Adding talent to the pool

Fresh off the most successful season in 30 years, Temple Coach Al Golden and his staff entered the offseason intent on not resting on their laurels.

Instead of sitting back and enjoying the time off before spring practice, Golden preached to his staff and players that the work was only going to get harder now that they’ve achieved some success, Golden told reporters and fans at his Signing Day press conference.

“I read somewhere that the Law of Mount Everest is that when you start to climb, and you start to elevate, the need for teamwork escalates,” Golden said. “And it does. For us, there’s not a lot of room to stand when you start winning nine games. It’s harder to breathe at the top. We have to keep going. I already told the student-athletes that this is going to be the hardest offseason we’ve ever had. It’s not the time to take a deep breath. We have a long way to go.”

To continue on the right path, recruiting is vital, Golden said. However, for the first time since he arrived in North Philadelphia, Golden has enough talent stored that he doesn’t need an incredible influx of incoming freshman to be successful.

Nonetheless, there were still some areas to improve upon from last year’s 9-4 team. On offense, wide receiver was especially important to upgrade, Golden said.

“Our focus on offense was at wide receiver,” Golden said. “I think anybody could recognize that…Deon Miller is a really good looking athlete and a great kid. Darryl Shine is another really, really dynamic player.”

Overall, the recruiting class has one glaring characteristic that links it to previous classes – local products.

“I think the thing that we’re most excited about is that we’re really staying true to our commitment to the local area,” Golden said. “22 of the signees are from within three hours of Temple University, which really fits our mold.”

In total, the Owls signed 27 athletes for their 2010 class, including the younger brother of former Philadelphia Eagle and current Baltimore Raven L.J Smith. Despite his impressive lineage, Nate Smith’s pure talent is what stood out to the staff, Golden said.

“If I had to pick the best pure football player of the group, it’s Nate Smith, hands down,” Golden said. “Offense, defense, kicks off, returns kicks. He’s a throwback.”

Numerous players from the 2010 class chose Temple over BCS offers. The most talented player is arguably Myron Ross, a running back from Wissahickon High School that originally committed to Vanderbilt, a member of the vaunted Southeasten Conference, before deciding to stay closer to home by becoming an Owl.

Another reason that the Owls have avoided getting content is that the Mid-American Conference has a history of flashes in the pan, Golden said.

“For anybody associated with Temple football to think that we’ve arrived or turned the corner is just fool’s gold,” Golden said. “You can ask Western Michigan, you can ask Bowling Green, you can ask Ball State…[They went from] nine-10 win seasons to three or four wins and no bowl games. That’s how quickly it can turn. We want to go from being a winning team to a winning program.”

“Now isn’t the time to take a deep breath,” Golden added. “Now is the the time to move forward, to push forward, to work harder and to improve.”

2010 Recruiting Class
Olaniyi Adewole LB Fr. 6-2 220 Drexel Hill, Pa.
Antonio Belt WR  Fr.      5-11    157      Forestville, Md
Wyatt Benson                    LB         Fr.       6-0     215      Philadelphia, Pa. School
Brian Burns                        DB         Fr.       6-0      170      Bowie, Md.
Taray Carey                      DE         Fr.       6-2      210      Whitehall, Pa
Joe Cenatiempo                 OL         Fr.       6-7      315      Glen Mills, Pa.
Andrew Cerett                    P          Fr.       6-5      240      Huntingdon, Pa.
Desmond Coble             WR/KR     Fr.      5-10    175      Richmond, Va.
Sean Daniels                     DE        Fr.       6-3      220      Blackwood, N.J
Marquise Goods                DB         Fr.      5-11    175      Orange, N.J.
Elijah Grant                       OL         Fr.       6-6      340      Piscataway, N.J.
Aaron Hush                   DE         Fr.       6-4      265      Piscataway, N.J.
Tyler Johnson                    TE         Fr.       6-5      240      Ringwood, N.J.
Zamel Johnson                  DB       R-Fr.     6-0      165      Staten Island, N.Y.
Adam Metz                         OL       Fr.       6-5      310      Hummelstown, Pa.
Deon Miller                  WR        Fr.       6-5      205      Highland Springs, Va.
Jaimen Newman                 DE         Fr.       6-4      250      Colonial Heights, Va.
Connor Reilly                     QB         Fr.       6-2      180      Fairfax, Va.
Anthony Robey                  DB         Fr.      5-10    175      Norristown, Pa.
Myron Ross                         RB        Fr.     6-1     205      Ambler, Pa.
Darryl Shine                    WR/KR       Jr.      5-10    185      Orlando, Fla.
Gerald Silvera                    WR        Fr.       6-0      180      West Orange, N.J.
Nate Smith                         LB        Fr.     6-0    220      Highland Park, N.J/
Rod Streater                    WR         Jr.       6-4      185      Burlington, N.J.
Martin Wallace                  OL       R-So.    6-6      295      New York, N.Y.
Hershey Walton                 OL         Fr.       6-4      320      Reading, Pa.
Dante Weaver                    DT         Fr.       6-2      320      New Brunswick, N.J.

Kyle Gauss can be reached at kyle.gauss@temple.edu

Dear Al Golden

Although the football team lost to Ohio Friday, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Owls are headed to a bowl game. That said, I think it’s time to get something out in the open that has been eating away at me for most of the season.

I am sorry I wrote off Temple at the beginning of the season.

I said you and your team could “forget about playing in a bowl game this year after losing the season opener to Villanova,” in my debut column in The Temple News. Boy, was I wrong.

I have been a sports reporter for four years, and I would have to say calling your season dead after one game might have been one of the dumbest decisions I have made in my career thus far.

I completely disregarded the fact that Villanova was a non-conference team and that there were still 11 games left. I said one loss “puts a black mark on the entire season,” but looking back, I do not actually remember a whole lot about that game.

That loss was admittedly not as big a deal as I made it out to be. The players recovered from it, as they won nine straight games. I have to give those guys a lot of credit. They did a lot more than just recover from a 0-2 start. They are now in position to go to a bowl game, and for the first time in nearly 20 years, Temple football is relevant, which is a huge deal.

I came into the season expecting, at the most, six wins and no bowl game appearance. I was riding the culture of cynicism and apathy toward the team that has plagued the university for so long. It was a bad call on my part not to give your team a chance. I committed one of the cardinal sins of journalism – I lacked objectivity. I came into the season expecting it to be a failure before a snap was even played.
It wasn’t until about the Army game that I started to realize the team was legitimately good. After the comeback win in Annapolis, Md., against Navy, I was finally convinced your team was bowl material.

After that, I figured I might have to eventually submit a mea culpa.

I guess I should also extend my apologies to the players as well, for selling them short at the start of the season.

I reluctantly include redshirt junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton in this group. I have criticized him to the point where I am making jokes about him in non-football related stories at The Temple News. But I will say this about him: He is a bad quarterback, and I will stand by that assessment until the day I die, but he did just enough to contribute – even as a backup – during the team’s nine-game winning streak, and he should get some props for that.

The whole team showed more talent, resilience and character than I ever could have expected from that squad, and that includes freshman running back Bernard Pierce, redshirt sophomore quarterback Chester Stewart, the entire defense and all the other role players who make up the roster. Those seniors have endured whole years of ridicule from folks like myself – but now they will leave Temple to cheers rather than jeers.

While it is not my job to support you or your players, you guys have earned my respect.

You taught me a lesson this season: Never, ever sell a team short, no matter what happened the season before, no matter what happened the previous 20 seasons. Every team gets a clean slate heading into a new season. I let years of futility cloud my judgment, which led me to make the incredibly stupid decision of calling your season dead after one game. I thought at the time that it was a safe bet, but here I am, eating my words.

Al Golden, I apologize for writing off you and your team. I was wrong.

Sincerely,

Brian Dzenis
The Temple News

P.S. If, by chance, that first column was in any way, shape or form used to motivate your team, you’re welcome.

Ohio loss is not the end of the line

The football team could be invited to one of four bowl games since the Owls’ bowl win in 1979.

EAGLEBANK
Date: Dec. 29
Location: RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Conferences: Conference USA vs. Army or Mid-American Conference (Should Army upset Navy Dec. 12, the Black Knights will qualify for the EagleBank Bowl)
2008 result: The inaugural edition of the EagleBank Bowl went to Wake Forest, as the Demon Deacons defeated the Navy Midshipmen, 29-19. Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner, the game’s Most Valuable Player, set a NCAA record for completion percentage in a bowl game when he completed all 11 attempts.

INTERNATIONAL
Date: Jan. 2
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto
Time: Noon
Conferences: Big East Conference vs. MAC
2009 result: The University of Connecticut Huskies overcame a 20-17 halftime deficit to beat the Buffalo Bulls, 38-20, on Jan. 3, 2009. Huskies running back Donald Brown, who was drafted by the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts in June, racked up 264 yards and one touchdown en route to being named the game’s MVP. The game attracted an audience of 40,184 people – the highest in the International Bowl’s three-year history.

GMAC
Date: Jan. 6
Location: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Time: 7 p.m.
Conferences: Atlantic Coast Conference vs. MAC
2009 result: Tulsa won its second consecutive GMAC Bowl with a 45-13 victory against No. 23 Ball State. Tarrion Adams rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns, as the Golden Hurricane finished with a school-record 11 victories. Adams became Tulsa’s career rushing leader, as the Golden Hurricane produced 439 yards rushing and 632 yards overall in the contest. Tulsa defeated Bowling Green the year before, 63-7.

LITTLE CAESARS (previously the Motor City Bowl)
Date: Dec. 26
Location: Ford Field, Detroit
Time: 1 p.m.
Conferences: Big Ten Conference vs. MAC Champ
2008 result: The Florida Atlantic Owls defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas, 24–21. Owls quarterback Rusty Smith was named game MVP after he threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

Redemption

Coach Al Golden and the football team completed a four-year journey from a 1-11 season in 2006 to a nine-game winning streak and likely bowl berth.

Though the football team lost to Ohio, 35-17, Friday and missed out on a chance to compete in the Mid-American Conference Championship against Central Michigan in Detroit, the Owls still made visible progress on the football field. With a 9-3 overall finish, including 7-1 in the MAC, Temple recorded its first winning season since 1990, set a single-season school record with nine wins in a row and finished in a tie for first place in the MAC East Division. In coach Al Golden’s first season, the Owls finished 1-11 but have steadily and noticeably improved each season since then.

2005
On Oct. 10, 2005, then-coach Bobby Wallace announced he would not seek a contract renewal. The search for a new coach ended almost two months later on Dec. 6, 2005, when Temple selected Al Golden. At the time, Golden became the second-youngest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 36 years old. He had spent the previous five years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Virginia.
“It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I accept the position of head football coach at Temple University,” Golden said. “I am excited about leading this program …The future looks bright.”
“With Al Golden, we now have the final piece in place for the rebuilding of the Temple football program,” Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said.

2006
One of Golden’s first orders of business was signing 24 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Collegefootballnews.com ranked that recruiting class No. 1 in the MAC, a trend that continued for three consecutive years.

“To all the football players in the room, I don’t care what’s transpired in the past,” Golden said prior to the start of the season. “We are going to start a new era. You are going to begin with a clean slate. For anything that may have gone wrong in the past, I certainly can’t apologize for what happened. I wasn’t here. But I promise that you’ll get the best that I have, and you’ll get the best that our staff has.
“We want to be known around the country and the MAC for being a physical team that will play anyone, anytime and anywhere,” he added.

The Owls wrapped up Golden’s inaugural season at Temple with a 1-11 record, including an eight-game losing streak. They opened the season with a 9-3 overtime loss at Buffalo and then lost games to No. 13 Louisville and Minnesota, 62-0. No. 12 Clemson later defeated the Owls, 63-9. The lone bright spot for Temple in 2006 was Golden’s first win, a 28-14 Homecoming victory against Bowling Green on Oct. 28.
“We will re-group,” Golden said after the Louisville game. “I told the team I wouldn’t trade locker rooms – and I mean that. I would not trade locker rooms. I wouldn’t want to be with another team. I believe we’re going to get it done here. I know we’re going to get it done here. We have too many good people not to get it done.”

2007
The Owls improved to 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the MAC, even by playing the nation’s most freshmen for the second straight year. All four wins came in conference play, as a pass from sophomore wide receiver Dy’Onne Crudup to junior wide receiver Bruce Francis was ruled incomplete and not reversed following replay for a 22-17 non-conference loss to Connecticut on Sept. 15.

The Owls also dropped decisions to Navy, Army and No. 25 Penn State. Temple opened the season with a five-game losing streak but then won three straight games, including a 16-15 Homecoming victory against Northern Illinois and a 24-17 win versus Miami (Ohio), who was undefeated in MAC play at that point.

The Owls wrapped up the season with three losses in four games, after redshirt junior quarterback Adam DiMichele fractured his left tibia. The Owls did post the No. 1-ranked redzone defense in the nation and the No. 1-ranked defense in the MAC.

“I think the people who know me know I’m a positive person,” Golden said after the 30-19 loss to Navy Sept. 1. “I have supreme confidence in myself and my staff. I have faith. We’ve got unwavering principles. We’re just going to keep going. You look back at all the turnarounds in college football. You look at what all those teams were. I know them all. I’ve studied them. It’s not easy. It’s not just like you’re changing your team. You’re changing everything. We’re going to hang in there and keep plugging away. I’m not going to take off my Temple gear when I go home tonight. I’m not going to do it. I’m proud to be the coach here.”

“I’ve told my team we’re slaying demons one by one,” Golden added later in the season after a 24-20 win against Akron. “Win one MAC game, win one MAC road game … slay them one by one.”

2008
What ifs dominated this season, as the Owls, who finished 5-7 overall and 4-4 again in the MAC, lost five games by a touchdown or less. After opening the season with a convincing 35-7 win at Army, Temple lost to Connecticut, 12-9, in overtime. Then came the 30-28 loss in the Hail Mary game at Buffalo. Golden lost his first game on Homecoming, as Western Michigan defeated the Owls, 7-3. In the latter third of the season, the Owls lost back-to-back close games at Navy and at Kent State. The Midshipmen scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and then scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime for a 33-27 win, while the Golden Flashes held on for a 41-38 win on the road that all but eliminated the Owls from the MAC East Division race. Temple finished tied for second.

“In 21 years of college football, I don’t think I have ever been involved in anything like this,” Golden said after the Navy loss. “It’s heartbreaking, but we’ll get them back.

“Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom,” Golden added after the season-ending 27-6 victory against Akron. “Sometimes you have to experience what we experienced at Navy.”

2009
The Owls opened the season with a 27-24 loss to Football Championship Subdivision opponent Villanova. Temple led, 10-0, at halftime but committed five turnovers.

“These kids have been through so much,” Golden said afterward. “Everybody just expects it to change, and it just doesn’t change overnight. It’s not the end of our season. We got a bunch of games left.”
After a 31-6 loss to then-No. 5 Penn State, Temple ripped off a record nine straight wins. The streak started with a 37-13 victory against defending MAC Champion Buffalo Sept. 26.

“Let me just say this about our organization and our kids,” Golden said. “People talk about the Hail Mary [last year against Buffalo], but they forget the second part of that is ‘full of grace.’ Our kids handled it with grace for a year.”

“I don’t think we’ve ever been 1-0 in the MAC,” Golden added. “I’ve got to hide in the city and hide in the state [after losing to Villanova and Penn State], but at least we’re 1-0 in the MAC.”

The Buffalo game also marked the first start for emerging freshman running back Bernard Pierce. He carried the ball 20 times for 116 yards and his first touchdown. Golden said he had been “working three years to get that kind of rushing game.”

Pierce left the Nov. 17 game against Army with a left shoulder injury but recorded six 100-yard rushing games during the season. He broke the 1,000-yard barrier in the 27-24 win versus Navy (when the Owls officially became bowl eligible). After that game, Pierce was ranked the No. 3 running back in the FBS and the No. 1 freshman. He finished No. 13 after leaving the Kent State game with a shoulder injury and missing the season finale against Ohio. Pierce now holds the record for most touchdowns in a season with 15, however.

“This team is different,” Golden said after the Navy win. “This team loves each other. This team has unity. This team won’t crack. They just hang in there and stay together. I see a team that has some poise and believes in the brand.”

Jennifer Reardon can be reached at jennifer.reardon@temple.edu.

Chance to clinch at home

The football team can clinch the MAC East with a win versus Kent State and an Ohio loss.

Thanks to 49 unanswered points in Friday’s 56-17 win against Akron, the football team has won eight games in a row. The Owls are now 8-2 on the season, and their eight-game winning streak matches the most wins in a row by Temple football since 1979, the last time the Owls made it to a bowl game.

Behind four touchdowns from redshirt sophomore quarterback Chester Stewart and freshman running back Bernard Pierce’s record-tying 15th touchdown of the season, the Owls kept their winning streak alive. Next up for the Owls is Kent State Saturday afternoon in the final home game of the season.

Here are three things to watch from each team:

Temple
Chance to clinch: It looked like the Owls’ impressive seven-game winning streak would come to an end Friday night in Akron. But the Owls showed their fans why 2009 is a different season, coming back from a 17-7 first-quarter deficit to beat the Zips, 56-17. It was the second game in a row the Owls found themselves in position to lose for the first time since the Penn State game back in mid-September. Riding an eight-game winning streak, Temple has a chance to clinch the Mid-American Conference East Division Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field against Kent State if Ohio loses to Northern Illinois and the Owls win.

Didn’t see that coming: Coach Al Golden made it very clear when he switched to Stewart that he wanted a quarterback who would manage the clock and avoid turnovers. Stewart went above and beyond Friday night by completing 6 of 11 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He added two more touchdowns on the ground. Stewart will look for an encore performance against Kent State’s defense, which ranks 10th in the MAC and allows 232 passing yards per game.

Senior Day: Come honor the Owls’ seniors who spent four years working hard to turn this program around. Defensive tackle Andre Neblett, linebacker Alex Joseph, cornerback Dominique Harris and tight end Steve Maneri highlight Golden’s first recruiting class at Temple.

Kent State
In need of a win: Kent State enters Saturday’s game with the Owls in search of a must-win. Under sixth-year coach Doug Martin, the Golden Flashes have won three of their last four games, but last week’s 28-20 loss to Akron dropped them to 4-2 in the MAC – two games behind the Owls with two games remaining.

Déjà vu all over again: Another week, another freshman quarterback. Quarterback Spencer Keith will go up against a Temple defense that allowed just 99 yards through the air Friday night at Akron. Keith has started six of the Golden Flashes’ 10 games this season and has thrown for 1,915 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His passer rating (127 percent) and passing yards per game (213) rank fifth and seventh in the MAC, respectively.

A force to be reckoned with: After posting eight sacks in his first two seasons at Kent State, junior defensive end Monte Simmons is close to surpassing that number this season alone. Simmons has 7.5 sacks in 10 games, which ranks second in the MAC, and has posted 11.5 tackles for loss (three) and forced three fumbles. Simmons will look to get into the backfield and attempt to force a few mistakes from Stewart.

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

Akron looms under Friday night lights

The Owls go for their eighth straight win and a 6-0 record in conference against the Akron Zips.

The football gods seemed to be on the side of the Cherry and White Thursday night, as the team survived Miami (Ohio)’s late comeback and won, 34-32, on a field goal with three seconds left. The win increased Temple’s winning streak to seven games and kept the Owls undefeated in the Mid-American Conference.

The Owls play another game under the lights, this time Friday night in Ohio against the Akron Zips. Here are three things to watch for from each team Friday night as the Owls look to keep up their winning ways:

TEMPLE
Making history: Thursday night’s win against Miami (Ohio) means that for the first time in 19 years, the Owls will finish the season with a winning record. Temple won its seventh straight game and improved to 7-2 overall on the season. The Owls look to improve their win total as they wrap up the season with Akron, Kent State and Ohio.

Chester Stewart, Round 2: The redshirt sophomore quarterback replaced redshirt junior starter Vaughn Charlton Thursday night and did what coach Al Golden wants from the quarterback position – manage the clock and avoid turnovers. Stewart did just that, as he threw for 143 yards and committed no turnovers. Stewart threw a couple of nice, deep balls, and his 31-yard pass to sophomore Joe Jones set up the Owls’ last-second win. Stewart starts his second consecutive game under center Friday at Akron against a defense ranked second in the MAC in pass defense.

Turnovers still an issue: Turnovers still appear to be a problem, as the Owls fumbled the ball five times Thursday night. Senior linebacker Alex Joseph fumbled Miami (Ohio)’s kickoff with less than three minutes remaining. Luckily, he recovered it, allowing the Owls to march down the field and win on freshman kicker Brandon McManus’ late field goal. The Owls were fortunate to squeak out a victory last week, but they can’t keep pushing the envelope by turning the ball over so often each game.
Akron

Not so fast: While Temple enters this matchup riding a seven-game winning streak, Akron is the complete opposite. The Zips are looking for just their third win on the season after a 28-20 upset over Kent State Saturday. The Zips, 1-4 in the MAC, have a chance to break even in the conference with remaining games against the Owls, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.

Another young gun: After getting shredded for 426 yards by Miami (Ohio) freshman quarterback Zac Dysert, the Owls defense will attempt to contain another freshman arm – Patrick Nicely. Nicely started the previous four games for Akron and has thrown for 1,135 yards and five touchdowns this season. He threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns as the Zips held off Kent State for the upset.

Avoid negative yardage: While the Owls allow the most passing yards in the MAC, they are tied for third in sacks recorded. Akron quarterbacks have been sacked 23 times this season. The Akron offensive line has its hands full this weekend trying to stop sophomore defensive end Adrian Robinson (4.5 sacks) and sophomore defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson (3.5 sacks).

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

Surprises from unlikely sources

The defense played poorly, while Chester Stewart started at QB.

While it isn’t surprising that Temple beat a then-1-8 Miami (Ohio) team Thursday, a few surprising things happened during the game.

The first thing is the score: 34-32. Fun fact: The now-1-9 RedHawks have scored more points against the Owls than any other opponent this season, including Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated the Owls, 31-6, back on Sept. 19.

“You’ve got to give tremendous credit to Miami [Ohio]. I can see they have changed on film early in the season until now. I knew we were going to have our hands full,” coach Al Golden said.

The defense certainly had its hands full trying to contain the spread offense led by redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert. Dysert seemed to move the ball easily judging from his stats, 426 passing yards and three touchdowns. Every kind of pass play – short, long, screen – seemed to work against the Temple secondary. The defense managed to get one interception, which led to a first-quarter field goal, but other than that, it wasn’t the unit’s best week.

“We just didn’t get as many takeaways as you should get against a team that throws that many times,” Golden said.

Golden opted to go with redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart in a surprise start at quarterback instead of redshirt junior Vaughn Charlton. The move was surprising and not surprising at the same time. On one hand, Charlton has played poorly and can be seen as a liability rather than an asset to the team this season. But Golden stuck with him through eight games, so it seemed he was willing to ride out Charlton’s struggles.

“Chester’s been really improving,” Golden said. “He was ready for his opportunity, and we just made the decision.”

“Coach always preaches to prepare as if you were a starter,” Stewart added. “I’m always prepared to be the starter in case Vaughn goes down.”

Or if Charlton puts up a stinker like the one he had at Navy, where he threw for 37 yards and two interceptions. Stewart had a few hiccups taking snaps from the center, but he did the job he was asked to do – protect the ball. He only threw the ball 11 times, completing six of them for 143 yards, but that’s the way it should be with freshman running back Bernard Pierce having the success he’s had on the ground.

“We don’t need a guy that throws 300 yards when we’re rushing for a whole bunch of yards,” Golden said. “We want to control the clock. We can’t have a quarterback that turns the ball over.”

It doesn’t really matter who the quarterback is, as long as he doesn’t turn the ball over. Stewart was fine against Miami (Ohio), but whether he can keep this up remains to be seen.

Pierce had another multi-touchdown game, as he made three trips to the endzone to go with his 178 yards, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone by this point in the season.

“It’s awesome to have a running back like Bernard. It just makes our job so much easier,” sophomore offensive lineman Steve Caputo said. “When he makes big runs, it’s all him, and he’s unbelievable. We haven’t had somebody like this in a while.”

It’s remarkable that he can keep up this production as teams key in on him.

“There’s always a possibility that he’s going to score,” Stewart said. “The way he runs causes teams to stack the box and gives us the opportunity to throw the ball downfield.”

That was a big reason Stewart connected on a 31-yard pass to sophomore receiver Joe Jones. The Miami (Ohio) defense stacked the box because of Pierce’s 18-yard run on the previous play.

For this game, at least, the offense made up for some of the defense’s struggles to will Temple to the win.

“I kept telling the staff and the guys, ‘If you want to be a good team and have one of these streaks, there’s going to be games like this,’” Golden said.

Brian Dzenis can be reached at brian.dzenis@temple.edu.

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

The Owls survived a fourth-quarter comeback from Miami (Ohio) to win their seventh straight game. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Chester Stewart started under center, but the formula remained the same, handing off to freshman Bernard Pierce.

It was a scene all too common the last three seasons.

The football team held a halftime lead and nursed that lead into the fourth quarter, only to see a sure victory snatched from its hands in the final moments.

But one thing has changed this season – the finish.

With a late comeback victory at Navy and a last-second field goal Thursday night, the Owls finally understand how to close out wins.

“I kept telling the staff and kept telling the guys that if you want to be a good team and you want have one of these streaks, there’s going to be games like this in there, and I just didn’t know when they were going to be,” coach Al Golden said. “I’m so proud of our team for the way they responded.”

The Owls led 21-13 at halftime and 31-13 after three quarters against 1-8 Miami (Ohio) Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field and seemed to be in cruise control to their seventh straight win.

However, the RedHawks made a furious, fourth-quarter dash, scoring 19 unanswered points to take a 32-31 lead with less than three minutes remaining.

The 2006-2008 Owls would have never recovered.

But 2009 is a different story.

Freshly named starting quarterback redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart and freshman running back Bernard Pierce drove the Owls down the field, paving the way for freshman kicker Brandon McManus. McManus’ chip shot 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining gave the Owls a 34-32 win and improved them to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

“Bernard got us down there, and my offensive line, snapper and holder did a great job,” McManus said. “I just wanted to win this for the seniors because of all the hard work they’ve gone through over the four years.”

While the upperclassmen have endured the pain and punch lines during their careers, it’s clear the underclassmen are contributing to the team’s success.

And it starts with Pierce.

Pierce wasn’t able to reach the 200-yard plateau for the third straight week, instead settling for just 178 yards on the ground. Pierce, already Temple’s freshman rushing leader, has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of his last seven games. Pierce’s three touchdowns Thursday night put him at 14 for the season, one shy of single-season record holder Paul Palmer.

“To have a running back like Bernard, it makes our job so much easier,” sophomore left guard Steve Caputo said. “When he makes big runs, it’s him. He’s just unbelievable. We haven’t had someone like him in a while.”

While Pierce has blossomed into one of the premier rushers in the nation, it’s been the quarterback position that has underachieved this season. With that, Golden decided to make a change.

After watching redshirt junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton complete just five passes for 37 yards with two interceptions at Navy, Golden replaced him with Stewart. Charlton had thrown for nine touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. Three of those picks came in Temple’s opening-night loss to Villanova.

“We just thought it was time to make a change there,” Golden said. “It was no secret that Vaughn didn’t have a good day last week. Chester’s been really improving. To be honest with you, the team has improved the last couple of weeks, and Chester just went to work. He never complained about not being the starter. He was ready for his opportunity, and we just made the decision.

“We want to control the clock, and we can’t have a quarterback who turns the ball over,” Golden added.
Stewart did just that, completing 6-of-11 passes for 143 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Stewart completed deep passes of 30 and 45 yards and threw a 31-yard pass to sophomore Joe Jones on the final drive that put the Owls in the redzone and set up McManus’ game-winner.

Thursday was Stewart’s first significant action under center this season. He played in six games last season – three of them starts – and threw for 524 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“He threw the ball well during the week,” Golden said of Stewart. “He didn’t miss too many [today]. He really threw the ball with confidence.”

Stewart, who was told he would be starting Tuesday after practice, said there was no sense of panic in the huddle after Miami (Ohio) took the lead late in the fourth quarter.

“We were relaxed and knew we had to execute,” he said.

“I think I did pretty well,” Stewart added. “My teammates made it easy for me. The line protected me all day, Bernard opened it up with the run game, and receivers got open so I just had to deliver the ball.”

While the Owls edged out another win, there is definitely more work that needs to be done as they strive for a spot in the MAC Championship in December. The oft-tough defense allowed 426 yards passing by RedHawks freshman quarterback Zac Dysert and fumbled the ball five times.

Nevertheless, times are good for Golden and his team. The Owls travel to Akron to face the 1-7 Zips Friday before they wrap up the regular season with two important games against Kent State and at Ohio – both teams right behind Temple in the MAC East standings.

“I said eight weeks ago after Villanova you got to have fun, you have to enjoy the battle,” Golden said. “Our kids are enjoying the battle now. We’re going to go attack and see how many we can win here.”

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

Owls survive upset bid with fourth quarter comeback

It turns out Temple is not the only Mid-American Conference team led by a star freshman. On Thursday, the Owls weathered the offensive storm of 426 yards and three touchdowns from redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert for a last second 34-32 win over Miami (Ohio) (1-9, 1-5 in MAC).

At first, it did not look like Miami would be a serious threat to the six-game win streak as the Owls got off to good start with two quick first quarter touchdowns. The first involved freshman running back Bernard Pierce with a 1-yard touchdown run at the goal line and the other was another 1-yard touchdown run from redshirt junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton off a fake field goal attempt. It was the first time the Owls have attempted a special teams trick play this season.

“We just wanted to run the play. I thought we could score there, and we did.” Coach Al Golden said.

There was also another first for the team that game. Golden decided to start sophomore Chester Stewart at quarterback instead of Charlton, who was the starter since the beginning of the season.

“It was no secret that Vaughn didn’t have a good game last week and Chester’s really been improving.” Golden said. “He never complained about not being the starter, he was ready for his opportunity and we just made the decision.”

Stewart played the game-manager role well for the Owls, throwing for 143 yards with no interceptions.

With five minutes left in the second quarter, Pierce scored his second rushing touchdown on a 7-yard run to make the score 21-3. Miami was able to cut their deficit with Dysert throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Armand Robison and junior placekicker Trevor Cook kicked a 26-yard field goal to cut Temple’s lead to 8 points and the RedHawks went into halftime losing 21-13.

While Temple was winning at halftime, the RedHawks were giving the Owls a run for their money in the passing game. Miami’s spread attack was stretching the Owls defense and Dysert already had 214 yards and a touchdown.

“The kid did a good job getting rid of the ball, he had a hot hand. He made some big time plays creating on the run.” Golden said.

Temple added 10 more points in the third quarter with a 42-yard field goal from freshman placekicker Brandon McManus and 14-yard touchdown run from Pierce, his third of the game.

“It looked like we had a big lead and would move away with it, but they came back.” Golden said.

And come back they did. Dysert opened the fourth quarter with 24-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Steve Marck. After the Miami defense forced a three-and-out from Temple. Dysert and the offense marched up the field and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Robinson for the tandem’s second touchdown. They attempted a two-point conversion, but failed as Dysert’s QB sneak was stopped short of the goal line. Another three-and-out from Temple and Miami scored a touchdown off 2-yard run from junior running back Travis Merriweather and following another failed two-point conversion, the RedHawks were ahead of the Owls 32-31 with four minutes left in the game.

Just like the Navy, the Owls needed another fourth quarter comeback.

“The look on everybody’s face is ‘OK, let’s get the ball. Let’s get the ball and let’s go.’” Golden said.

An 18-yard run from Bernard Pierce and a 31-yard pass from Stewart to sophomore receiver Joe Jones put the Owls in the red zone. Pierce tried to pound the ball inside for the game-winning touchdown but was stalled and with three seconds left in the game, McManus was called in to kick the game winning field goal.

“I figured it would [come down to a field goal], I just had to keep my composure and just stay calm throughout the process.” McManus said.

McManus drilled the 18-yarder, a kick slightly shorter than an extra point attempt for the win and kept the team’s win streak alive.

“Yeah, that one was the first ever of my career, I just thank the [Miami] defense for stopping them on two to give me the chance to win the game.”

Game Notes: The win guarantees a winning season for the first time since 1990. The last time Temple won seven straight was in 1973 under coach Wayne Hardin, that team won eight straight games that season. Pierce now has 14 touchdowns this season, one shy of the school record, 15, held by Paul Palmer (1986) and Walter Washington (2004). This is Pierce’s fifth multi-touchdown game and his second game with three touchdowns; his last three touchdown game came against Toledo.

Brian Dzenis can be reached at brian.dzenis@temple.edu.

Seeking seven straight wins

The football team enters Thursday’s game against 1-7 Miami (Ohio) looking to clinch its first winning season since 1990’s 7-4 finish.

Another weekend, another Temple Owls victory.

The winning streak is now at six games after the Owls’ come-from-behind 27-24 win at Navy Saturday. The win improves Temple’s record to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference and makes the Owls bowl eligible for the first time since 1990.

The Owls have a short week, as they host Miami (Ohio) Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field in search of their seventh straight victory. Here are three things to watch from each team Thursday:

Temple
Running into the record books: Freshman running back Bernard Pierce single-handedly carried the Owls Saturday at Navy. Pierce rushed for 267 yards and had two touchdowns, as Temple rallied for its sixth straight win this season. Pierce already tops the list in rushing yards and touchdowns for a freshman. He also recorded his second straight 200-yard game. Paul Palmer was the last running back to do that in 1986. Pierce also became the first Owl to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for a season since Tanardo Sharps accomplished the feat in 2002. Pierce faces a Miami (Ohio) defense that has allowed more than 177 yards rushing this season. Another 200-plus yard game is certainly not out of the question.

In search of Robin: It is dangerous for the Owls to rely solely on the legs of Pierce.
Redshirt junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton was 5-for-17 for just 37 yards Saturday. One of Charlton’s two interceptions led to Navy’s 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Charlton, who threw for four touchdowns in Temple’s two previous games, needs a bounce-back game and needs to keep Miami’s defense honest.

Avoid costly turnovers: To ensure their seventh straight victory, the Owls need to avoid turning the ball over. The Owls turned over the ball two times on offense and once on special teams, and those mistakes led to two of Navy’s touchdowns. Luckily, the Owls held on, but they can’t survive every week by turning the ball over numerous times.

Miami (Ohio)
First one is always the toughest: Before last Saturday, the RedHawks were 0-8 under first-year coach Mike Haywood. Win No. 1 came Saturday in an upset victory against Toledo. Miami (Ohio) led 24-7 at halftime and held on for a 31-24 victory. After playing the Owls, Miami (Ohio) hosts Bowling Green and Buffalo to wrap up the 2009 season.

An offensive outburst: The RedHawks, who have the worst scoring offense in the MAC, exploded for 31 points in their upset win against Toledo last weekend. Redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert led the charge, throwing for 344 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two touchdowns. Dysert has thrown for 692 yards and scored six touchdowns in his past two games.

Also avoid costly turnovers: If Miami (Ohio) wants any shot of competing with the surging Owls, the RedHawks need to keep the ball out of the defense’s hands. The RedHawks have a negative-19 turnover margin, by far the worst in the conference. Temple has a plus-five turnover margin and has forced eight fumbles and 11 interceptions this season.

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

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