Call Temple football’s first conference test against Memphis a measuring point for a rebuilding program

After freshman quarterback E.J. Warner gathered his poise and delivered a strong second half to help Temple beat UMass 28-0 last weekend, the Owls (2-2) look to take that momentum on the road Saturday, when they open conference play at Memphis (noon, ESPNU).

Warner threw two interceptions against UMass, but he put those mistakes behind him to deliver a signature 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Adonicas Sanders in the fourth quarter to cap Temple’s scoring. However, Warner needs to receive stronger protection and limit his turnovers if the Owls want a good shot at beating the Tigers (3-1).

“We have goals within our conference,” first-year coach Stan Drayton said. “At some point, we want to win a conference championship. This is something that will always be a goal of Temple football.”

» READ MORE: Temple vs Memphis: Can Owls cover, upset Tigers for second year in a row?

The strength of Temple’s roster is in its defense. The Owls are holding opponents to 267.5 yards per game, which ranks second in the American Athletic Conference. Those numbers are impressive, especially after last season, when Temple gave up more than 40 points five times and an average of 37.5 points per game.

New defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot has maximized the talent on Temple’s roster.

“He’s got our defense in a situation to play really good football,” Drayton said about Eliot’s impact. “There are a lot of guys that are playing without hesitation and that is what I want.”

The Tigers’ high-powered offense is coming off back-to-back 44-point games against North Texas and Arkansas State.

Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan is capable of picking apart defenses with his arm, completing 81-of-121 passes for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. To win this game, Temple’s pass rush needs to make Henigan uncomfortable in the pocket.

Freshman wide receiver Ian Stewart’s playmaking ability is a positive development for Temple’s offense. Stewart has seven receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, he creates matchup problems for smaller corners in the red zone, and his long-term potential bodes well for Warner.

Temple has won four of the last seven games against Memphis, including a 34-31 victory in 2021.

“They pretty much look the same,” outside linebacker Layton Jordan said about the Tigers’ offense compared to last season. “They just got a good quarterback that knows how to situate the pocket. So we just have to get after him.”

Following Memphis, Temple has a bye week before it visits Central Florida in a Thursday night conference matchup on Oct. 13 (7 p.m., ESPN, 97.5-FM The Fanatic).