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Temple’s Quincy Roche is the AAC defensive player of the week

Roche had eight tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in the Owls' 31-17 win over Tulsa.

Temple defensive end Quincy Roche forces a fumble, that resulted in Temple touchdown, on Tulsa quarterback Luke Skipper during the third-quarter on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Philadelphia. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Temple defensive end Quincy Roche forces a fumble, that resulted in Temple touchdown, on Tulsa quarterback Luke Skipper during the third-quarter on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Philadelphia. YONG KIM / Staff PhotographerRead moreYong Kim

For the second week in a row, a Temple Owl earned the American Athletic Conference award as defensive player of the week. This week's winner is defensive end Quincy Roche.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt sophomore had two sacks and eight tackles Thursday in the Owls' 31-17 win over Tulsa. He also forced two fumbles, one on a strip-sack that led to Karamo Dioubate's 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Last week, defensive tackle Michael Dogbe won the honor for his effort in the Owls' 35-14 win at Maryland.

Roche has an unspecified injury and still hasn't been 100 percent, although he said he was getting closer.

"He is a physical presence," Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said during Monday's AAC media call. "He is extremely strong, is long and does a great with his hands, and he is a force to be reckoned with inside."

In four games this season, Roche has 15 tackles, including four tackles for loss and three sacks. In addition to the two forced fumbles, he has blocked two kicks.

Last season, Roche played in all 13 games and even though he didn't make any starts, he recorded seven sacks.

Temple running back Ryquell Armstead was named to the AAC honor roll after rushing for 108 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown, on 24 carries. He also recorded his first sack as a situational pass rusher. According to Temple, Armstead was only the third FBS player to rush for 100 yards and record a sack in the same game.

Time announced for ECU game

The AAC announced that the Oct. 6 between East Carolina and Temple at Lincoln Financial Field will have a noon kickoff and be televised on ESPNews.

QB update

Temple coach Geoff Collins wasn't ready Monday to name a starting quarterback for Saturday's game at Boston College. Anthony Russo has started the last two games in place of Frank Nutile, who has an unspecified injury.

"Frank has made a lot of progress," Collins said on the AAC media call. "He should be closer probably by game time."

Collins also lauded his depth at quarterback.

"We are blessed to have three really good quarterbacks who are competing and pulling for each other," he said, also alluding to redshirt freshman Todd Centeio. "It will be a weekly deal with how many reps each get."