TEMPLE’S DELVON RANDALL (Photo from Delvon Randall’s twitter page)

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

COLLEGE FOOTBALL EDITOR

It’s week two of the college football season and the teams that won are looking to build on that victory while those teams that tasted defeat in the season’s first game are looking to get on the winning track.

The big game in the area for this week will be the match-up between Temple (0-1) and Villanova (1-0), this is the first meeting between the teams since 2012 when the game was a battle for the Mayor’s Cup (the trophy will not be competed for in this game). The Wildcats, ranked sixth in the nation at the FCS level, are coming off of a 38-35 win over Lehigh, who fell to No. 19 in the rankings. Running back Matt Gudzak had a career-high 142 yards on the ground and two touchdowns while quarterback Zach Bednarczyk accounted for three scores (one running and two passing). On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Ed Shockley had 14 tackles, a career-high, and safety Rob Rolle had a 63-yard fumble return to set up a touchdown. The Wildcats controlled the ball for the final four-and-a-half minutes to preserve the victory in Mark Ferrante’s first game as a head coach.

Temple had a head coach making his debut as well but things didn’t go as well for Geoff Collins as the Owls lost to Notre Dame 49-16 in South Bend. Quarterback Logan Marchi, who was making his first-career start, was a solid 19-of-35 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The Owls defense gave up 606 yards but 80 percent of that yardage came on just 17 of the 74 plays the Irish ran.

“I’m sure there are guys on our team that have friends at Temple and think that they could play there with them,” said Ferrante. “I’m sure they walk in with a little chip on their shoulder thinking I can show these guys I can compete and maybe they should have recruited me when I was coming out of high school.”

“Villanova is a good team,” said Temple safety Delvon Randall, “we’re not going to underestimate anybody. We’re going to play with the same energy and tempo and try to go 1-0.”

Elsewhere in Philadelphia area college football this weekend, No. 20 West Chester (1-0) visits Slippery Rock on Saturday night in a PSAC inter-division game.

Also Saturday night, Rowan (1-0) hosts Southern Virginia (0-1, 0-1 NJAC). It’s the NJAC opener for the Profs, who edged Widener 6-0 in the season opener. Meanwhile, the Pride (0-1) opens MAC play by welcoming FDU-Florham.

After topping Wesley in a battle of top 20 teams to open the season, Delaware Valley – now ranked 12th in the country – travels to Williamsport on Saturday

 to take on Lycoming in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener for both teams. The Aggies (1-0) have lost their last two game in Williamsport and three of five against the Warriors, who lost 7-6 at Susquehanna to kick off the season.
Following the 24-19 loss at Del Val, Wesley (0-1) fell from 11th to 22nd in the D3football.com poll. This week, the Wolverines are on the road again as they open the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) season at TCNJ (0-1), who was bested by FDU-Florham 38-24.
It’s the Centennial Conference opener for Ursinus as they travel to Gettysburg College (0-1) on Saturday. The Bears (1-0) rolled to a 35-13 win over Bethany College behind 197 yards and a touchdown on the ground from Stacey Gardner. The Bullets fell at Bridgewater 27-24.
Delaware scored a 22-3 win over Delaware State and have now won all eight of the meetings between the in-state rivals. This week, Delaware (1-0) steps up in class on Saturday and takes on No. 18 Virginia Tech (1-0) which opened its season with a 31-24 win over West Virginia.
The Hornets (0-1) play Friday night at Hampton. It’s the MEAC opener for both teams and like Delaware State, the Pirates (0-1) lost their first game of the season, a 59-0 beating by Ohio University.
Lincoln University lost the Battle of the First to Cheyney to start the season, Saturday, the Lions (0-1) are on the road to take on Lincoln University of Missouri. The Blue Tigers (0-1) lost to Langston and are looking to avenge a 33-23 loss to the Lions last season. Cheyney (1-0) is at California(PA).

E-mail Rock Hoffman at Rock@footballstories.com