Owls win 6th straight

POSTED: November 1, 2009

Temple became bowl-eligible with a come-from-behind win over Navy on the road.

By Kevin Tatum

Inquirer Staff Writer

share
email
print
reprint
font size
comments
17
options
 
GAIL BURTON / Associated Press
The Owls' James Nixon (center) celebrates with Matt Brown (22) and Marquise Liverpool as Matt Falcone rushes to join in. Nixon returned a kickoff 100 yards, setting a team record.
1 of 2
RELATED STORIES
 
Penn tops Brown in OT to stay in a tie for Ivy lead
 
Penn tops Brown in OT to stay in a tie for Ivy lead
 
After a scare, Penn State rolls
 
Oregon stuns USC
 
Owls win 6th straight
 
Rutgers scores emotional win over UConn
 
Wright, West Chester upset Bloomsburg
 
Florida State triumphs in 45-42 shoot-out
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Needing a touchdown late in the game yesterday against Navy, Temple did what it had been doing all day.

The Owls handed the ball to running back Bernard Pierce.

Pierce, a 6-foot, 212-pound freshman who attended Glen Mills, broke free down the left sideline for a 41-yard jaunt with 1 minute, 32 seconds to play, giving Temple a 27-24 win in front of 28,305 at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.

For the Midshipmen (6-3), a five-game winning streak was over.

The victory gave the Owls (6-2) six wins in a row for the first time since 1974, while guaranteeing the program its first non-losing record since 1990. It also made Temple bowl-eligible. The last time the Owls went to a bowl game was in 1979 - the now-defunct Garden State Bowl.

But Owls coach Al Golden did not want to talk about bowl games.

"If you're in the hunt in November, then every game is important, and that's what we wanted," Golden said. We've got a long way to go. Our goal wasn't to win five, and it wasn't to win six. Our goal is bigger than that, and we're going to go one rung at a time."

Pierce entered the nonleague game already having gained more rushing yards than any previous freshman in school history, and he broke off a 68-yard touchdown run that gave the Owls a 7-3 lead. It was the longest run of the season for Pierce, who finished with 267 yards on 29 carries, and has 1,033 for season.

Having picked up 212 yards the previous week against Toledo, Pierce became the first Temple player to finish with 200 or more yards rushing in consecutive games since Paul Palmer did it in 1986. Pierce also is the first Owl to gain 1,000 or more yards since Tanardo Sharps reached the milestone in 2002.

"I ran the ball, but that's what I do," said Pierce, crediting his linemen and downfield blockers. "That's my job."

Temple, which trailed three times, got a 100-yard kickoff return from James Nixon to gain a 14-10 edge at intermission. The electric play down the left sideline established a Temple record and also was a stadium mark.

Just before Nixon went the distance, Owls punter Jeff Wathne attempted a kick from the end zone, but a bad snap resulted in a minus-1-yard kick to the Navy 12. The ball was caught by Midshipmen linebacker Jarred Shannon, who promptly fumbled and watched as teammate David Wright scooped up the ball at the 3-yard line and ran it into the end zone for a 10-7 Navy lead with 1:55 to go before halftime.

"It was a real big swing," Nixon said of his touchdown. "It gave us a good boost."

Navy's two other touchdowns also came after Temple mistakes - a muffed punt and an interception. But freshman kicker Brandon McManus, who had a career-long 45-yard field goal in the third period to give Temple a 17-10 lead, also booted a 21-yarder that pulled Temple within 24-20 with 12:02 left in the fourth period.

The Midshipmen were without quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who has an injured right knee, for most of the game. The junior, who before yesterday was leading the nation with 16 touchdowns scored, was in for his team's last series as Navy tried to erase its three-point deficit.

Temple regained possession, however, and ran out the clock.

"For me, this is the best win all season," defensive tackle Andre Neblett said. "We're getting used to this feeling. Every week, we want it."

Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.

  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Real Estate
  • Rentals
 
View all Top Jobs »
SEARCH JOBS
Spotlight Deal

$129,000
413 E WOODLAWN ST
Germantown 19144
Spotlight Deal

$72,500
248 N 64TH ST
West Philadelphia 19139
SEARCH REAL ESTATE
Spotlight Deal

$1,305
Riverwalk at Millenium
Conshohocken 19428
Spotlight Deal

$1,495
Dobson Mills
East Falls 19129
SEARCH RENTALS
17
Comments   
Posted 05:30 AM, 11/01/2009
nuggett
Break them up...a dynasty......NO really, it is nice to see them playing at the level they belong and competing very welll.....Good job Temple U....
Posted 06:04 AM, 11/01/2009
mymic1
I've been pulling for this program for a long time to turn around. Winning helps recruiting and maybe the Owls can start attracting some blue chippers...
Posted 08:11 AM, 11/01/2009
cosrivron2
I can't believe my Middies fell. Great game though :)
Posted 08:11 AM, 11/01/2009
bobcitydoc
That loss to Nova still makes this team very suspect. Win that game against a good IAA team (or whatever they are called now) and this is a great year. Plus, they played all the MAC cupcakes so far, (in a league that this year seems full of them). Anyway, go Owls. GMAC bowl here we come (ahh, Detroit at X-mas!).
Posted 09:06 AM, 11/01/2009
DavezMental
Too bad they lost to NOVA!
Posted 09:21 AM, 11/01/2009
jthomas40
This is the first article I've ever read about Temple football in my life and I'm 43 years old! It's a nice thing to finally happen!!!
Posted 09:28 AM, 11/01/2009
The Time Is Now
If all you can see is the Nova loss, you really aren't paying attention. This is only the beginning. Go TU!! Oh and can we get these guys on TV. Comcast sux can't wait to get my Directv back.
Posted 09:55 AM, 11/01/2009
dankil13
The game was on Comcast- CBS College channel - you just needed the upgraded sports package.
Posted 10:21 AM, 11/01/2009
franknbeans
please send them some place warm. no to detroit and toronto!
Posted 12:06 PM, 11/01/2009
damnels
FYI. GMAC Bowl is in Mobile, Alabama. Let's not talk about bowl games yet. I would like to see the Owls passing game and special teams become more consistent. Miami (OH) should be a game to improve in those areas. The Golden Gang Defense and the running game are fun to watch.
Posted 03:03 PM, 11/01/2009
ameadie
Next year Temple beats Nova by 30.
Posted 03:48 PM, 11/01/2009
philly68
The lack of media coverage of Temple Football is indefensible. Temple has a premier running back in Bernard Pierce. You heard it here first: He will be a Heisman candidate by his senior year, barring injury. Temple is going to a bowl this year and will have AT LEAST eight wins. They certainly have the talent to run the table and end up with ten wins. It is time the City takes some land it owns which is vacant and dangerous and permit Temple to buy the land and build a 35,000 seat stadium. Developers are buying property for a dollar all the time.
Posted 07:31 PM, 11/01/2009
bobbyd24
Temple needs fans before it gets more media coverage.
Posted 08:19 PM, 11/01/2009
HandNik
I've enjoyed following Temple football as much as I've been able to. Also, Temple received 1 vote in both the AP and the USA today polls. When's the last time that happened?
Posted 10:29 PM, 11/01/2009
owl87
Temple football is on a roll in and out of the classroom. Nice job coach and team. Now I think a bit more media coverage would be warranted from the local press.
Advertise Here
Sign up to receive the daily sports newsletter