TULSA-TEMPLE OPEN AAC PLAY TONIGHT

Thursday, September 28

H.A. Chapman Stadium

6:30 PM (CT)

Tulsa

Temple

Photo by: Vincent D Johnson

TULSA-TEMPLE OPEN AAC PLAY TONIGHT

9/28/2023 10:05:00 AM | Football

GOLDEN HURRICANE OPEN AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ACTION IN A THURSDAY NIGHT PRIMETIME ESPN GAME

GAME 5: TULSA (2-2, 0-0 American) vs. TEMPLE (2-2, 0-0 AMERICAN)
Date/Time:	Thursday, September 28, 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Tulsa, Okla.
Stadium:	Skelly Field @ H.A.Chapman Stadium (30,000)
Coaches:	TULSA – Kevin Wilson (North Carolina '84), 1st year TEMPLE – Stan Drayton (Allegheny '93), 2nd year
TV:	ESPN
Talent:	Matt Barrie (pxp), Dan Mullen (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sidelines)
Tickets:	Call 918-631-4688
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	Tulsa leads 4-3
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Temple \| American Athletic Conference

TULSA, Okla. –– Tulsa and Temple open American Athletic Conference play Thursday night at H.A. Chapman Stadium in front of a national ESPN audience. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. (CT). Both teams come into the contest after finishing the nonconference schedule with identical 2-2 records.

After games with two of the nation's top passing teams, Washington and Oklahoma, the Tulsa defense will get tested through the airways yet another time. The Owls come into the game throwing for 258 yards through its first four contests.

E.J. Warner, son of former NFL great Kurt Warner, guides the Owls offense from behind center. As a rookie last year, Warner completed 23-of-48 passes for 196 yards against the Hurricane and this year has completed 84 passes for 1,000 yards and five TDs. He has used 12 different receivers, led by Amad Anderson's 297 yards and 14.1 yards per catch.

The run game has been like Tulsa's in using a variety of players out of the backfield. Joquez Smith leads the way with 191 yards, while Darvon Hubbard has 115 yards as both are gaining over 5.0 yards per carry.

Tulsa's defense will need to get pressure on Warner from its front seven, but protect against the run game. The combination of Ben Kopenski, Owen Ostroski, Vontroy Malone, Joe Anderson, Jayden Simon, Everitt Rogers and Zaid Hamdan hold down the front line, while the linebacking duties will mostly be shared by Julien Simon, Mitchell Kulkin, Coleton Smith and Dorian Hopkins.

Safety Kendarin Ray leads the Tulsa secondary and has an American Athletic Conference leading 38 tackles. The Hurricane has used its depth in the secondary with eight players seeing considerable playing time.

On offense, injuries have affected the quarterback position for the Hurricane. The season's starter Braylon Braxton was injured in the first half of the season opener and after an impressive performance by Cardell Williams, Williams was injured in the Washington game in his first start. Roman Fuller started the Oklahoma game a week later, while Williams managed to come in and play most of the second quarter and the entire second half.

Williams got the start last week at Northern Illinois and led the Hurricane to a 22-14 victory.

On the year, Braxton has only attempted four passes in his brief time behind center, while Williams and Fuller have combined to complete 61% of their passes for 717 yards and seven touchdowns.

Tulsa will need to cut down its turnovers, suffering 10 pickoffs and two fumbles, through four games. The Hurricane will look to be more efficient in the passing game while establishing a run game behind its offensive front with four of the five starting the previous four games. A quartet of running backs will see playing time in the Hurricane backfield. Anthony Watkins, Tahj Gary, Jordan Ford, and Bill Jackson will share time carrying the ball.

Watkins has a team-best 243 yards, Ford has 215 yards, Jackson 166 and Gary with 75 yards.

A young receiving corps, who's having to replace three starters that combined for 2,512 yards and 20 touchdowns a year ago, have shown positive strides. Sophomore Marquis Shoulders and freshman Devan Williams have caught the bulk of balls for the Hurricane, combining for 397 yards and four TDs on 25 receptions. The tight end group has also been targets of Tulsa quarterbacks, catching 11 passes for 90 yards and two TDs.

Like Tulsa, Temple's defense is led by a safety, Tywan Francis, who has tallied 32 tackles with two pass breakups and one interception. Fellow safety Alex Odom has 26 stops, while linebackers Jordan Magee and D.J. Woodbury have totaled 23 and 22 tackles , respectively.

The Owls have allowed 195 rushing yards and 183 through the air, while the defense has racked up 19 stops for lost yardage.

Temperatures will reach the 90s during game day and will be looming around the high 80s at kickoff.