Temple University Athletics
Owls Return Home To Host Kent State Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field
10.2.06 | Football
Oct. 2, 2006
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PHILADELPHIA - Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Al Golden, has its first home contest in nearly a month when it hosts MAC-foe Kent State, under the leadership of third-year coach Doug Martin, Saturday in a 1:00 p.m. kick-off at Lincoln Financial Field. Temple employs a multiple offense and a 3-4 defense. Kent State utilizes a spread offense and a 3-4 defense. After hosting Louisville on Sept. 9, the Owls have played three consecutive road games, with four of their first five games away from home, including three evening kick-offs.
Saturday's game marks the annual Police Athletic League Day at Temple Football. The Temple University Health System and the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union are also welcomed guests.
Temple has played 19 true freshmen thus far this season, the most in Div. I-A. Through the first five games, 35 Owls have seen their first collegiate action, including five redshirt freshmen. In total, 65 different players have competed. Of those 65, 43 have two or more additional seasons of eligibility remaining after the 2006 campaign.
Temple (0-5) is coming off a 43-14 loss at SEC-member Vanderbilt last Saturday evening. Redshirt senior RB Tim Brown had a career night, carrying 31 times for 148 yards, while also making two catches for 14 yards. The Stockton, Calif. native had a 78-yard TD run at the close of the second quarter to give the Owls the momentum heading into the locker room at the midpoint. The highlight-reel scamper is tied for the third longest scoring run (tied for fourth longest rush overall) in Temple football history. In the third quarter, redshirt sophomore QB Adam DiMichele engineered a 14-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard scoring toss to true freshman TE Marcus Brown. It marked the first passing and receiving TD, respectively, of their collegiate careers. Sophomore WR Bruce Francis had the Owls' best receiving performance of the season, grabbing four aerials for 96 yards.
Kent State (3-2, 3-0) is fresh from a 37-15 win over rival Akron at home last Saturday afternoon. Sophomore QB Julian Edelman threw for 305 yards and two TDs, adding another score on the ground, to help the Golden Flashes capture victory in the 49th Battle for the Wagon Wheel. Edelman, who completed 17-of-21 passes for 305 yards without an INT, tossed scoring passes of 15 yards to senior TE Brian Bell and 55 yards to senior WR Najah Pruden. Kent State racked up 461 yards of total offense while the Golden Flashes defense had four sacks and limited the defending MAC champions to just 73 yards rushing. Pruden had four catches for 156 yards and now ranks fourth nationally with an average of 108.40 receiving yards per game.
Kent State has won three straight games, all over MAC opponents, after opening the season with a loss to Minnesota and an overtime defeat at Army. The Golden Flashes rank eighth nationally in pass efficiency defense (94.80) and 17th in sacks (3.20).
Despite the fact that Temple has sponsored a football program since 1894 and Kent State has fielded a squad since 1920, Saturday's contest marks the first meeting on the collegiate gridiron.
