Hunter Smith's breakout run helped fuel Temple's comeback win over UTSA
With Terrez Worthy choosing to leave Temple during the bye week, Hunter Smith made the most of his opportunity.
Smith broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run that put the Temple ahead by three over UTSA in the third quarter of Saturday’s American Conference opener, giving the Owls their first lead in a game they eventually won, 27-21, to improve to 3-2 on the season.
The Owls’ ground game struggled early, managing just 49 rushing yards and a lone 31-yard field goal in the first half.
“I just wanted those guys to go out and battle,” Temple head coach K.C. Keeler said, “and we didn’t do that in the first half. … I don’t know what it was that we came out so sluggish, but that was not Temple football. I was embarrassed. I really was. This is not why they brought me here. I’m proud to say they responded.”
Smith was a big part of that response. After an Evan Simon touchdown pass to JoJo Bermudez got Temple within four at 14-10, Smith’s 54-yard touchdown run came less than two minutes later
For Temple, it was a huge play on a day in which the offensive line had previously struggled to run block, and Smith found space with the help of a block from left guard Eric King and went untouched to the end zone.
For Smith, it was more proof that he has continued to regain his running burst after a torn PCL injury cost him the entire 2024 season and spring practice at Louisiana-Monroe. He entered the NCAA’s transfer portal back in April and committed to Temple about a week later after visiting.
After just three carries and 11 yards in the Owls’ rout of UMass in the season opener, Smith put the exclamation point on a blowout win over Howard a week later with a 65-yard touchdown run.
That touchdown came with Temple up by 41. His touchdown run against UTSA Saturday came at a critical point of the game on a day when leading rusher Jay Ducker didn’t have much room to run and gained just 34 yards on 16 carries.
“It’s just a blessing, and I’m forever grateful just to be able to go and suit up with these guys and go out and ball with them,” Smith said. “Last year, I didn’t really get that chance. I fell out the last week of fall camp and came back.”
The touchdown run itself was pretty simple. Smith had some space along the left side of the offensive line and ran right through it.
“Shout out to the O-line,” Smith said.“It started up front with them. They took care of it, they made a gap and all I did was run through it. I honestly couldn’t ask for anything easier.”
Keeler said after the game that he felt it would take Smith a few weeks to “get his sea legs underneath him.” Five games into the season, that appears to be happening.
“We knew when we took him it was going to be a little bit of buff out some of the dents, kind of put a new paint job on it,” Keeler quipped in referencing Smith’s injury recovery. “And he’s just worked and worked and worked and gotten that knee (better). I talk to the trainers all the time about this. He’s just so dedicated in his rehab. He’s a guy they never have to worry about. He’s doing extra. If anything, they have to pull him back.
“And so it’s neat to have a kid like that who saw there was an opportunity and just was like, ‘I’m ready for it.’ And we have a lot of trust in him. We really do.”
