McManus closing in on Temple scoring record

Brandon McManus says his main focus is trying to help Temple win its final two football games, but the senior punter and placekicker from North Penn High also knows he is a field goal and an extra point away from adding to his legacy.

McManus has 321 career points. The all-time Temple scoring leader is running back Bernard Pierce, a rookie for the Baltimore Ravens who had 324 points in three seasons at Temple from 2009 to 2011.

So, with a game Saturday at Army and the regular-season finale Nov. 23 against Syracuse at Lincoln Financial Field, McManus is well within reach of the record.

On a young team with 23 freshmen, including 14 true freshmen, McManus' performance as a kicker and punter has been among the bright spots for the 3-6 Owls.

"It would definitely mean a lot, especially since one of my best friends is Bernard Pierce," McManus said. "Coming in, we always had competition to see who would do better."

McManus is Temple's career leader in punting average (45.4 yards), field goals made (58), and field-goal attempts (81). He is also a major weapon on kickoffs, with 28 of his 41 kickoffs this season resulting in touchbacks.

"In your senior year, you should be playing your best football and be a highly accountable guy, and he has been that guy," Temple coach Steve Addazio said.

This season, McManus is 11th nationally in net punting with a 40.40 average and has converted 12 of 15 field-goal attempts, with a long of 50 yards. Temple is fourth nationally in kickoff-return defense, allowing just 16.36 yards per return.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound McManus has been the Owls placekicker all four seasons and the full-time punter the last two.

As for moving on to the NFL next season, "It is something you never expected, but you always strive for," McManus said. "You don't know if you will reach it, but it would be a great opportunity to play there."