Temple University Athletics
Saturday, September 10
Akron, Ohio
6 p.m.
Temple University
41
at
3
*at Akron
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Football Routs Akron, 41-3
9.10.11 | Football, Pierce4Heisman
Bernard Pierce rushed for 150 yards and 3 TDs
Final Stats
Postgame Notes
Postgame Videos:
Addazio
Gerardi
Jones
Pierce
AKRON, OHIO – The only thing that could stop Temple junior Bernard Pierce Saturday night was lightning as the Owls all-conference running back rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, in a 41-3 rout of host Akron in the Mid-American Conference season opener. It marked the second straight week that Pierce tied his career mark for TDs in a game and the first time Temple (2-0, 1-0) opened consecutive seasons at 2-0 since the late '60s.
For the first time in at least 30 years, and perhaps ever, Temple had a football game delayed by lightning. With clear skies at beautiful InfoCision Stadium, lightning was observed with 6:04 remaining in a scoreless opening quarter. After a 79-minute delay, the teams restarted play and Pierce quickly helped put the Owls on the scoreboard.
The Ardmore, Pa. native had three first down rushes (13, 15 and 12 yds) in the first five plays before junior QB Mike Gerardi (7-17, 93 yds, 1 TD) hit a streaking senior WR Joe Jones down the right sidelines for a 22-yard touchdown. Jones also made an impact on special teams, returning two kickoffs for 93 yards.
Akron (0-2, 0-1) answered quickly with 48-yard T.J. Marchese field goal which was set up by a Clayton Moore (11-23, 166 yds) to Antoin Russell 45-yard pass play.
The Zips then forced a Brandon McManus punt, but then the Temple defense came to life. Senior LB Tahir Whitehead stripped Moore on a sack with sophomore DT Kamal Johnson recovering on the Akron four. Two plays later Pierce scored from three-yards out to make it 14-3.
With Temple's defense would sack Moore five more times in the quarter (8 for the game) while holding the Zips to just six total yards of offense.
The Owls, behind Pierce's strong legs, would amass 106 yards, all on the ground, with Pierce running for 93 of his 150 yards in the quarter.
Pierce ran for 35 of the team's 43 yards on the next drive, scoring his second TD of the game from two yards out to make it 21-3.
After the Cherry and White defense held again, Pierce broke his longest run from scrimmage of the season, a 37-yarder for his third score of the game to break the contest wide-open, 28-3.
The second half, the Owls rested their main man, and let the “Bug”, junior Matt Brown, carry the load. Brown rushed for 57 of his 85 yards after intermission, helping set up two McManus field goals.
Junior QB Chester Stewart (1-2, 18 yds) saw action in the fourth quarter, rushing three times for 23 yards.
True freshman RB Kenny Harper capped the scoring with a one-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. The Gainesville, Fla. native had seven carries for 48 yards, including a 36-yard rush in the drive.
Temple next hosts Penn State at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, September 17 at noon. The Owls will be looking for their first win over the Nittany Lions (1-1), who fell to #2/2 Alabama 27-11 Saturday, since 1941. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com
Postgame Notes
Postgame Videos:
Addazio
Gerardi
Jones
Pierce
AKRON, OHIO – The only thing that could stop Temple junior Bernard Pierce Saturday night was lightning as the Owls all-conference running back rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, in a 41-3 rout of host Akron in the Mid-American Conference season opener. It marked the second straight week that Pierce tied his career mark for TDs in a game and the first time Temple (2-0, 1-0) opened consecutive seasons at 2-0 since the late '60s.
For the first time in at least 30 years, and perhaps ever, Temple had a football game delayed by lightning. With clear skies at beautiful InfoCision Stadium, lightning was observed with 6:04 remaining in a scoreless opening quarter. After a 79-minute delay, the teams restarted play and Pierce quickly helped put the Owls on the scoreboard.
The Ardmore, Pa. native had three first down rushes (13, 15 and 12 yds) in the first five plays before junior QB Mike Gerardi (7-17, 93 yds, 1 TD) hit a streaking senior WR Joe Jones down the right sidelines for a 22-yard touchdown. Jones also made an impact on special teams, returning two kickoffs for 93 yards.
Akron (0-2, 0-1) answered quickly with 48-yard T.J. Marchese field goal which was set up by a Clayton Moore (11-23, 166 yds) to Antoin Russell 45-yard pass play.
The Zips then forced a Brandon McManus punt, but then the Temple defense came to life. Senior LB Tahir Whitehead stripped Moore on a sack with sophomore DT Kamal Johnson recovering on the Akron four. Two plays later Pierce scored from three-yards out to make it 14-3.
With Temple's defense would sack Moore five more times in the quarter (8 for the game) while holding the Zips to just six total yards of offense.
The Owls, behind Pierce's strong legs, would amass 106 yards, all on the ground, with Pierce running for 93 of his 150 yards in the quarter.
Pierce ran for 35 of the team's 43 yards on the next drive, scoring his second TD of the game from two yards out to make it 21-3.
After the Cherry and White defense held again, Pierce broke his longest run from scrimmage of the season, a 37-yarder for his third score of the game to break the contest wide-open, 28-3.
The second half, the Owls rested their main man, and let the “Bug”, junior Matt Brown, carry the load. Brown rushed for 57 of his 85 yards after intermission, helping set up two McManus field goals.
Junior QB Chester Stewart (1-2, 18 yds) saw action in the fourth quarter, rushing three times for 23 yards.
True freshman RB Kenny Harper capped the scoring with a one-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. The Gainesville, Fla. native had seven carries for 48 yards, including a 36-yard rush in the drive.
Temple next hosts Penn State at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, September 17 at noon. The Owls will be looking for their first win over the Nittany Lions (1-1), who fell to #2/2 Alabama 27-11 Saturday, since 1941. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com
Javier Morton, 9/6/25
Saturday, September 06
Temple Offensive Line, 9/6/25
Saturday, September 06
K.C. Keeler, 9/6/25
Saturday, September 06
Ep. 2: Temple Football Alum Tyler Matakevich || Gymnastics Junior Amelia Budd
Friday, September 05
