Temple University Athletics
Temple University
*KENT STATE
Temple Defeats Kent State, 34-16, on Senior Day
11.25.11 | Football
Bernard Pierce rushed for season-high 189 yards and three TDs
Boxscore in PDF
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
Photo Gallery
Press Conference video:
Addazio, part I
part II
Kroboth
Stewart
Johnson
Robinson
Coyer
Pierce
PHILADELPHIA - Junior RB Bernard Pierce exploded for 164 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to lead Temple to a 34-16 win over visiting Kent State Friday afternoon in the final regular-season game of the season for both teams. The Owls, who finish 8-4 overall and in second place in the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 5-3 mark, will wait to see if they are selected to compete in their second Bowl game in three seasons. Kent State finishes the season at 5-7 and 4-4 in conference play.
Temple honored its 19 seniors prior to the game and, with win, extended the program's school-record for wins by a senior class to 30 upon its conclusion.
One senior, fifth-year QB Chester Stewart, was a surprise factor in the contest. After relinquishing his starting spot to sophomore Chris Coyer following the Ohio game, Stewart came into the contest in the first quarter as Coyer suffered a shoulder injury.
The Hanover, Md. native struggled with three fumbles, including one on his first play from scrimmage, but settled into the game. He completed all six of his passes for 94 yards while engineering four scoring drives.
It was Pierce, however, who put on the real show. The Owls' All-America candidate rushed for a season-high 189 yards, all but 21 of those coming in the second half. His output was the most against Kent State's defense that entered play ranked first in the MAC in rush defense (123.27 ypg.).
The Ardmore, Pa. native had scoring runs of 18, 25 and 69 yards with the latter coming on a 4th and one play. It moved his school-record single season total to 25 rushing touchdowns and his season total to 1,381 yards (3rd on all-time Temple list).
The game was not that easy for the Owls, however, as Temple trailed 6-0 early on a Jacquise Terry 11-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Senior DB Kee-ayre Griffin blocked the extra point for the Owls. The Golden Flashes TD was set up by Stewart's first fumble, off a bad snap, that gave KSU the ball at the Temple 16.
Junior RB Matt Brown, who ranks fourth in the MAC in all-purpose yardage, quickly changed the momentum. Brown took the kickoff a yard deep in his end zone and broke it for his first touchdown return of the season. He also tied the modern-day Temple school mark with a 100-yard return (NCAA rules do not go over 100 yards).
Brandon McManus connected on a 33-yard field goal, one of two on the day for the junior kicker, to make it 10-6 right before halftime.
The Owls, limited to just 10 rushing yards in the first half, moved the ball effectively on its first drive of the third quarter. Pierce alone gained 38 yards on the drive, which was aided by a costly facemask call, and capped it with his 18-yard touchdown to make it 17-6.
Kent State moved the ball through the air on its ensuing possession as QB Spencer Keith (24-40, 260 yds 1 TD) hit Chris Gilbert for a big 31-yard reception and followed with a 14-yard pass-play to Sam Kirkland that put the ball at the Temple 9. The Owls' defense then stopped the Flashes, holding KSU to a 22-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez.
Pierce was a one-man wrecking crew on the next possession, rushing seven times (55 yds) during the nine-play drive with his last the 25-yard TD on fourth down.
The Owls held that 24-9 lead until the 9:45 mark of the fourth quarter when Pierce broke off a 69-yard TD run on the first play following the Owls' defensive stop on fourth down on their own 31.
Kent State again went for it on fourth down, this time on its own 11, and the Temple defense again made the necessary stop. Three plays later McManus tacked on another field goal, this one from 28 yards out, to make it 34-9.
Keith connected with Gilbert on a 28-yard TD with just under five minute to play to account for the final score.
Although it was not easy, Temple set the school record for most rushing yards by a team with 3,080 on the season. Head coach Steve Addazio also moved past legendary Wayne Hardin for most wins by a first-year Temple coach. Hardin had seven wins in 1970, his debut season.
Temple will now wait and see where it will play next. The entire Bowl selections are announced on Sunday, December 4th on ESPN.
