East Carolina Beats Temple 17-9
Engleman's 107 rushing yards and three second-half interceptions helped East Carolina extend its series win streak to six games.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Football
East Carolina defeated Temple 17-9 in Greenville, North Carolina. The win extended East Carolina's winning streak in the series to six games.
Why it matters
The result lifts East Carolina to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American Athletic Conference while leaving Temple at 2-6 and 1-3. Three second-half interceptions held Temple to field goals in the final two quarters.
East Carolina's 4-4 (2-2 American) record and Temple's 2-6 (1-3) record frame the matchup, with East Carolina outgaining Temple 352-249 in total yardage. Engleman rushed for 107 yards while Griffis threw for 130 and Sheppard for 118, but the report does not indicate how these totals compare to season averages.
The players
TJ Engleman Jr.
Engleman is East Carolina's running back who rushed for 107 yards and scored a second-half touchdown in the win over Temple.
Mitch Griffis
Griffis is East Carolina's quarterback who threw for 130 yards and an interception in the victory over Temple.
Ajani Sheppard
Sheppard is Temple's quarterback who threw for 118 yards and three interceptions in the loss to East Carolina.
The details
Engleman ran 19 yards up the middle early in the third quarter, extending East Carolina's lead to 17-3 and scoring a second-half touchdown. Temple's only points came from Carl Hardin field goals, while Ashton Gray scored on a 1-yard run capping a 77-yard drive.
Timeline
Oct. 31: East Carolina defeated Temple 17-9 in Greenville, N.C.
Next Saturday: Temple plays at Navy.
Friday: East Carolina plays at South Florida.
Season Trajectory
East Carolina's 2-2 American Athletic Conference record and Temple's 1-3 mark place both teams in the middle of a conference race that remains open after eight games. The six-game series win streak adds a head-to-head edge that will matter if the two programs meet again in a close conference finish.
East Carolina's next game at South Florida on Friday will determine whether it can build on its 2-2 conference start. Temple's trip to Navy next Saturday carries its own standings stakes for a team now 1-3 in the American.
The takeaway
Three second-half interceptions were the difference in a game where East Carolina outgained Temple by more than 100 yards, a pattern that favors teams able to force turnovers late. Teams trailing in conference play can use that turnover margin as a benchmark for their own defensive preparation.
What happens next
East Carolina plays at South Florida on Friday, and Temple plays at Navy next Saturday.
Further reading
Find more on Greenville football coverage.
