Temple University Athletics
Friday, November 13
Akron, Ohio
8:30 PM
Temple University
56
at
17
AKRON
Redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart
Temple Football Cruises To Eighth Straight Win, 56-17, Over Akron
11.14.09 | Football
Stewart accounts for four touchdowns in high scoring contest
Boxscore in PDF
Postgame Notes
Akron, OH – After trailing 17-7 in the first quarter, the Temple football team scored 49 unanswered points en route to their eighth straight victory, a 56-17 routing of Akron Friday night at InfoCision Field. The Owls eight wins are their most since 1979. Temple is now 8-2 and in first place of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 6-0 record. Akron falls to 3-8, 1-5.
In his second start of the season, redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart (6-11-1, 145 yds) threw for two touchdowns and scored two more on the ground, opening the scoring with a 63-yard toss to junior WR Michael Campbell.
Led by freshman QB Patrick Nicely, who completed 15 of 29 passes for 99 yards, the Zips tied the game on a nine-yard completion to senior WR Andre Jones, then took the lead on a 45-yard field goal by junior PK Branko Rogovic.
A Temple botched snap was scooped-and-scored by sophomore LB Matt Little, giving the Zips a 17-7 advantage.
With obvious attention being paid to Pierce, an end-around handoff to senior WR Jason Harper was broken for a 62-yard dash, but would be called back to midfield because of a personal foul penalty.
Temple would be the benefactor of a 15-yard flag on Akron, but a clutch 17-yard connection from Stewart to red-shirt sophomore WR Joe Jones kept the drive alive. Not quitting on Pierce, speedster WR James Nixon burnt the Zips defense on a 22-yard end-around for his first career rushing touchdown, cutting the Akron lead to 17-14.
The opening quarter was not for the faint of heart, with both teams utilizing big plays to total a combined 31 points over 55 minutes.
Second quarter action featured a more balanced game, but another big play would put the Owls on top. One juke move was all junior WR Delano Green needed to spring a punt return 66-yards, regaining a lead they would not relinquish at 21-17. This was the longest and first return for a score of his career.
With the defense forcing a three-and-out, Temple handed a reverse to Pierce for an 11-yard gain, followed by another end-around to Nixon for 11 yards. Picking up six more yards on two carries from Pierce, the drive stalled after Stewart was sacked for an 8-yard loss on third down. A 48-yard field goal attempt by McManus was blocked, returning the ball to Akron.
Fueled by two tackles by junior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett, the Owls defense forced another Akron punt, taking possession with 2:11 left in the half.
Temple went right back to Pierce, as the local product (Ardmore, PA) broke a 45-yard run down to the Akron 22 yard-line. Another Pierce dive for three yards set up an 8-yard option run over the goal line by Stewart. McManus' extra point moved Temple's lead to 28-17 with 1:06 left in the half.
Momentum continued to favor the Owls' defense, as senior SS Wilbert Brinson intercepted Nicely, returning the ball to the Akron five yard-line.
A loss of seven on the first-play give to Pierce was cancelled by a five-yard face mask penalty. A two-yard dive into the end zone on the following play by Pierce would give the Owls a 35-17 lead heading into the break. The score was the freshman phenom's 15th of the season, tying the school-mark set by Paul Palmer in 1986.
Two carries in the second half from Pierce would be the last for him, unable to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the night (19-97, 1 TD).
A 24-yard touchdown toss from Stewart to Jones, and a five-yard scoring carry by freshman Matt Brown in the second half marked the sixth and seventh different Owls to score tonight. The 56 points are the most under head coach Al Golden, and the most since the Owls topped Rutgers 56-28 on October 30, 1999.
Brinson and Jarrett led the way on defense for the Owls, totaling seven tackles each.
Temple returns home to Lincoln Financial Field for their final home game of the season, taking on Kent State and celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard on 1340 WHAT.
It is Super Saturday for Temple on November 21 as the men' s basketball team hosts Siena in its home-opener at the Liacouras Center at 7:00 p.m. To celebrate this rare basketball/football doubleheader, anyone that shows a Temple-Kent State football ticket at the Liacouras Center Box Office that night can get a Temple-Siena lower level baseline ticket for only $10 (while inventory is available). Similarly, fans that have purchased a Temple-Siena ticket will get an end zone ticket for the Temple-Kent State game for only $10.
Postgame Notes
Akron, OH – After trailing 17-7 in the first quarter, the Temple football team scored 49 unanswered points en route to their eighth straight victory, a 56-17 routing of Akron Friday night at InfoCision Field. The Owls eight wins are their most since 1979. Temple is now 8-2 and in first place of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 6-0 record. Akron falls to 3-8, 1-5.
In his second start of the season, redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart (6-11-1, 145 yds) threw for two touchdowns and scored two more on the ground, opening the scoring with a 63-yard toss to junior WR Michael Campbell.
Led by freshman QB Patrick Nicely, who completed 15 of 29 passes for 99 yards, the Zips tied the game on a nine-yard completion to senior WR Andre Jones, then took the lead on a 45-yard field goal by junior PK Branko Rogovic.
A Temple botched snap was scooped-and-scored by sophomore LB Matt Little, giving the Zips a 17-7 advantage.
With obvious attention being paid to Pierce, an end-around handoff to senior WR Jason Harper was broken for a 62-yard dash, but would be called back to midfield because of a personal foul penalty.
Temple would be the benefactor of a 15-yard flag on Akron, but a clutch 17-yard connection from Stewart to red-shirt sophomore WR Joe Jones kept the drive alive. Not quitting on Pierce, speedster WR James Nixon burnt the Zips defense on a 22-yard end-around for his first career rushing touchdown, cutting the Akron lead to 17-14.
The opening quarter was not for the faint of heart, with both teams utilizing big plays to total a combined 31 points over 55 minutes.
Second quarter action featured a more balanced game, but another big play would put the Owls on top. One juke move was all junior WR Delano Green needed to spring a punt return 66-yards, regaining a lead they would not relinquish at 21-17. This was the longest and first return for a score of his career.
With the defense forcing a three-and-out, Temple handed a reverse to Pierce for an 11-yard gain, followed by another end-around to Nixon for 11 yards. Picking up six more yards on two carries from Pierce, the drive stalled after Stewart was sacked for an 8-yard loss on third down. A 48-yard field goal attempt by McManus was blocked, returning the ball to Akron.
Fueled by two tackles by junior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett, the Owls defense forced another Akron punt, taking possession with 2:11 left in the half.
Temple went right back to Pierce, as the local product (Ardmore, PA) broke a 45-yard run down to the Akron 22 yard-line. Another Pierce dive for three yards set up an 8-yard option run over the goal line by Stewart. McManus' extra point moved Temple's lead to 28-17 with 1:06 left in the half.
Momentum continued to favor the Owls' defense, as senior SS Wilbert Brinson intercepted Nicely, returning the ball to the Akron five yard-line.
A loss of seven on the first-play give to Pierce was cancelled by a five-yard face mask penalty. A two-yard dive into the end zone on the following play by Pierce would give the Owls a 35-17 lead heading into the break. The score was the freshman phenom's 15th of the season, tying the school-mark set by Paul Palmer in 1986.
Two carries in the second half from Pierce would be the last for him, unable to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the night (19-97, 1 TD).
A 24-yard touchdown toss from Stewart to Jones, and a five-yard scoring carry by freshman Matt Brown in the second half marked the sixth and seventh different Owls to score tonight. The 56 points are the most under head coach Al Golden, and the most since the Owls topped Rutgers 56-28 on October 30, 1999.
Brinson and Jarrett led the way on defense for the Owls, totaling seven tackles each.
Temple returns home to Lincoln Financial Field for their final home game of the season, taking on Kent State and celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard on 1340 WHAT.
It is Super Saturday for Temple on November 21 as the men' s basketball team hosts Siena in its home-opener at the Liacouras Center at 7:00 p.m. To celebrate this rare basketball/football doubleheader, anyone that shows a Temple-Kent State football ticket at the Liacouras Center Box Office that night can get a Temple-Siena lower level baseline ticket for only $10 (while inventory is available). Similarly, fans that have purchased a Temple-Siena ticket will get an end zone ticket for the Temple-Kent State game for only $10.
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