Temple football scores 17 unanswered points to edge Akron, 24-21, in its season opener

In Year 2 of the Stan Drayton era, Temple celebrated a 24-21 win over Akron, an opponent against which it historically has had an edge against. Coming into the day, the Owls held a 15-7 record against the Zips and had won their previous six meetings.

Now, make it seven meetings.

E.J. Warner put forth a solid performance, going 28-for-49 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. The second-year quarterback looked poised in the win, Drayton’s first season-opening victory as Owls head coach.

Defensively, safety Tywan Francis, who transferred from Colorado State in the offseason, set the tone for the Owls, and his second-half play was a significant reason the Owls were able to keep the score close. He ended the day with five tackles, one tackle for loss, and the game-sealing interception with 2:31 remaining.

“Coach made a great call,” Francis said. “It was one man free ... I played my assignment, and the quarterback threw it and I made the play.”

Drayton said he wanted his offense to be explosive and score touchdowns this season. However, the Owls’ offensive woes from a season ago followed them into 2023. The Owls struggled to find any consistency offensively in the first half, generating multiple lengthy drives and multiple three-and-outs. Temple finished the first half with 177 yards of total offense.

The Owls defense also was plagued by inconsistency. They were able to force four straight three-and-outs, however, a trio of touchdown drives sandwiched those drives, including a pair of lengthy touchdown drives in the second quarter that sent the Owls into the locker room trailing, 21-10.

Camden Price’s field goal at the halftime whistle sparked a run of 17 unanswered points as Temple’s offense came out firing in the second half. Drayton noted that he challenged his team at halftime to correct the effort level.

“They had way more in the tank than they were giving,” Drayton said. “We can’t pick and choose when we give the maximum effort it takes to win a football game.”

The offensive comeback coupled with Temple’s defense forcing four punts and holding Akron to just 41 yards proved the difference and was the hallmark of Temple’s win.

Temple came out of the locker room and flipped the switch offensively. The Owls were able to get easy completions and big plays including 31- and 28-yard receptions by wide receivers Zae Baines and Amad Anderson Jr.

“Coming out the second half, just a bunch of big plays,” Warner said. “That was the moment where it was like ‘OK we’re going to come back and finish this game.’”

Another nonconference test comes on the road next Saturday, when the Owls travel to Piscataway, N.J., to take on Rutgers. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.