Temple University Athletics
Saturday, November 6
Kent, Ohio
2 p.m.
Temple University
28
at
10
*Kent State
QB Mike Gerardi
Gerardi Leads Temple to 28-10 Win at Kent State
11.6.10 | Football
Redshirt sophomore passes for 368 yards and two TDs
Boxscore
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
Photo Gallery
KENT, OHIO - Redshirt sophomore QB Mike Gerardi passed for 368 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in leading Temple to a 28-10 win over host Kent State in a key Mid-American Conference battle at Dix Stadium Saturday afternoon. It was the fourth straight win for the Owls (8-2, 5-1), who remain tie atop the MAC East standings with Ohio (7-3, 5-1), who they host in their next game on ESPN2 (Nov. 16, 8:00 p.m.). Kent State (4-5, 3-3) had its two-game win streak come to an end in losing for the first time at home this season.
With the victory, Temple tied the school records for most wins in two consecutive seasons (17) and the most wins in three consecutive seasons (22). The last time the Owls won 17 games in consecutive seasons was in 1978-79 and in 1973-74. The last time TU won 22 games in three consecutive seasons was in 1977-78-79 and 1972-73-74.
Gerardi, who looked like a three-year starter rather than a three-game one, set the Temple record for most passing yards by a first-year starter at quarterback. His 368 yards are the fourth-highest in Temple history.
Senior WR Michael Campbell, who caught a 63-yard reception to the one yard-line to set up the Owls' third score, had a career-high 137 yards on five receptions. He also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career and now ranks 16th in receiving yardage with 1,074 yards.
Junior DT Muhammad Wilkerson led the Owl defense with six tackles, including a career high three sacks for minus 21 yards.
The Owls looked sluggish to start the game against the nation's top-ranked rush defense. Temple was able to amass only four yards on the ground in the opening 15 minutes and was forced to punt on each of its first two possessions. Senior Jeff Wathne's first punt was blocked by Sam Kirkland which set up a Freddy Cortez 32-yard field goal. It marked the first points given up by Temple, which entered play with the MAC's top scoring defense (18.3 ppg.) in over two games, and gave the Golden Flash a short-lived 3-0 lead.
Gerardi was the Owls' main spark in the first quarter, passing for 91 yards in the frame. He used his legs in the opening of the second quarter, diving in from nine yards out for his first career touchdown to cap a 14-play, 80-yard drive to put Temple ahead, 7-3. On that drive, Gerardi overcame a 1st and 30, following consecutive holding calls, with passes to junior WR Rod Streater (23 yds) and redshirt junior TE Evan Rodriguez (10 yds).
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman WR Tomas Cabrera then made his second forced fumble on a kickoff return, stripping Kirkland with the ball being recovered by Temple PK Brandon McManus at the Kent State 26.
This time it took Gerardi just five plays to find Streater in the back of the end zone for a 14-3 lead with 9:53 remaining in the half.
The Owls nearly scored again before halftime as Gerardi made another nifty 17-yard run on a 3rd and 16 play to keep a drive alive. He then hit Campbell for five yards, and following a six-yard gain by sophomore Bernard Pierce, connected with freshman WR Deon Miller for a 16-yard pass play to give the Owls a first down at the Kent State 29.
Sophomore Matt Brown then broke off an 11-yard run to the 18, before Gerardi made one of his few mistakes, an interception at the goal line on a tipped ball to end the drive.
Gerardi was intercepted again on his next pass, which started the third quarter, but the Owls defense forced a turnover as junior DE Adrian Robinson stripped Andre Flowers at midfield with sophomore SS Justin Gildea recovering at the Temple 48.
Temple quickly capitalized with Gerardi hitting Campbell on a 63-yard reception to the Kent State one yard-line. Pierce, who finished with a game-high 84 yards on 28 carries, scored his 11th TD of the season on a one-yard rush to make it 21-3.
The game would stay that way until Wathne had another punt blocked in the end zone with Kirkland recovering for a touchdown, making it 21-10 with 4:19 remaining.
The Owls quickly struck back. After recovering the onside kick, Gerardi found freshman TE Alex Jackson for a 49-yard touchdown on the first play to account for the final score.
Temple next takes on Ohio University on Tuesday, November 16 (8:00 p.m.) at Lincoln Financial Field. The ESPN2 televised game will featured the MAC East co-leaders and is a rematch of last year's final regular season game at Ohio which was won by the Bobcats to decide the MAC East championship.
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
Photo Gallery
KENT, OHIO - Redshirt sophomore QB Mike Gerardi passed for 368 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in leading Temple to a 28-10 win over host Kent State in a key Mid-American Conference battle at Dix Stadium Saturday afternoon. It was the fourth straight win for the Owls (8-2, 5-1), who remain tie atop the MAC East standings with Ohio (7-3, 5-1), who they host in their next game on ESPN2 (Nov. 16, 8:00 p.m.). Kent State (4-5, 3-3) had its two-game win streak come to an end in losing for the first time at home this season.
With the victory, Temple tied the school records for most wins in two consecutive seasons (17) and the most wins in three consecutive seasons (22). The last time the Owls won 17 games in consecutive seasons was in 1978-79 and in 1973-74. The last time TU won 22 games in three consecutive seasons was in 1977-78-79 and 1972-73-74.
Gerardi, who looked like a three-year starter rather than a three-game one, set the Temple record for most passing yards by a first-year starter at quarterback. His 368 yards are the fourth-highest in Temple history.
Senior WR Michael Campbell, who caught a 63-yard reception to the one yard-line to set up the Owls' third score, had a career-high 137 yards on five receptions. He also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career and now ranks 16th in receiving yardage with 1,074 yards.
Junior DT Muhammad Wilkerson led the Owl defense with six tackles, including a career high three sacks for minus 21 yards.
The Owls looked sluggish to start the game against the nation's top-ranked rush defense. Temple was able to amass only four yards on the ground in the opening 15 minutes and was forced to punt on each of its first two possessions. Senior Jeff Wathne's first punt was blocked by Sam Kirkland which set up a Freddy Cortez 32-yard field goal. It marked the first points given up by Temple, which entered play with the MAC's top scoring defense (18.3 ppg.) in over two games, and gave the Golden Flash a short-lived 3-0 lead.
Gerardi was the Owls' main spark in the first quarter, passing for 91 yards in the frame. He used his legs in the opening of the second quarter, diving in from nine yards out for his first career touchdown to cap a 14-play, 80-yard drive to put Temple ahead, 7-3. On that drive, Gerardi overcame a 1st and 30, following consecutive holding calls, with passes to junior WR Rod Streater (23 yds) and redshirt junior TE Evan Rodriguez (10 yds).
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman WR Tomas Cabrera then made his second forced fumble on a kickoff return, stripping Kirkland with the ball being recovered by Temple PK Brandon McManus at the Kent State 26.
This time it took Gerardi just five plays to find Streater in the back of the end zone for a 14-3 lead with 9:53 remaining in the half.
The Owls nearly scored again before halftime as Gerardi made another nifty 17-yard run on a 3rd and 16 play to keep a drive alive. He then hit Campbell for five yards, and following a six-yard gain by sophomore Bernard Pierce, connected with freshman WR Deon Miller for a 16-yard pass play to give the Owls a first down at the Kent State 29.
Sophomore Matt Brown then broke off an 11-yard run to the 18, before Gerardi made one of his few mistakes, an interception at the goal line on a tipped ball to end the drive.
Gerardi was intercepted again on his next pass, which started the third quarter, but the Owls defense forced a turnover as junior DE Adrian Robinson stripped Andre Flowers at midfield with sophomore SS Justin Gildea recovering at the Temple 48.
Temple quickly capitalized with Gerardi hitting Campbell on a 63-yard reception to the Kent State one yard-line. Pierce, who finished with a game-high 84 yards on 28 carries, scored his 11th TD of the season on a one-yard rush to make it 21-3.
The game would stay that way until Wathne had another punt blocked in the end zone with Kirkland recovering for a touchdown, making it 21-10 with 4:19 remaining.
The Owls quickly struck back. After recovering the onside kick, Gerardi found freshman TE Alex Jackson for a 49-yard touchdown on the first play to account for the final score.
Temple next takes on Ohio University on Tuesday, November 16 (8:00 p.m.) at Lincoln Financial Field. The ESPN2 televised game will featured the MAC East co-leaders and is a rematch of last year's final regular season game at Ohio which was won by the Bobcats to decide the MAC East championship.
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