Temple Football Runs Over Rhode Island in Home Opener

PHILADELPHIA— Temple Football rolled to a 38-14 win over the Rhode Island Rams in their 2026 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5, riding their running game for 231 yards. Tailback Keveun Mason led the way with 22 touches for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense added two interceptions returned for scores.

The Owls rotated their quarterbacks from the first play of the game. Jaxon Smolik lined up in the shotgun to start, but Ajani Sheppard was right beside him in the backfield. Smolik flipped a lateral to Sheppard, who found Colin Chase in the flat for a 21-yard gain. They alternated every two drives from there.

Smolik found transfer Jayce Freeman in the back corner of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown, Freeman’s first catch as an Owl. Temple’s pass coverage showed its rust on the Rams’ first drive, with holes in coverage and missed tackles leading to a chunk gain on third-and-8 and a 35-yard touchdown both from quarterback Tyler Budge, starting in place of the injured Devin Farrell, to Marquis Buchanan.

Temple moved freely between the 20s on their second drive but ran out of steam in the red zone, taking the lead on a 33-yard kick from Carl Hardin. Sheppard’s first two drives ended in punts, but the Owls added to their lead after defensive end Davier Bishop tipped a pass into the air that safety Jamarcus Pierre collected and returned for a 35-yard score.

Rushing Offense Takes Over

The Rams responded with a 14-play touchdown drive that chewed almost seven minutes of the clock, Budge making a difference with his legs on the way to a one-yard keeper touchdown. Smolik substituted back in and the Owls marched downfield during a two-minute drill, benefitting from five touches, 54 yards and the eventual touchdown from Mason.

Mason helped bleed more than eight minutes off the clock with a third quarter touchdown drive, one that saw two fourth down conversions from DeCarlos Young before Mason found the end zone. Junior linebacker Tyree Alualu added a 63-yard pick six in the fourth quarter as the Owls began to pull away.

Temple’s homestand will continue against Penn State at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.