The Temple Temperors know it’s time for football. (Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson/ESPN)

BY ROCK HOFFMAN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL EDITOR

It’s football time. It’s finally time for games that mean something. They’re not practices or scrimmages or exhibition games. These games mean something, they will go down on your permanent record. They are real and it is spectacular.

Saturday is the marque game of the week in the Philadelphia region with Temple hosting Villanova at Lincoln Financial Field with kickoff set for noon. The game means a lot to the player, of course, and both fan bases with the Owls having edged the Wildcats 16-13 last season and the fact this could be the last game in this series for a while, this game could be special.

Temple safety Delvon Randall speaks for college football players everywhere when he was asked if he’s ready to hit somebody in a different colored jersey.

“It’s going to feel great,” he said with a grin. “You get to a point where you don’t want to keep hitting your teammates. Our defense is ready to unleash a lot of hits on Saturday.”

On Thursday night, the college season kicks off in earnest while the post-collegiate games is still selling exercises in futility. In the region, Widener will host Rowan, in what has become an annual tradition at the Division III level. “The Battle of the Bridges” pits two teams separated by 20 miles, the Delaware River and the Commodore Barry Bridge. This is the sixth meeting between the schools – with Rowan holding a 4-1 advantage in the series – and the fifth year in a row they open the season against each other.

The defenses might be ahead of the offense in this one, both squads return talented players on that side of the ball. Last season, Kevin Stokes, a senior defensive end, led the Profs with 18.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as he earned All-NJAC First Team honors as Rowan went 4-6 (3-6, NJAC).

Jordan Powell is the man to watch for the Pride, who finished 7-4 (7-2, MAC) in 2017. Powell, a senior cornerback from Morristown, NJ, scored six touchdowns on defense last season. His teammate Vince Char had 14.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position. Both were named preseason All-Americans by D3Football.com.

Kickoff is at 7:37 PM at Quick Stadium on Widener’s campus.

Also on Thursday, West Chester University will be the first area team to actually take the field when they play at Bentley. The game is scheduled for 6 PM. Delaware opens at home hosting Rhode Island. It’s the first time since 2007 the Blue Hens, who are ranked 15th at FCS level, start the season with a conference game.

Another regional D3 battles takes place Friday in Dover, DE where No. 9 Wesley, the favorite to repeat as NJAC champions, host Delaware Valley, who is the pick to win the MAC. Both teams made the playoffs in 2017 and expect to be there again. The Aggies have won both of the previous match ups in this series.

For Wesley, emotions figure to be high. This will be the first game since the sudden passing of longtime head coach Mike Drass, who passed away during the off season. Chip Knapp, a veteran assistant, was elevated to head coach. Drass coached the Wolverines for 26 seasons compiling a 229-61 mark with 14 appearances in the NCAA playoffs.

Game time is 7 PM on Drass Field at Scott D. Miller Stadium.

Also Friday night TCNJ is at FDU-Florham.

On Saturday, Ursinus opens at Bethany. Lincoln University, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their return to football after having been without it for 48 years, kickoffs with Fayetteville State at 7 PM. Rod Milstead, an eight-year NFL player, takes over as head coach at his alma mater Delaware State. The Hornets open the new era at Buffalo with a 6 PM kickoff.

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