Temple Falls to East Carolina 17-9
Temple dropped to 2-6 after losing to East Carolina, and tight end Peter Clarke was lost for the season with a broken fibula.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
Temple lost to East Carolina 17-9 on Saturday, dropping its record to 2-6. Tight end Peter Clarke suffered a broken fibula in his left leg in the third quarter and will miss the rest of the season.
Why it matters
The loss and Clarke's injury leave Temple with a thinner offense heading into its next game at Navy. Quarterback Ajani Sheppard's status is also uncertain after a right ankle injury and limited practice time.
Clarke caught 18 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns this season before the injury. Temple's offense now must work without him for the remainder of the year.
The players
Peter Clarke
Peter Clarke is a Temple tight end whose season ends early after a broken fibula suffered in the loss to East Carolina.
Ajani Sheppard
Ajani Sheppard is Temple's quarterback, whose ankle injury and limited practice make his availability for Navy uncertain.
Jaxon Smolik
Jaxon Smolik is a Temple quarterback who took first-team snaps in Sheppard's place and may start at Navy if needed.
The details
Clarke was hurt in the third quarter of Saturday's loss at East Carolina, which the Pirates won 17-9. Sheppard briefly left the game with a right ankle injury and was limited in Monday's practice, while Smolik took first-team snaps in his place.
Timeline
Sept. 19: Smolik was injured during the first series against Toledo.
Saturday: Temple lost 17-9 at East Carolina, and Clarke was injured.
Saturday: Temple plays a road game at Navy.
Season Trajectory
Temple's 2-6 record puts its 2026 season well behind any realistic postseason pace. The loss of Clarke removes one of the team's most productive receiving options for the remainder of the schedule.
Fantasy managers who rostered Clarke lose a reliable tight end for the rest of the season, with his 18 catches and two touchdowns no longer available. Temple's next game at Navy will reveal whether Sheppard is healthy enough to start or whether Smolik takes over.
The takeaway
Injuries are shaping Temple's season as much as its record, and the status of Sheppard before the Navy game will show how deep the roster is. Readers following the team should watch the injury reports closely over the coming week.
What happens next
Temple's next game is a road matchup at Navy, where Sheppard's ankle status will determine whether Smolik starts.
Further reading
For more on the local team, see Philadelphia Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
