The Owls Fall 45 – 14 Against the ECU Pirates
PHILADELPHIA, PA 11/1/2025 –
“A tough day at the office.” Temple Coach K.C. Keeler revealed that those are the exact words his wife said to him after the game.
The Temple Owls were playing for bowl eligibility. But they were playing an experienced, talented, team in ECU who had 16 days to prepare. The Cherry and White needed to play their best to get their reward. It was not going to happen as ECU outplayed Temple in all facets of the game.
“It was a complete loss,” Keeler said. “You look at offense, defense, and special teams. There was nothing there up to the standard that we had recently. But when you play a good team, you got to play a lot cleaner than we played. And we didn’t play very clean.”
ECU now has a five-game winning streak over Temple.
The game did not start well for the Owls as the Pirates started the game with a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:52 featuring a 28-yard run by running back London Montgomery, then a 35-yard completion from quarterback Katin Houser to receiver Yannick Smith. The combo finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown. This would be a preview of what was to come, big plays within drives that resulted in scores.
After Temple created a turnover, an interception the first by Pooh Lawnton, ECU took the ball right back when Ja’Marley Riddle picked off his first pass of the year. This was the first interception thrown by Temple quarterback Evan Simon this season. On the next play wide receiver Anthony Smith ran the ball in from 45-yards out to give the Pirates a 14 – 0 lead.
The Owls tied the game in the second quarter behind touchdown runs by Jay Ducker and a 29-yard touchdown rush by Keveun Mason, his first touchdown and the longest run of his career. This was the highlight of the day on offense by Cherry and White. The Pirates defense took over.
“So that 14 points is when we’re doing the right things,” said Simon. “We are doing the little things right. Kudos to the defense for getting a couple of stops and turnovers, but then we go dry. It’s not Temple’s offense doing Temple’s offense.”
ECU would respond right away with two trips to the endzone. A 15-yard touchdown run by Michael Wright, then a big-play scoring pass from Houser to Smith for 59-yards. It was 28 – 14 at halftime.
What Sealed the Deal
Early in the third quarter ECU appeared to be facing a three-and-out on their first possession. On 4th and 6 from their 28 yard line, Temple committed an illegal substitution penalty making it 4th and 1 at 33. ECU went into the trick play book by snapping the ball to defensive tackle Rion Roseborough who ran for 21-yards and a first down. The drive was capped by a 19-yard scoring run by Montgomery at the 8:42 mark.
After the Owls punted, the big-play, scoring-play curse struck again. Houser completed a 31-yard pass to tight end Dessirrio Riles to the Temple 32 yard line. The drive was finished four plays later when Marlon Gunn plunged up the middle for a 42 – 14 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Temple Offense was Scuttled
The Owls were limited to 233 yards of total offense, 82 on the ground and 106 through the air. Quarterback Evan Simon threw for 80 yards completing 11 of 20. He did not play after the third quarter.
Mason was a bright spot gaining 48 yards on 7 carries, both a collegiate-best.
The ECU Offense was Free Flowing
And balanced. The Pirates had 358 yards rushing and Houser completed 19 of 24 passes for 256 yards with 2 scoring tosses. The ground attack yielded 358 yards. Eleven players gained yardage led by Montgomery with 84 yards. It was the most allowed rushing yards for Temple this season.
“They came out and were more physical,” defensive tackle Allan Haye said. “We didn’t have the same amount of physicality. We’re supposed to go out there physically and impose our will. That’s not what happened.”
Owls linebacker Curly Ordonez recorded 14 tackles. His career-high and a season-best for the team.
Up Next
No one talked about bowl eligibility after the game. That dream still lives and can happen next Saturday at Army.
“For a lot of us our clock is ticking on our college football career,” Simon said. “I can either sit on this or I can move on. And study my butt off and look at Army, and put these seniors in the best position available position possible so they can dance after winning the seventh game.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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