The Owls Return 2 Interceptions for Touchdowns in 38 – 14 Opening Day Win Over the Rams
PHILADELPHIA, PA 9/5/2026 –
The season starter looked like it would be an offensive shootout early as both teams scored a touchdown on their opening possession. But the game settled down into a defensive battle. And it was the Temple Owls defense who rose up taking two intercepted passes to the endzone for a score in a 38 – 14 win over the Rhode Island Rams before 13,484 at the Linc. Safety Jamarcus Pierre had a pick-six in the second quarter, then linebacker Tyree Alualu scored from 63-yards in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Cherry and White.
“I thought we did a good job matching what they were trying to do,” said Temple Coach K.C. Keeler. “It took a little while to figure out what they wanted to do.”
The offensive star for Temple was running back Keveun Mason who ran for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Defense Begins to Turn the Tide
After giving up an initial score the Owls defense settled, then got the game turned in the right direction. With the ball deep in Rhode Island territory Rams quarterback Tyler Budge threw a pass that was intercepted by Pierre off a deflection. It was his first career interception and what a way to start by returning the ball 35-yards for a pick-six and a 17 – 7 Temple lead.
“I seen the ball tipped in the air, and from there it was that’s my ball” Pierre said. “So I just seen it, and all week I just been praying about it all week that I get an interception. I was just so blessed that I had the opportunity to come out here and do it, and it just happened. It was a once in a lifetime moment.”
In the fourth quarter the Owls held a 31 – 14 lead. Rhode Island was marching. In Owls territory Budge looked for a play to get his team in proximity. His pass was intercepted by linebacker Tyree Alualu who went up the left sideline for a 63-yard touchdown. A big play for him.
“I got the same play twice,” Alualu said. “If you go back and look at it I dropped the first one. So when I got the opportunity to finally make a play, God gave me a second opportunity to make another one. I never looked back.”
Ground Game for Temple
The Owls ran for 227 yards behind an offensive line that had to switch positions at times. Grayson Mains and center John Stone anchored the line. How did they do it?
“Flying off the ball, being able to play with each other really, really well,” said Stone. “We just communicate so well, and being able to plug and play throughout fall camp has led us to being able to communicate with each other.”
The ground game got a big play in the game. With the issue still in doubt Temple went for the first down on fourth down at the Rhode Island 37-yard line. The officials ruled that DeCarlos Young was stopped short of the first down line to gain. A subsequent replay review showed that Young did get enough yardage to give the Cheery and White a first down. The drive was culminated by a 3-yard scoring run by Mason and a 31 – 14 lead.
“I give the replay people a lot of credit because a lot of time they’re just moving on to the next task at hand,” Keeler said. “Instead they went back and really looked at that play like wait a minute, that’s close enough to look at. And when we saw it on the big screen, he put it out, he actually had it by a couple of inches. It wasn’t one of those where it was a maybe. He definitely had it.”
Mason got his game going early with a 38-yard run spotting the ball deep inside Rams territory. It helped him to settle in to a big day.
“It settled me down a lot,” said Mason. “I would say going in there, my first start in my college career, my legs were heavy. It settled me down a lot.”
Quarterback Situation
Temple is employing a dual quarterback system at the moment. And the statistics were equal for both. Jaxon Smolik completed 4 of 6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Ajani Sheppard completed 5 of 10 for 85 yards and added 23 rushing yards. Neither stood out, so the competition for the full time job will continue.
Rams Quarterback
Budge led the Rams offense throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown, a 35-yarder to Marquis Buchanan. Budge ran for 38 yards. Buchanan caught 10 passes for 137 yards.
Up Next
Penn State comes to town on Saturday. How is Temple viewing that game?
“Can’t look at it like it’s Penn State, Big 10 team coming in. Nameless, faceless opponents. Play the next play play the next game,” said Mains.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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