Temple University Athletics
Temple Wins Fourth MAC Game with 24-14 Victory Over Kent State
11.17.07 | Football
Nov. 17, 2007
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PHILADELPHIA - Temple used a balanced rushing attack and four interceptions in the second half to defeat Kent State, 24-14, Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The win is the Owls' fourth conference victory in Mid-American play. It marks the first time since 1967 that the Owls have won four conference games in a season. The victory also marks the first time since 2002 that Temple has won four games in a season.
The two-pronged rushing attack of freshman RB Daryl Robinson and sophomore RB Jason Harper proved to be the difference for the Owls. Robinson rushed for a career-high 105 yards, while Harper added 93 yards with a touchdown late in the third quarter.
Sophomore QB Vaughn Charlton, making his third start of the season, was 18-of-27 in the game, throwing for 191 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore WR Dy'Onne Crudup had seven receptions for a career-high 85 yards, including the game-winning touchdown with 14:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Cherry and White defense put on one of its best performances of the season. The defense made four second-half interceptions and held the Golden Flashes to only one offensive touchdown. The Owls also held Eugene Jarvis, the fifth leading rusher in the NCAA and top rusher in the MAC, to only 66 yards on the ground.
Sophomore PK Jake Brownell made a career-high four field goals, connecting on kicks of 26, 27, 30 and 32 yards.
While the Owls statistically dominated the game, out-gaining Kent State 375 to 124 and winning the time of possession battle by more than 17 minutes, they found themselves trailing in the fourth quarter due to missed first-half opportunities.
For the second consecutive game, the Owls could not capitalize inside the opponent's 30-yard line, scoring just three points on five trips in the first half.
But the Cherry and White offense finally kicked into full gear late in the third quarter. After Kent State took a 14-6 lead following a blocked punt with 4:53 on the clock, the Owls responded with their best drive of the game. Harper gained 49 yards on just three carries, finding the end zone on a nine-yard run to cut the lead to 14-12. Temple failed to convert on the two-point conversion, when freshman WR Michael Campbell's catch was ruled out of bounds following an acrobatic flip from Robinson.
The Owls took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter when Charlton hit Crudup with a 20-yard touchdown pass, capping off a five-play, 38-yard drive to give the Owls an 18-14 lead. The Owls once again failed to convert the two-point play.
With the lead for the first time in the game, the Owls' defense clamped down on the Golden Knights, forcing three interceptions on their final three drives of the game.
The interceptions led to two Brownell fourth-quarter field goals from 26 and 32 yards, making the score 24-14.
Kent State got on the board when Jarvis scored on 21-yard TD run with 6:37 left in the second quarter. The score capped off a six-play 65-yard drive for the Golden Flashes.
Temple got the scoreboard when Brownell connected on a 27-yard field goal with 1:26 left in the second quarter. The field goal was set up by freshman WR Delano Green's 25-yard punt return to the Kent State 10 yard line. Kent State was punting from its own one-yard line on the play after center Josh Perry snapped the ball over QB Jon Brown's head.
The Cherry and White started off the second half with an impressive 11-play, 57-yard drive in their first possession, led by Charlton's 50 passing yards. But much like the first half, the drive stalled inside the 20. Brownell kicked a 30-yard field goal, his second of the game, to make the score to 7-6.
Kent State scored its second touchdown of the game when freshman Jeff Wathne's punt was blocked by Kent State's Kevin Hogan and recovered in the end zone by Coleman Lynn to put the Golden Flashes up 14-6 with 4:53 left in the third. Junior DT Terrance Knighton paced the defense with four tackles, three TFLs and an interception. Sophomore CB Anthony Ferla led the team in tackles with five. Sophomore LB Alex Joseph, sophomore CB Dominique Harris and freshman Jaiquawn Jarrett all added interceptions for the Cherry and White.
The Owls will travel to Western Michigan next Saturday, Nov. 24, for the final game of the 2007 season. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WPHT 1210 AM.
