THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Temple's back was against the wall tonight at Lincoln Financial Field.
One-win Miami of Ohio had just scored a touchdown with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining to take its first lead of the game, and the Owls needed a scoring drive of their own to preserve the their longest winning streak in years.
With an announced crowd of 13,827 on hand, the Owls pulled it off. They went 63 yards on five plays before freshman Brandon McManus kicked an 18-yard field goal with three seconds left to earn a 34-32 victory.
With its seventh straight win, Temple improved to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference, where the Owls are atop the East Division. Miami fell to 1-9 and 1-5.
Temple's winning streak is its longest since 1973, when the Owls won eight in a row to end a 9-1 season. The last year the Owls had as many as seven wins overall was 1990, when the team finished 7-4.
With an 18-point lead entering the fourth period, Temple saw Miami score three fourth-quarter touchdowns, capped by Thomas Merriweather's 2-yard run. A two-point conversion pass by Zac Dysert failed, but the RedHawks still led, 32-31.
Behind the running of star freshman Bernard Pierce, who finished with 172 yards and three touchdowns, the Owls drove downfield for the winning field goal.
Temple will play at Akron next Friday night. Both Kent State and Ohio trail the Owls with 4-1 records in the MAC's East Division. Temple will meet Kent State at home on Nov. 21 before completing the regular season at Ohio on Nov. 27.
After Temple stopped Miami on the first possession of the game, redshirt sophomore Chester Stewart trotted out to play quarterback for the Owls. Redshirt junior Vaughn Charlton had started in each of the Owls' previous games.
With Pierce scoring from 1 and 7 yards out - Temple also got a 1-yard touchdown from holder Charlton on a fake field goal - the Owls built a 21-3 advantage early in the second quarter.
Dysert, a redshirt freshman, completed 31 of 51 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown last week in a 31-24 win over visiting Toledo. He also scored twice on the ground in a game that ended the RedHawks' 13-game losing streak.
Against a Temple squad that entered the game leading the MAC in total defense, Dysert was 17 for 30 for 214 yards and a touchdown in the first two quarters. His 11-yard completion to wide receiver Armand Robinson closed the RedHawks' deficit to 21-10 with 3:41 remaining in the half.
After kicker Trevor Cook booted his second field goal of the night, a 26-yarder with 11 seconds showing on the clock, Miami trailed by 21-13 at the break.
Temple kicker Brandon McManus added to the Owls' lead with a 42-yard field goal at the 9:17 mark of the third period. When Pierce broke through the RedHawks' line, then made an exquisite move to his right that fooled approaching defenders, his 14-yard touchdown run put Temple up 31-13 with 2:37 to go in the third quarter.
But Miami rallied big time in the fourth.
Notes. Temple and Miami broke in a new playing surface at the Linc. After the Owls' win over Army on Oct. 17, the stadium's sod was ripped up and replaced. Both Temple and the Eagles had been on the road since then.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.
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