Temple University Athletics
Football Falls At Kent State, 41-38
11.12.08 | Football
Nov. 12, 2008
KENT, OHIO - It was a record-setting night for Temple players at Dix Stadium Wednesday night, but for the team, the Owls fell just short against the Kent State Golden Flashes, dropping a 41-38 decision. The loss all but eliminated the Cherry and White (3-7, 2-4 MAC) from contention for the Mid-American Conference East Division race. Kent State improved to 3-7 and 2-4 in conference play.
Trailing 41-38 with just over two minutes remaining to play, the Owls went for it on fourth-and-five from the Kent State 49. Senior QB Adam DiMichele, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns, tossed a short pass to Marquise Liverpool. The sophomore back was tackled just short of the marker, giving the ball back to the Golden Flash on downs.
Temple got the ball back for one final possession with 19 seconds remaining after forcing KSU to punt. DiMichele hit WR Dy'Onne Crudup on a hook and ladder play but the ensuing lateral was picked off by Monte Simmons to end the game.
The loss spoiled an amazing performance by junior WR Jason Harper. The converted running back made a career-high 10 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The 209 yards is the second most receiving yards in Temple history, and most by an opponent against Kent State since Randy Moss gained 216 receiving yards in 1997.
Senior WR Travis Shelton also had a record-setting night, making two kickoff returns, including a 92-yard TD return, to break the school mark for career kickoff return yardage.
Finally senior WR Bruce Francis made just one reception, but it was a big one. His 32-yard TD at the end of the first half set the record for most career touchdown receptions at 19.
The game started with Kent State jumped all over the Owls, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions to take a 21-3 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining in the half. The one drive the Golden Flashes failed to score on was their second when senior DT Terrance Knighton forced a fumble at the Owl 19 that was recovered by junior LB John Haley.
It was all Julian Edelman and Eugene Jarvis all the time during KSU's three scoring drives. The Golden Flashes dynamic duo combined for 144 rushing yards in the half with Edelman scoring on two one-yard runs sandwiching a Jarvis five-yard run to paydirt. Edelman, who finished the game with 152 yards rushing and 232 yards passing, also became the 25th player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to rush for 1000 yards and pass for 1000 yards in the same season.
The Owls kick-started their offense following an acrobatic interception by junior Dominique Harris that gave TU the ball at the KSU 27. Two carries by freshman Kee-ayre Griffin, the last a 21-yard touchdown, made it 21-10. Junior Jake Brownell, who made a 43-yard field goal on the Cherry and White's first drive, converted the extra point.
Kent State's ensuing drive stalled due to an illegal block penalty and a strong tackle by freshman LB Adrian Robinson on Edelman for a loss of six.
Freshman punter Matt Rinehart pinned the Owls down with a 39-yard punt to the two-yard line. DiMichele, throwing from his own end zone, was intercepted at the Temple 36. Another costly penalty and a tougher Temple defense led by a key tackle for loss by sophomore LB Amara Kamra stifled the KSU attack.
Temple then mounted an impressive 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive, its longest of the season, to end the half. After driving the ball to the KSU 12, DiMichele was sacked on successive plays to make it a third and 30 at the 32. DiMichele then finally found his favorite target, Francis, for a 32-yard touchdown reception. The pass extended Francis' reception streak to 36 games and gave him the school record for career receiving TDs.
The Owls carried that momentum into the second half as senior Travis Shelton took the opening kickoff 92 yards for his second kickoff return for a touchdown. It gave the Cherry and White its first lead, 24-21, and allowed Shelton to break the Temple record for career kickoff return yardage. Shelton surpassed Mike Palys (1985-88), who had 1,590 kickoff return yards in his career, and now has 1,666 kickoff return yards in his career.
That was the first of four straight lead changes in the third quarter as both teams scored on their first two possessions of the quarter.
Following Shelton's return, Edelman marched the Golden Flashes down the field on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that was capped with his career-best third touchdown run, a two-yarder that made the score 28-24.
DiMichele and the Owls quickly answered. The senior signal-caller needed just four plays to hit Harper on a 35-yard touchdown to allow Temple to regain the lead, 31-28.
Edelman used his arm this time to give KSU the lead again, hitting Sam Kirkland on a seven-yard touchdown reception to cap a 10-play, 63-yard drive making it 35-31.
The Owls turned the ball over in their own territory late in the third quarter when TE Kevin Armstrong fumbled at the TU 38. Jarvis, who rushed for 185 yards on 34 carries, ran on four straight plays to give KSU first-and-goal at the four. Temple's defense, which lost three starters to injury during the game, made a strong stand with the key play coming on a solid hit on Jarvis by Wilbert Brinson, stopping the back for a loss on third and three.
Nate Reed connected on his first of two short field goals to extend the KSU lead to 38-31 with 12:30 remaining.
It took DiMichele just five plays to even the score, hitting a streaking Harper down the left sideline for a 51-yard touchdown reception.
Kent answered right back as Edelman started its next drive with a nifty 35-yard run to the Temple 35. Following a sack by freshman Muhammad Wilkerson, the Golden Flash QB ran 11 yards to the Owl 26. He then hit Derek McBryde for a 13-yard pass play to the 13-yard line. The Cherry and White defense clamped down with Brian Sanford corralling Edelman for no gain on a third-and-six at the nine. Reed converted the 26-yard field goal to make it 41-38 with 6:12 to play.
The Owl offense ran out of steam, however, going three-and-out on their next possession, and then turning the ball over on downs when Liverpool came up just short with a little over two remaining.
Temple returns home to play in the friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in a month when the Owls host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, November 22 at 1:00 p.m.
