VILLANOVA’S MATT GUDZAK HAD 142 YARDS RUSHING NAD TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN THE WILDCATS WIN OVER LEHIGH (VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY PHOTO)

The Temple Owls opened the Geoff Collins era with a difficult task, a trip to Notre Dame, and the rebuilding Owls were no match for the Fighting Irish, who are coming off of a 4-8 season and start this year with their head coach, Brian Kelly, firmly on the hot seat.

The Irish offense gashed the Owls for 606 yards total offense and scored on four of their first five possessions en route to a 49-16 win.

“I thought once we settled into a rhythm, the entire team, me included,” said Collins after his head coaching debut, “I thought there was some really good ball being played especially in the second and third quarter. The beginning was bad and the wheels fell off at the end but we’ll get it corrected. I have complete faith in the players and our coaching staff.”

It was 28-10 at halftime and Temple didn’t take advantage of some breaks in the third quarter, they came away empty handed after the Irish missed a field goal and threw an interception. Early in the fourth quarter, the Owls would answer a Notre Dame touchdown with one of their own and it was 35-16. The Owls next two possessions ended with a fumble and a turnover on downs and the Irish would score off of each to put the game away.

Logan Marchi started at quarterback for Temple, he was 19-of-35 passing for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Owls home opener is this Saturday against Villanova.

**

Speaking of the Wildcats, they won their opener for new head coach Mark Ferrante 38-35 at Lehigh. Both teams came in ranked in the top 25 of the FCS level; Villanova 10^th and the Mountain Hawks 17^th. Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk had a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another while Matt Gudzak ran for 142 yards and two scores. Lehigh quarterback Brad Mayes threw for 406 yards and four touchdowns on 33-of-49 passing but the Wildcats ran out the final four and half minutes after the Mountain Hawks got the score to within three points.

Also in FCS games in the Philadelphia Region, Delaware won 22-3 over Delaware State.

**

NICK WRIGHT, A LINEBACKER FOR DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY, HAD A BIG NIGHT IN THE AGGIES UPSET OF WESLEY.

In another battle of top 25 teams, this one at the Division III level, No. 20 Delaware Valley topped No. 11 Wesley 24-19 in Doylestown. The Aggies were outgained by Wesley 384 to 242 but forced three turnovers by the Wolverines. Del Val linebacker Nick Wright had a 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown and a sack for a safety. On Saturday, Delaware Valley is at Lycoming while Wesley has the week off. Their next game in September 16^th at TCNJ.

In other Division III scores from the area, Rowan made a pair of field goals stand up as the topped Widener 6-0. Ursinus rolled up 510 yards of offense on the way 35-13 win over Bethany. Stacey Gardner ran for a career-high 197 yards and a touchdown in the Bears win. FDU-Florham scored a 38-24 win over TCNJ spoiling the debut of Casey Goff as Lions head coach.

**

At the Division II level, No. 25 West Chester toppled Bentley 51-9. “That is about as complete an effort, both offensively and defensively, that we have had – especially on opening night,” said Golden Rams head coach Bill Zwaan.

Cheyney opened the season with a win for the second year in a row as the doubled up Lincoln 56-28 in the Battle of the First (both schools claim to be the oldest HBCU in the country).

Email Rock Hoffman at Rock@footballstories.com