personal records. However, the Pirates won the game 49 – 46 to end the first season for coach Stan Drayton and the Owls who finish at 3 – 9.
Warner Sets Records Through the Air
A record-setting day for Temple quarterback EJ Warner who completed 45 of 63 pass attempts for 527 yards and 5 touchdowns setting the record for most pass completions and yards in a single game, and became the first Temple quarterback to throw for over 500 yards in a contest. For the season Warner booked the record for most pass completions in a single season at 278 going past Anthony Russo.
For the season Warner moved into second place in the school all-time single season passing yardage category with a total of 3,028 yards.
In the game Warner found seven different receivers, four Owls caught scoring tosses. One pass was intercepted by ECU defensive back Malik Fleming. That turnover resulted in a touchdown for the Pirates.
Jose Barbon Catches History
The wide receiver caught 13 passes for 160 yards, a new career-high in both. Six times this season Barbon has turned in a 100-yard receiving performance, which is a new program record.
Tight End Jordan Smith caught 2 scoring tosses and totaled 85 yards. Zae Baines grabbed 5 for 73 yards and a touchdown. David Martin-Robinson went 9 for 93 and a score. Amad Anderson, Jr. caught 6 passes for 91 yards and found the endzone once.
Big Plays Hurt the Owls
After Temple took a 17 – 14 lead ECU went back ahead when Jsi Hatfield returned the ensuing kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown. Hatfield accounted for 140 yards on kickoff returns.
The Pirates increased that lead when quarterback Holton Ahlers got the ball to running back Keaton Mitchell who took it to the house for a 73-yard touchdown reception. His longest run went for 49-yards.
Mitchell ran for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns on 27 carries and had 2 catches for 78 yards.
Last Two Critical Drives
Temple held ECU on downs taking the ball at their own 27 yard line. The drive started slowly, but Anderson, Jr. hauled in a 32-yard completion from Warner getting the ball over the 50 yard line. Five plays later Warner completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Martin-Robinson with 6:19 on the clock to cap an 8-play, 73-yard drive, taking 2:00. The Owls led 46 – 42.
Both teams punted the next time they had the ball.
The Pirates began their last drive from their own 11 yard line as 3:07 showed on the clock. ECU went on an 8-play, 89-yard drive in 1:11 to take the 49 – 46 lead. With the ball at the Temple 38 yard line Ahlers completed a touchdown pass to Jaylen Jackson for the winning score. In the game Ahlers completed 25 of 37 passes for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Owls got the ball back one more time, but were stopped on fourth down.
Season Complete
Temple finishes with their conference record at 1 – 7. Did this season show what the team can become in the future? Time will tell. Drayton did discover that he has the quarterback to build around in Warner.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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