Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 23
Buffalo, N.Y.
Noon
Temple University
42
at
0
*Buffalo
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple Blows Past Buffalo, 42-0
10.23.10 | Football
Owls post first shutout of FBS opponent in 36 years
Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes | Al Golden Posgame Interview Video
Mike Gerardi Postgame Interview Video | Bernard Pierce Postgame Interview Video
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Temple showed how dominant a football team it can be when it clicks on all cylinders in a 42-0 rout of host Buffalo in front of 13,371 fans celebrating homecoming at UB Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Owls move to 6-2, 3-1 in Mid-American Conference play, and became Bowl eligible for the second straight season and fifth time in the program's history.
Offensively the Owls sophomore tandem of Bernard Pierce (23 rushes, 106 yds) and Matt Brown (20, 109 yds) both rushed for over 100 yards, marking the first time two TU running backs accomplished the feat in the same game since Stacey Mack (164) and Elmarko Jackson (101) did it against Rutgers in 1997. Redshirt junior QB Mike Gerardi passed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. He also led Temple, which entered the game last in the MAC in third down conversion percentage (29.1%), to seven of 11 conversions while in the contest.
Defensively, Temple forced four turnovers while holding Buffalo to a mere 99 yards on 65 plays in posting its first shutout since a 35-0 blanking of Boston University at Hershey Stadium on September 5, 1992. It was the first shutout of a FBS opponent since a 17-0 win at East Carolina on Sept. 8, 1984. Individually, senior LB Peanut Joseph, senior DB Jaiquawn Jarrett, and sophomore DB Maurice Jones all had interceptions, while junior DB Kee-Ayre Griffin recovered a fumble. Junior DT Muhammed Wilkerson also made a career-high 2.5 sacks.
The margin of victory was also the most by Temple in a MAC game, besting the 39-point margin set in last year's 56-17 victory over Akron.
"I didn't think we were playing to our potential for the last couple weeks and whether or not we executed the way we wanted that was immaterial, we didn't have fun and we weren't enjoying the process," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "We were letting outsiders set our agenda, so I thought we got back to basics today. Our kids had fun, we played with energy, we played with passion, and we played tough. We got back to our brand today which was good. Our kids enjoyed the battle, and it's always good to get a road win in this conference."
The last time these teams met at UB Stadium the game was decided on the last play, a Hail Mary pass that gave Buffalo a 30-28 win. This time, the contest was decided on the first play as freshman DB Tomas Cabrera, making the first appearance of his career, forced a fumble on the opening kickoff that was recovered by Griffin at the Buffalo 23. Under the direction of Gerardi, the Owls took just six plays, all rushes, before Pierce found paydirt from two yards out to make it 7-0. Gerardi made the big play on the drive, cutting inside on an option for a seven-yard rush on a third-and-six play from the nine.
After Temple's defense held Buffalo on its first possession, Gerardi marched the Owls downfield for another score. The southpaw signal-caller hit senior WR Michael Campbell for 10 yards and a first down on a third down play and then found redshirt junior TE Evan Rodriguez for another 10-yard first down to the Buffalo 22. Following three runs by Pierce and another by sophomore RB Matt Brown put the ball at the five, Gerardi found Campbell on a fade pattern in the back of the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Temple was not done with its first quarter offensive surge as the Owls would make it 21-0 on its next possession. James Nixon (11 yds), Pierce (12) and Brown (31) would break off double-digit rushes on the first three plays with Pierce's eight touchdown of the season coming on a 10-yard run to the right corner of the end zone. The 21 first quarter points are the most by an Owl team in the Golden Era.
Gerardi would connect with junior WR Rod Streater for a 42-yard touchdown on the Owls first possession of the second quarter. Streater made a good reception at the five, despite being interfered with, before taking it in for the score.
The Owls offense could have added more points in the first half, but senior DB Domonic Cook made two big interceptions, the first at the UB 12 and the second in the end zone.
Temple picked up right where they left off in the second half with Gerardi hitting Streater on a five-yard fade pattern, again while being interfered with, to make it 35-0 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Redshirt sophomore RB Ahkeem Smith added his first career score, a one-yard run, to account for the final score, 42-0, with 11:52 remaining in the game.
The only thing remaining was to see if the defense could hold on for the shutout. Buffalo had its best chance to tack on points when Terrel Jackson returned a Brandon McManus punt 58 yards to the TU 12 before being hauled down by Marcus Green. The defense held strong, and forced the Bulls to turn it over on downs for thr fourth time in the contest.
The Owls return home to play Akron at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, October 30. The game will be broadcast by 1340 AM WHAT.
Mike Gerardi Postgame Interview Video | Bernard Pierce Postgame Interview Video
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Temple showed how dominant a football team it can be when it clicks on all cylinders in a 42-0 rout of host Buffalo in front of 13,371 fans celebrating homecoming at UB Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Owls move to 6-2, 3-1 in Mid-American Conference play, and became Bowl eligible for the second straight season and fifth time in the program's history.
Offensively the Owls sophomore tandem of Bernard Pierce (23 rushes, 106 yds) and Matt Brown (20, 109 yds) both rushed for over 100 yards, marking the first time two TU running backs accomplished the feat in the same game since Stacey Mack (164) and Elmarko Jackson (101) did it against Rutgers in 1997. Redshirt junior QB Mike Gerardi passed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. He also led Temple, which entered the game last in the MAC in third down conversion percentage (29.1%), to seven of 11 conversions while in the contest.
Defensively, Temple forced four turnovers while holding Buffalo to a mere 99 yards on 65 plays in posting its first shutout since a 35-0 blanking of Boston University at Hershey Stadium on September 5, 1992. It was the first shutout of a FBS opponent since a 17-0 win at East Carolina on Sept. 8, 1984. Individually, senior LB Peanut Joseph, senior DB Jaiquawn Jarrett, and sophomore DB Maurice Jones all had interceptions, while junior DB Kee-Ayre Griffin recovered a fumble. Junior DT Muhammed Wilkerson also made a career-high 2.5 sacks.
The margin of victory was also the most by Temple in a MAC game, besting the 39-point margin set in last year's 56-17 victory over Akron.
"I didn't think we were playing to our potential for the last couple weeks and whether or not we executed the way we wanted that was immaterial, we didn't have fun and we weren't enjoying the process," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "We were letting outsiders set our agenda, so I thought we got back to basics today. Our kids had fun, we played with energy, we played with passion, and we played tough. We got back to our brand today which was good. Our kids enjoyed the battle, and it's always good to get a road win in this conference."
The last time these teams met at UB Stadium the game was decided on the last play, a Hail Mary pass that gave Buffalo a 30-28 win. This time, the contest was decided on the first play as freshman DB Tomas Cabrera, making the first appearance of his career, forced a fumble on the opening kickoff that was recovered by Griffin at the Buffalo 23. Under the direction of Gerardi, the Owls took just six plays, all rushes, before Pierce found paydirt from two yards out to make it 7-0. Gerardi made the big play on the drive, cutting inside on an option for a seven-yard rush on a third-and-six play from the nine.
After Temple's defense held Buffalo on its first possession, Gerardi marched the Owls downfield for another score. The southpaw signal-caller hit senior WR Michael Campbell for 10 yards and a first down on a third down play and then found redshirt junior TE Evan Rodriguez for another 10-yard first down to the Buffalo 22. Following three runs by Pierce and another by sophomore RB Matt Brown put the ball at the five, Gerardi found Campbell on a fade pattern in the back of the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Temple was not done with its first quarter offensive surge as the Owls would make it 21-0 on its next possession. James Nixon (11 yds), Pierce (12) and Brown (31) would break off double-digit rushes on the first three plays with Pierce's eight touchdown of the season coming on a 10-yard run to the right corner of the end zone. The 21 first quarter points are the most by an Owl team in the Golden Era.
Gerardi would connect with junior WR Rod Streater for a 42-yard touchdown on the Owls first possession of the second quarter. Streater made a good reception at the five, despite being interfered with, before taking it in for the score.
The Owls offense could have added more points in the first half, but senior DB Domonic Cook made two big interceptions, the first at the UB 12 and the second in the end zone.
Temple picked up right where they left off in the second half with Gerardi hitting Streater on a five-yard fade pattern, again while being interfered with, to make it 35-0 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Redshirt sophomore RB Ahkeem Smith added his first career score, a one-yard run, to account for the final score, 42-0, with 11:52 remaining in the game.
The only thing remaining was to see if the defense could hold on for the shutout. Buffalo had its best chance to tack on points when Terrel Jackson returned a Brandon McManus punt 58 yards to the TU 12 before being hauled down by Marcus Green. The defense held strong, and forced the Bulls to turn it over on downs for thr fourth time in the contest.
The Owls return home to play Akron at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, October 30. The game will be broadcast by 1340 AM WHAT.
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