Temple University Athletics
Owls Fall In Homecoming Game To Western Michigan, 7-3
9.27.08 | Football
Sept. 27, 2008
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PHILADELPHIA - Homecoming was sweeter for Sharon Hill, PA native and Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit than it was for the Temple faithful on Saturday as the Broncos captured a 7-3 victory over the Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. It marked the first loss in a Homecoming game for TU head coach Al Golden in three tries.
There wasn't much offense from either side in the penalty-ridden contest. Temple was held without a touchdown for the second straight game, while WMU needed just a Juan Nunez 30-yard reception to beat the Owls for the seventh straight time in the series.
Nunez's catch with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter capped a nine-play, 77-yard drive in which Bronco QB Tim Hiller completed all five passes for 54 yards. Hiller connected on 26-for-42 passes for 252 yards to account for just about all of Western Michigan's offense. The Broncos were held to 36 yards on the ground on 26 carries, a week after rushing for 274 yards at Tennessee Tech.
Penalties at the most inopportune times cost Temple. In the first half, a pair of holding penalties brought back a junior Dominique Harris interception that was returned to the WMU five-yard line and a 50-yard freshman James Nixon touchdown run.
In the second half, a sideline interference call on the Temple bench negated what would have been a fourth-and-one for the Broncos on their own 29-yard line. Instead, the penalty resulted in a first down and Western Michigan continued driving to midfield before punting into the end zone to give the Owls the ball on their own 20.
The Owls totaled 10 penalties for 76 yards, while WMU had eight penalties for 57 yards.
Temple's defense kept the team in the game, even forcing a WMU fumble with 2:34 to play that gave the Homecoming crowd hope of a comeback. But the Cherry and White gained just two yards on the series and gave the ball back on downs.
Junior Alex Joseph and senior Evan Cooper, Jr. led the way with seven tackles each. Junior Jamal Schulters had six tackles and an interception.
Redshirt freshman Chester Stewart made his first start at quarterback in place of Adam DiMichele and completed 10-for-20 passes for 60 yards. He also ran for 29 yards. Nixon was a bright spot for the Owls offense, compiling 53 yards on the ground on just three carries.
Trailing 7-3, the Owls had a chance to cut into the deficit or even take the lead when sophomore Delano Green returned a punt 24 yards to the WMU 37 with 13:19 to play. After a freshman Joe Jones (15 carries, 49 yards) rush for three yards, Stewart found junior Dy'Onne Crudup for 21 yards down to the Western Michigan 13. The Owls were unable to pick up a first down and Brownell's 28-yard field goal hit the right upright with 10:36 remaining.
It was as close as the hosts would get to the end zone, dropping Temple's record to 1-4 (0-2 MAC). WMU improves to 4-1, 2-0 MAC.
Temple took a 3-0 lead into the locker room thanks to an inspiring performance by its defense. The Owls, who have not allowed a first-quarter point this season, also held their opponent scoreless in the first half for the third time this season. The run defense was especially impressive, as Temple did not allow the Broncos to gain a single yard through 30 minutes of play.
WMU gained 146 yards through the air, with 64 coming on the final drive of the half. The visitors had first and goal from the five but three consecutive stops by the TU defense yielded a 24-yard field goal attempt from John Potter with five seconds on the clock. The kick was wide left, providing the Owls with their fourth halftime lead in five games.
The Cherry and White took a 3-0 lead with 9:19 to play in the first quarter on a career-long 45-yard field goal by redshirt junior Jake Brownell. The play capped a 37-yard drive in which the Owls ran on 10 of the 11 plays.
Temple will look to break a four-game losing skid when it visits Miami (OH) on Saturday at 3:30 PM.
