BY ROCK HOFFMAN
College Football Editor
Week two means that the teams that won last week are looking to get off to a 2-0 start while teams that suffered setbacks are looking to make comebacks.
Temple (1-0) used a shutdown defense in the second half as they came from behind to beat Akron 24-21. The Owls held the Zips to just 41 yards after halftime and kept them off the scoreboard while running back Edward Saydee caught a pair of touchdowns from E.J. Warner to lead the rally.
The Owls travel to face Rutgers (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) on Saturday evening. The Scarlett Knights were 24-7 winners over Northwestern. The Owls have lost six games in a row against Rutgers including a 16-14 defeat last year at Lincoln Financial Field in Warner’s first career start. Two years ago, in Piscataway, the Scarlett Knights ran all over the Owls, 61-14.
“Definitely not a pleasant time,” said tight end David Martin-Robinson, about the last time the Owls played at SHI Stadium “kind of a nightmare start to the season.”
Also Saturday evening, Villanova (1-0) has their home opener with Colgate visiting the Main Line. The Wildcats are coming off a 38-10 win at Lehigh while the Raiders (0-1) were crushed by Syracuse 65-0.
"It's hard to see what Colgate is," said Wildcats head coach Mark Ferrante because of how their game with the Orange got out of hand early. "I know we're going to get a better team than what [we] watched on film against Syracuse. We have to focus on what we’re doing regardless of who we’re playing.”
West Chester edged Bentley 20-19. Jayden Williams scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the game. This week, it’s another long bus ride for the Golden Rams (1-0) as they play at Slippery Rock (1-0) which beat Wayne State 28-17.
“We feel pretty good where we’re at,” said Golden Rams head coach Bill Zwaan, “we just got to get better. It’s a good test for us to find out whether we’re actually where we think we could be.”
Delaware (1-0, 1-0 CAA) won 37-13 at Stony Brook. On Saturday, at noon, they play at No.7 Penn State (1-0). It marks the 35th time the Blue Hens play an FBS team and the first time they’ve ever taken on the Nittany Lions. Penn State dispatched West Virginia in week one, 38-15.
Delaware State (0-1) was defeated by Bowie State 22-11. This week, they go on the road to West Point to play Army (0-1) which lost to Louisiana-Monroe 17-13.
Lincoln, like most teams, made a lot of first-game mistakes and it cost them as they fell to Clarion 30-20. On Saturday, they travel to Waterbury, CT to play Post University (0-1) which was blown out by Lock Haven 58-7.
“The message from me to my team,” said Lions’ first-year head coach Frank Turner, “Lincoln has to beat Lincoln. We can’t be our own worst enemy.”
Widener (1-0) got six touchdowns from quarterback Chase Diehl, including five through the air, in a 42-21 takedown of Lycoming. Saturday, they’re at home again and open Middle Atlantic Conference play against FDU-Florham (1-0).
No. 24 Delaware Valley (0-1) is at Albright (0-1) in the MAC opener for both teams. Each team is coming off losses to highly-ranked teams. The Aggies lost 42-13 to No. 17 SUNY-Courtland while No. 8 Hardin-Simmons topped Albright 47-3.
Saturday night at Franklin Field, Eastern University (0-1) will play its first home game and MAC contest in school history when they host Alvernia (0-1). Because of construction delays with their home field in Valley Forge, Eastern will play all their home games this season at the home of the Penn Quakers. The Eagles lost to TCNJ 41-21 while Alvernia fell victim to Ursinus, 38-6.
Speaking of the Bears (1-0) they're home again in Collegeville and entertain Kean (0-1). Wide receiver Cody House had a big opening night in the win over Alvernia, he caught six passes for 88 yards, and three of the receptions went for touchdowns. Additionally, he had 100 yards on five punt returns and a kickoff return.
Rowan (0-1) looking to bounce back from a 20-17 defeat to Stevenson is on the road at McDaniel (0-1).
TCNJ (1-0) had their game at Franklin and Marshall rescheduled to Thursday, September 21.
Email Rock Hoffman at rock@footballstories.com