The teams will meet for the first time since then on Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and LeFevour again will direct the Mid-American Conference champions.

The 6-foot-3, 229-pound junior leads the league in total offense, and is tops on the Chippewas with an average of 73 rushing yards per game. He has completed 118 of 186 passes for 1,271 yards, with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Temple coaches have been "telling us all week that we have to hit this guy," defensive tackle Andre Neblett said.

Central Michigan will bring a 3-2 record (2-0 MAC) into its homecoming game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Temple is 2-4 and 1-2.

"We're not looking at the tape from two years ago," said Golden, whose team went 1-11 that year. "St. Joseph's Prep would have beat us. They were MAC champions that year. We were very young and very immature. We weren't very competitive."

Coming off a 28-10 win at Miami of Ohio last week, Temple is competing in a MAC East Division in which all seven teams have at least one loss.

Central Michigan, a West Division squad, was idle last week after edging Buffalo at home, 27-25, on Sept. 27.

That outing earned LeFevour MAC offensive-player-of-the-week honors. He went 21 for 26 for 152 yards, and rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

"He's the best quarterback in the league," Golden said. "His preparation, his knowledge, and his decision-making on the field are all evident by the way he performs. He'll escape through the pocket, but keep his eyes downfield and look to create on the run. He's a challenge for us."

Golden's quarterback situation is looking much better after redshirt freshman Chester Stewart threw for three scores against Miami in his second career start. Stewart, who was pressed into service when a shoulder injury sidelined starter Adam DiMichele, was limited in practice last week after getting banged up during the 7-3 loss to visiting Western Michigan on Sept. 27.

Using Stewart against Miami was a game-day decision, Golden said. Stewart will get the call again against Central Michigan. Meanwhile, Golden's hopes of redshirting junior Vaughn Charlton remain alive. And he is targeting Temple's home game against Ohio on Oct. 21 for DiMichele's return.

Notes. Temple will play on the road for the fifth time in seven outings. . . . The defense accounted for four turnovers, four sacks, and six tackles for losses last week. . . . Wide receiver Bruce Francis' school record for consecutive games with a reception has reached 32. . . . Central Michigan's losses came on the road to Georgia and Purdue. The Chippewas also have wins over Eastern Illinois and Ohio.