Temple football still searching for identity after narrow win over Villanova

The only conclusion after two games of Temple's football season is that the Owls need more time.

Yet if they have designs on a third straight American Athletic Conference East Division title and a second consecutive overall championship, time isn't necessarily on their side.

In fact, the Owls have just one more game to fine-tune matters until being thrown into the lions' den — or, more appropriately, the Bulls' den.

That's because after Friday's non-conference finale at Lincoln Financial Field against 0-3 Massachusetts (7 p.m., ESPNU), Temple has its toughest two-game stretch of the season. The Owls visit South Florida on Sept. 21 and host Houston on the 30th.

South Florida (2-0) is the preseason pick to win the AAC championship. Houston (1-0) just won on Saturday night at Arizona, 19-16. The Cougars should be a major contender in the AAC West Division.

The South Florida and Houston games will determine if Temple is a contender or merely fighting for a bowl berth, after the season-opening 49-16 loss to Notre Dame and Saturday's 16-13 win over Villanova.

Against Villanova, Temple led, 13-0, then saw the Wildcats score 13 straight points before Aaron Boumerhi's game-winning, career-long 49-yard field goal with a minute left.

After the game and even before, Temple showed great respect for Villanova. The Owls didn't consider Villanova simply an FCS school.

"You've got to give credit to Villanova" said Sharif Finch, a fifth-year senior defensive end. "Villanova is one of the best teams in the CAA."

The Notre Dame game showed that a Temple team that allowed 606 yards of total offense had to improve on defense.

(No kidding).

The Villanova game showed that when Temple is up, allowing a team to hang around is not the best path toward victory.

Finch says the Owls did not put their feet on the accelerator when they had the Wildcats down.

"Guys relaxing a little bit [when leading a game], it comes with experience — guys think they have the game in hand, but you don't," Finch said. "You have to understand you have to battle every play all four quarters, or a team can come back on you."

So these early-season games have been good learning experiences for the players and for first-year coach Geoff Collins and his staff.

The coaching staff is learning what the team can and can't do.

Right now, on the "can't do" list is run the ball. The Owls have a 2.6 yards-per-carry average.

The Owls also must put more pressure on the quarterback. It happened enough against Villanova, but Zach Bednarczyk used great scrambling ability to get out of many jams.

Then there's the penalty department. Temple is averaging 50.5 yards worth of flags per game compared to 27.5 for its opponents.

Two-game averages are a premature way to define a team, but this is all Temple has to go by.

Collins said he saw many positives Saturday, including improved play by the linebackers.

But a big leap is needed this week. Temple has just one game for experimentation left before the stretch that will define the Owls' season.