Temple University Athletics
Temple University
PENN STATE
Penn State Comes From Behind to Defeat Temple, 14-10
9.17.11 | Football
Nittany Lions took first lead with 2:42 remaining
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Temple Postgame Notes
PSU Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes (all)
Postgame Video:
Addazio, part I
part II
Paterno
Whitehead
Gerardi
PHILADELPHIA - Penn State took its first lead on a Michael Zordich one-yard run with 2:42 remaining and then halted Temple's final drive at the PSU 40 to post a 14-10 win over the Owls in front 57,323 fans, the third largest crowd to watch a Temple home game on Saturday afternoon. The Owls fell to 2-1 on the season, while the Nittany Lions improved to 2-1.
In the closest game since a 27-25 PSU win at Beaver Stadium in 1985, Temple had the crowd, which comprised a record 10,886 Temple students, on the edge of its seats from the start.
“We battled. Our whole team played gritty and tough,” Temple head coach Steve Addazio said. “We said we were going to be a tough football team; we're a tough football team. There's no quit in this football team. We just can't turn the ball over simple as that.”
“Well, you always feel fortunate to win,” Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. “I tried to tell my people that was as good a Temple team as ever and I've seen a lot of them.”
The Owls defense forced a Nittany Lion punt on the initial drive of the game courtesy of a senior LB Tahir Whitehead sack on PSU QB Rob Bolden (9-17-0, 92 yds) for a 13-yard loss. That set the tone of what would be a physical game on both ends of the ball.
Junior QB Mike Gerardi (9-22-2, 95 yds) led the Owls down the field on a nicely engineered eight-play, 82-yard drive helm. With PSU crowding the box to stop Temple's standout back Bernard Pierce (17 carries, 50 yds), Gerardi hit senior TE Evan Rodriguez for 10 yards He then pump faked and connected with sophomore WR Deon Miller (3 catches, 45 yds) down the right sidelines for 33 yards to the PSU 33. A pass interference penalty on the visitors put the ball at the 18, and then Pierce rushed three consecutive downs, his last for a two-yard TD, his seventh of the season, to put Temple ahead 7-0.
Two big plays, a Silas Redd 21 yard run and a Derek Moye 16-yard reception, moved the Nittany Lions into Temple territory, but the Owls' defense held, forcing an Evan Lewis field goal attempt. The junior kicker missed wide left, one of three field goal misses by Penn State in the game.
The game remained scoreless, with neither team threatening, until Penn State took over at midfield midway through the second quarter as junior Brandon McManus has his 27-yard punt partially blocked.
With junior QB Matt McGloin (13-19-0, 124 yds) taking over for Bolden under center, PSU would drive to its first score – a 17-yard TD run by Redd (16 carries, 86 yds), on a seven-play drive to tie the contest at 7-7.
Addazio followed Paterno with a quarterback switch of his own, inserting senior Chester Stewart (3-6, 28yds) into the game. Stewart rushed for six yards on his first snap from scrimmage, then hit a cutting senior WR Joe Jones (5 catches, 48 yds) for a 16-yard gain to the PSU 43. Junior Matt Brown, who had 97 return yards on the day, then went 15 yards down the left sideline to the PSU 28. Stewart made three consecutive rushes to set up a McManus' 40-yard field goal attempt. The Owls' all-purpose kicker was true, putting Temple ahead 10-7 with 32 seconds remaining before halftime.
Penn State threatened before the half as a 40-yard pass-play from McGloin to Moye set up a Sam Ficken 49-yard field goal attempt. Senior DE Adrian Robinson blocked the Penn State freshman's first collegiate attempt to end the half with the Owls leading 10-7.
Amazingly the score would not change for nearly 28 minutes as defense would rule the second half.
The two teams exchanged turnovers midway through the third quarter. First Pierce fumbled at midfield with Penn State's Nick Sukay recovering at the PSU 48. Then senior FS Kee-ayre Griffin made a play, picking off Bolden with an athletic diving interception on the very next play.
Playing on special teams, the Owls' Deon Miller would give TU an opportunity near the end of the third quarter with a blocked punt at midfield. With the ball at the PSU 39, Temple could muster just two yards against the stingy Nittany Lion defense, forcing a McManus punt.
Exactly what Temple could not have happen in this game, happened in the fourth quarter. Gerardi was picked off on consecutive drives. The first, by Chaz Powell, gave Penn State the ball at the Temple 26. The Owls allowed just seven yards, setting up a Lewis 36-yard field attempt. The Penn State kicker hit the right upright, and bounced back, to keep Temple in front.
After a first down completion to Miller, Gerardi was picked off again, this time by Michael Mauti at the Temple 44.
This time the Owls were not as lucky as Bolden led the Lions on a 12-play, 44-yard drive that ended with Zordich's go-ahead TD. Penn State converted two fourth downs on the drive, the first an 11-yard completion from Bolden to Moye on a 4th-and-two at the Temple 23. The second conversion was a 4th-and-one at the Temple three, with junior Brandon Beachum rushing two yards to the one.
“You can't put your defense in that situation,” Addazio said. “The offense put our defense there and you can't do that.”
Gerardi took over for the final drive with 2:33 remaining and the ball at the Temple 36. The junior signal-caller led the Owls to the Penn State 34, but on a 4th-and 10 was sacked from behind by Sean Stanley, and fumbled to effectively end the game.
“One game does not define us,” Addazio added. “What defines us is the whole season and conference play. This is Philadelphia's Division I team. Temple didn't play Temple football today. We got beat in the end and put the ball on the ground. You have to tell them (the players) the way it is and come back, and go. It should hurt and it's supposed to hurt. Now let's find out what we got and how we come back.”
The Owls next travel to Maryland for a Saturday game (12:29 p.m./610 AM WIP/ACC Network/ESPN3/NBC Philadelphia Non-Stop) against the Terps.
