Temple University Athletics
Temple University
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Ohio Tops Temple, 31-23, in MAC East Showdown
11.17.10 | Football
Loss snaps Owls' 10-game home win streak
PHILADELPHIA - Two key turnovers coupled with two key injuries proved to be too much to overcome for Temple as Ohio defeated the Owls 31-23 in a MAC East showdown Tuesday evening at Lincoln Financial Field. The game, televised nationally on ESPN2, was played in sloppy conditions due to a torrential rainstorm.
The loss snapped a 10-game home win streak and eliminated the Owls (8-3, 5-2) from any chance of playing in the Mid-American Conference championship game. The Bobcats, which improved to 8-3, 6-1, will win the MAC East Division for the second straight year with a win at Kent State on November 26.
Sophomore RB Bernard Pierce, who missed last year's game, was on the field for one play before leaving due to another injury. The Heisman hopeful broke the first play of the game for a 67-yard rush before pulling up lame and being tackled. Insult was added to the injury as the play was called back to a holding call.
On the other side of the ball senior MLB Peanut Joseph would leave the field, being carted off with 2:21 left in the half. Joseph, who was among 17 seniors playing in their final home game, was leading the Owl defense at the time with six solo tackles.
With Pierce sidelined, the Temple running game was held to a mere 81 yards with sophomore RB Matt Brown accounting for 72 yards on 20 carries. Ohio, on the other hand, gained 204 yards on the ground.
However it was turnovers that proved costly for the Owls. Ohio CB Tavis Carrie stripped senior WR Michael Campbell at midfield on the Owls' second drive with senior DE Dak Noteestine recovered for the visitors at the Temple 47.
Ohio QB Boo Jackson, who was questionable for the game, made a big third down and 16 completion, hitting WR Terrence McCrae on a 33-yard pass play to the Temple four. Two plays later RB Vince Davidson plowed in from fice yards out to make it 7-0 Ohio.
Temple evened the score at the start of the second quarter. Sophomore QB Mike Gerardi, who set new career highs in completions (28) and attempts (42) in passing for 311 yards, hit junior WR Rod Streater for 22 and 19 yards, the last giving the Owls a first and goal on the one. Brown then bulled his way in for the tying score.
Jackson then answered with his arm, connecting on two long passes on the Bobcats next drive with the last finding a wide-open Riley Dunlop in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.
Sophomore PK Brandon McManus cut the margin to 14-10 on the next possession with a 45-yard field goal. The kick was set up on nice receptions by redshirt freshman TE Alex Jackson (29 yds) and Campbell (12 yds).
Junior Phil Bates, who subbed for Jackson at quarterback during the game, engineered a drive with two strong runs of 13 and 14 yards that ended in a 40-yard field goal to make it 17-10. That was how the half would end.
Senior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett picked off his ninth career pass to at the Temple 12 to stop the Bobcats initial drive, but McManus failed on a 45-yarder to end the Owls' possession. Neither team was able to mount much offense the rest of the third quarter as the conditions continued to deteriorate.
With Temple driving to start the fourth quarter, Gerardi had an errant pass fall into the waiting arms of sophomore DT Carl Jones, who returned it 25 yards to the Owl 23. A personal foul penalty on Brown moved the ball to the Temple 11. Donte Harden then rushed it four straight times, the last for a two-yard TD to make it 24-10.
The Owls turned the ball over on downs at the Ohio 44 on the ensuing drive when Brown was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-one play. Senior Vince Davidson (16 carries, 100 yards), moved to the backfield from his tight end position, broke a 41-yard TD run four plays later to break the game open.
Gerardi then took just over two minutes to drive the Cherry and White 82 yards, hitting Campbell on a 21-yard TD pass to make it 31-17.
Then the game took a crazy turn.
The owls recovered an onside kick, only to have Gerardi give the ball back to Ohio when he was picked off by Hilton Dawson.
Senior OLB Amara Kamara then forced a fumble on the next play that was recovered by junior DT Muhammad Wilkerson at midfield. Three plays later Gerardi found Campbell again, this time for a 17-yard score. McManus, however, failed on the extra point, snapping his streak of 41 straight successful PATs.
This time, Ohio recovered the onside kick, and was able to run the clock out and seal the win.
The Owls close out the regular season at Miami (Ohio) next Tuesday. Kickoff of the nationally-televised (ESPN2) game is set for 7:00 p.m. The game will also be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
