Pierce, Temple too much for Terps

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND

National: In a Top 10 matchup, Brandon Weeden threw for an Oklahoma State-best 438 yards in a 30-29 come-from-behind win at Texas A&M.

Local: Bernard Pierce ran for a Temple-record five touchdowns in an attention-getting win at Maryland.

AROUND TOWN

Temple 38, Maryland 7

Now this is how you get over a frustratingly bitter loss to Penn State.

Still stings. Just not as much.

This one was 21-0 after a quarter, 31-0 at the half.

It was the Owls' (3-1) first road win over a BCS team in a decade (at West Virginia), their first win in 13 attempts against an ACC opponent and their first over the Terps in seven.

Bernard Pierce, who has scored 12 times this season, finished with 149 yards on 32 carries.

Chester Stewart, who took over for Mike Gerardi as the starting quarterback, went 9-for-9 for 140 yards.

The Owls, who blocked a punt for the second straight week, have given up 31 points. The Terps (1-2), whose performance was even uglier than those black, gold and red uniforms, hadn't had one blocked since 1999.

Maryland, which had been averaging just over 30 a game, finally scored late with their backup QB. Dan O'Brien, the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year, was 17-for-33 for 153 yards with an interception and three sacks, his first of the season. The Owls scored on all five first-half possessions.

So much for any lingering whatever.

The Owls get Toledo (1-3) next, in their MAC home opener. The Rockets, who were picked to win the West Division, have lost close at Ohio State, at home to Boise State by 25 and controversially in overtime at Syracuse (see "Upon Further Review").

Villanova 30, Penn 21

Just when you were beginning to wonder if maybe the Wildcats would never get to celebrate anything this season...

If North Broad Street can have its Happy Valley of an albatross, then West Philly has the Main Line.

The Quakers (0-2), who were wearing their white jerseys at Franklin Field because they were officially the visitors, have lost all 10 meetings with 'Nova since 1999.

You think they care that most have been close?

The Wildcats (1-3), who'd scored 26 points coming in, got two TDs on interception returns. The first, a 26-yarder late in the third by Jimmy Pitts, put them up by nine. Ronnie Akins took the other back the same distance with 12 seconds to go. Mark Hamilton made three field goals (career-long 42 yarder, 19, 31), to extend his streak to nine in a row.

Villanova's walk-on senior, Christian Culicerto, threw for 139 yards and rushed for 43 more.

The Wildcats (0-1 CAA) now get preseason fave William & Mary (2-2, 0-1), which will be coming off a 20-14 loss to visiting James Madison. The Quakers, the pick to threepeat in the Ivy League, open defense of those titles at Darmouth (1-1, just lost 24-21 at Sacred Heart) in the first night game ever up there.

AROUND THE NATION

Fraud Five

Miami: Can't be losing at home to Kansas State, particularly after you just beat Ohio State. So much for momentum.

Maryland: So, as someone asked, when was the last time Temple put a team here?

West Virginia: It's certainly OK to lose to LSU, even at home. But if you're out to make a statement, then try not to be trailing by 20 by halftime.

Texas A&M: It's probably OK to lose to Oklahoma State for the fourth straight time, even at home. But maybe not after you're up by 17 through 30 minutes before giving up the next 27.

Army: Hate to ever point out the Cadets. But they did lose by 27 at Ball State, after falling behind by 38. So who did you want instead, Minnesota? I'm not sure North Dakota State wasn't supposed to win there again.

Upon further review

Syracuse scored a TD to take a two-point lead over visiting Toledo with 2:07 to go. The PAT was ruled good, even though it appeared the kick actually went outside the right upright. The call on the field was reviewed, but the replay official failed to change it, apparently because he focused on the wrong angle and got a distorted view.

Toledo made a field goal at the end of regulation to force overtime, where it lost by three.

In a statement, the Big East expressed its confidence that its officiating staff will learn from this so that it won't happen again.

Obviously, the conference has had better weeks.

Stat me up

Baylor's Robert Griffin III has thrown for 13 TDs and 12 incompletions. Yo.

The Bears, by the way, drew their third consecutive home crowd of at least 40,000. The only other two times that had happened was 1995 and 1975. They're in the Top 25 for the fourth straight week, their longest run in 20 years.

Did you notice?

Hawaii's Bryant Moniz tied an NCAA record, shared by three others, by throwing seven TD passes in a half against UC Davis.

Florida's Jeff Demps had an 84-yard TD run, the longest by a Gator since a 96-yarder by Emmitt Smith in 1988.

Arizona State broke an 11-game losing streak against Southern Cal.

Steve Spurrier is 4-0 for the first time in his seven years at South Carolina.

Oregon State is the only winless BCS team. Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico, Florida Atlantic and Alabama-Birmingham are the 0-and non-BCSers.

Here is the weekly Daily News' Top 15 in college football:

1. Louisiana State (4-0).

Beat West Virginia, 47-21.

Who's got better wins? And none were at home.

Saturday: vs. Kentucky.

2. Alabama (4-0).

Beat Arkansas, 38-14.

Lost last trip to Florida, in 2006 (28-13).

Saturday: at Florida.

3. Oklahoma (3-0).

Beat Missouri, 38-28.

Get week off before Texas.

Saturday: vs. Ball State.

4. Stanford (3-0).

Idle.

Won last year at UCLA, 35-0.

Saturday: vs. UCLA.

5. Boise State (3-0).

Beat Tulsa, 41-21.

Lost last year at Nevada in OT.

Saturday: vs. Nevada.

6. Wisconsin (4-0).

Beat South Dakota, 59-10.

Finally, a game that counts.

Saturday: vs. Nebraska.

7. Nebraska (4-0).

Beat Wyoming, 38-14.

Welcome to the Big Ten.

Saturday: at Wisconsin.

8. Oklahoma State (4-0).

Beat Texas A&M, 30-29.

Gets 2 weeks off before at Texas.

Next: Oct. 1 vs. Kansas.

9. Oregon (3-1).

Beat Arizona, 56-31.

Gets 2 weeks off before Arizona State.

Next: Oct. 6 at California.

10. South Carolina (4-0).

Beat Vanderbilt, 21-3.

Lost to Auburn twice last season.

Saturday: vs. Auburn.

11. Virginia Tech (4-0).

Beat Marshall, 30-10.

Beaten Clemson 5 straight, last met in 2007.

Next. vs. Clemson.

12. Florida (3-0).

Idle.

Lost last year at Alabama, 31-6.

Saturday: vs. Alabama.

13. Texas A&M (2-1).

Lost to Oklahoma State, 30-29.

Lost to Arkansas last 2 years.

Saturday: vs. Arkansas (Arlington, Tex.)

14. Clemson (4-0).

Beat Florida State, 35-30.

Is 7-2 at Virginia Tech, but lost last 2.

Saturday: at Virginia Tech.

15. Arkansas (3-1).

Lost at Alabama, 38-14.

It could happen to almost anybody.

Saturday: vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, Tex.).