Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Buechele, No. 18 SMU pull away late, top undermanned Temple
PHILADELPHIA » Coaches have a variety of ways to motivate their players. With his team trailing at halftime, SMU’s Sonny Dykes threatened to keep the Mustangs in town a little longer than they would have hoped.
Following a sluggish start, No. 18 SMU looked as high powered as ever in the second half, dominating undermanned Temple and breaking away for a 47-23 victory Saturday.
Tyler Page, who caught two of Shane Buechele’s four touchdown passes, said Dykes told the Mustangs that if they didn’t step it up, “he was going to make us have a practice right there on the field after the game.”
“We responded to that and had a much
better second half,” Page said.
The game was pushed back from its original Thursday date while Temple dealt with virus-related issues. The Owls were missing 15 players who were in COVID-19 protocol.
SMU led 20-16 before Buechele connected with Kylen Granson on a 24-yard TD pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Mustangs (7-1, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) scored four TDs in the first 7½ minutes of the period.
Temple (1-4, 1-4) scored on the first play of the game, with wide receiver Randle Jones going 75 yards on a screen pass from Trad Beatty.
Page, who came into the game fifth on the Mustangs this year in yards receiving, caught nine passes for 131 yards.
“That’s a testament to the depth we have and getting guys reps at practice during the year,” Page said. “That’s what makes our offense so dangerous. You can’t defend everybody. Despite our injuries we still have a championship team.”
Tayvon Ruley’s 3-yard touchdown run helped Temple build a 13-10 halftime lead.
The Owls added a TD in the final minute on an 11-yard pass from Re-al Mitchell to tight end Aaron Jarman. It was the first TD pass at Temple for Mitchell, a redshirt sophomore who transferred from Iowa State.
THE TAKEAWAY
TEMPLE» Found out before the game that it would be without starting linebacker Jordan Magee, who became the 15th player in the COVID-19 protocol. The short-handed Owls were also missing starting quarterback Anthony Russo for the second straight game with a shoulder injury.