Temple's Quincy Roche selected AAC co-defensive player of the week
The defensive end had three sacks among his four tackles for loss in the win over UMass.
Temple defensive end Quincy Roche has been named co-defensive player of the week by the American Athletic Conference.
The redshirt freshman had four tackles for loss, including three sacks, Friday in the Owls' 29-21 win over visiting Massachusetts. On one of his sacks, he forced and recovered a fumble, leading to a Temple touchdown. Roche was also second on the team, with eight tackles.
He shared the honor with Cincinnati junior safety Malik Clements.
"It was no surprise, the way he prepared the entire week and was dialed in on game day," Temple coach Geoff Collins said of Roche during Monday's AAC media call. "He had an iPad with cutups and was watching them until kickoff."
Temple quarterback Logan Marchi earned mention on the AAC honor roll. The redshirt sophomore completed 22 of 37 passes for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has yet to throw an interception this year for the 2-1 Owls, who will play at South Florida (3-0) on Thursday night in a key AAC East Division game. No. 21 USF is coming off Friday's 47-23 home win over Illinois.
Temple had a huge opening challenge, losing by 49-16 at Notre Dame (unranked by the Associated Press this week), but South Florida might have even more team speed than the Fighting Irish. Senior quarterback Quinton Flowers, the reigning AAC offensive player of the year, leads the Bulls. He has rushed for 243 yards (4.0 avg.) and two touchdowns and has completed 54.9 percent of his passes for 678 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
USF is averaging 40 points per game and is 14th nationally in total offense, averaging 522.3 yards. USF was the overwhelming preseason favorite to win the AAC championship that Temple earned last year.
"They are a complete offense," Collins said.
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams. Temple holds a 2-1 lead, as the home team has won each game. The Owls upset the Bulls, 46-30, last year at Lincoln Financial Field.