Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Lincoln Financial Field
1:00 PM
Temple University
27
vs
13
ARMY
TE Steve Maneri catches the game-winning touchdown.
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Football Wins Fourth Straight with 27-13 Victory Over Army
10.17.09 | Football
Two fourth quarter touchdowns propel Owls to Homecoming win
Boxscore in PDF
Notes & Quotes in PDF
Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple Football team celebrated its annual Homecoming by doing something it has not done in nearly a quarter century – win four straight football games. Two fourth quarter touchdowns in the span of two minutes lifted the Owls (4-2, 3-0 in MAC) to a 27-13 win over visiting Army (3-4) Saturday afternoon in a game played through in chilly, rainy conditions.
The last time a Temple football team won four straight games came in 1985 while the Owls improved to 4-2 in a season for the first time since 1986.
The win came at a price as freshman RB Bernard Pierce, who had rushed for 100 yards in each of the first three games, left the contest on a stretcher after a fierce hit with under two minutes to play in the half. The Glen Mills product, who had rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown, suffered a shoulder injury on the play and was unable to return. His status for the team's next game is undetermined.
The game started with Pierce setting the tone on offense for the Owls with a 23-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage. He then capped off the opening drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone to put TU up 7-0.
Following a three-and-out from Army, the Cherry and White again looked to be driving for another score. After two Pierce carries and an Army penalty, junior QB Vaughn Charlton completed his first pass to senior TE Steve Maneri, gaining 10 yards into Army territory. Looking to get things going in the air, Charlton found Pierce for a three-yard toss, but an overthrown pass to junior WR Michael Campbell was picked-off by Army senior CB Mario Hill.
The Black Knights aimed to take advantage of the turnover, cruising into Temple territory on a 30-yard connection from freshman QB Trent Steelman to senior WR Ali Villanueva. A costly false start forced a 42-yard field goal attempt from sophomore K Alex Carlton, which had the distance, but drilled the right upright and fell short.
Taking over on their own 26 yard-line, Charlton and the Owls wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard. The TU signal-caller got the drive started with a five-yard toss to senior WR Jason Harper, following that with a sharp 24-yard pass to sophomore WR Joe Jones. An eight-yard run by Pierce setup play action on the next play for Charlton, who found a wide-open Harper streaking down the field for a 37-yard touchdown toss, giving the Owls a 13-0 lead. Freshman K Brandon McManus missed his first extra-point of the season, also targeting the center of right upright in the south end zone.
After each team swapped punts, Army looked poised to notch some points before halftime. Regaining possession on their own 46, freshman RB Malcolm Brown rumbled into TU territory on three carries for 20 yards.
The Owls looked to have had the drive stopped with the Black Knights facing a critical third-and-short. Attempting to get a quick jump into the Army backfield, Temple was called for a false start, giving new life to the drive. A steady rushing attack marched Army to the Temple eight yard-line, settling for a 24-yard Carlton field goal to put the score at 13-3.
On the next TU drive at 1:34 in the second half, Pierce turned the corner on a four-yard run, and was met by sophomore LB Andrew Rodriguez. That ended the game for the Temple rookie back, but his 65 yards rushing would end up leading the team. The score would remain the same heading into halftime, with much of the first stanza played through light rain.
Deferring their choice to the second half, Army senior Damion Hunter took the second half kickoff to their 33 yard-line. The offense would find its rhythm, driving down to the Temple six yard-line on 13 plays. Again the TU defense would deny the end zone, with junior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph making the stop on third-and-three. Carlton split the uprights from 23-yards out, bringing the score to 13-6.
Momentum seemed to favor Army, as the Owls offense stalled on the ensuing drive. Things fell apart when a personal foul penalty was tacked onto an eight-yard sack by junior Josh McNary. Again flushed out of the pocket, Charlton was run down by McNary right over the TU goal-line.
Army head coach Rich Ellerson challenged the spot, hopeful for a safety. The ruling on the field stood, and the Owls were forced to punt at their own one.
Taking over with a short field, Army started the drive at the Temple 39 yard-line. A 16-yard scamper from Steelman, and two bursts from junior RB Patrick Mealy put the Black Knights on the Temple 4, setting up a four-yard touchdown toss from Steelman to Villanueva. Carlton would send home the extra point to deadlock the score at 13-13.
A short TU drive on the following possession would result in a junior Jeff Wathne punt, which was nearly downed on the one-yard line but slipped into the end zone.
Taking over on their own 20 yard-line, the Black Knights were met by a determined Temple defense. The Owls shutdown the Army offense on third-and-one, with sophomore CB Kevin Kroboth coming up with a timely tackle for no gain.
A one-possession quarterback switch early in the fourth quarter may have proved to be a difference maker for the Owls, as sophomore Chester Stewart took over the reins for five plays, giving Charlton a chance to regain focus.
The field position game paid off for Temple, with Wathne pinning Army on its own 15 to start the drive.
The TU defense again came up big, with senior LB John Haley making a stop for no gain on third-and-one. Deciding to go for it on fourth down, Army's Steelman was met by DT Muhammad Wilkerson for no gain, giving the Owls the ball back on the Army 24.
On the first play after the turnover Charlton, hit as he threw, released a floating pass that was intercepted by safety Travis Donovan. In the midst of the play, a flag on Army's Hill was thrown for pass interference, but picked up as a result of what was called a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage.
Owls' head coach Al Golden tossed the red flag, challenging the tip. Upon further review, the ruling was overturned, giving the Owls the ball back with 12 penalty-yards tacked on.
A pair of three-yard runs from senior RB Lamar McPherson put TU on the Army six. Taking a timeout at 7:31, Golden drew up a perfectly executed fade pass from Charlton to Maneri, giving the Owls a 20-13 lead.
Again the Army attack was halted, when Owls' sophomore DE Adrian Robinson sacked Steelman, forcing a loose ball that was scooped up by senior LB Alex Joseph on the Army one yard-line.
Seeing an opportunity to close out the game, sophomore Kee-ayre Griffin plunged one yard for the score, giving the Owls the lead for good at 27-13.
Defensively, junior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett led the way with nine tackles, followed by “Peanut” Joseph with seven.
Temple, tied with Ohio U (5-2, 3-0) for first place in the MAC East, next travels to face MAC-foe Toledo on October 24. Action is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
Notes & Quotes in PDF
Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple Football team celebrated its annual Homecoming by doing something it has not done in nearly a quarter century – win four straight football games. Two fourth quarter touchdowns in the span of two minutes lifted the Owls (4-2, 3-0 in MAC) to a 27-13 win over visiting Army (3-4) Saturday afternoon in a game played through in chilly, rainy conditions.
The last time a Temple football team won four straight games came in 1985 while the Owls improved to 4-2 in a season for the first time since 1986.
The win came at a price as freshman RB Bernard Pierce, who had rushed for 100 yards in each of the first three games, left the contest on a stretcher after a fierce hit with under two minutes to play in the half. The Glen Mills product, who had rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown, suffered a shoulder injury on the play and was unable to return. His status for the team's next game is undetermined.
The game started with Pierce setting the tone on offense for the Owls with a 23-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage. He then capped off the opening drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone to put TU up 7-0.
Following a three-and-out from Army, the Cherry and White again looked to be driving for another score. After two Pierce carries and an Army penalty, junior QB Vaughn Charlton completed his first pass to senior TE Steve Maneri, gaining 10 yards into Army territory. Looking to get things going in the air, Charlton found Pierce for a three-yard toss, but an overthrown pass to junior WR Michael Campbell was picked-off by Army senior CB Mario Hill.
The Black Knights aimed to take advantage of the turnover, cruising into Temple territory on a 30-yard connection from freshman QB Trent Steelman to senior WR Ali Villanueva. A costly false start forced a 42-yard field goal attempt from sophomore K Alex Carlton, which had the distance, but drilled the right upright and fell short.
Taking over on their own 26 yard-line, Charlton and the Owls wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard. The TU signal-caller got the drive started with a five-yard toss to senior WR Jason Harper, following that with a sharp 24-yard pass to sophomore WR Joe Jones. An eight-yard run by Pierce setup play action on the next play for Charlton, who found a wide-open Harper streaking down the field for a 37-yard touchdown toss, giving the Owls a 13-0 lead. Freshman K Brandon McManus missed his first extra-point of the season, also targeting the center of right upright in the south end zone.
After each team swapped punts, Army looked poised to notch some points before halftime. Regaining possession on their own 46, freshman RB Malcolm Brown rumbled into TU territory on three carries for 20 yards.
The Owls looked to have had the drive stopped with the Black Knights facing a critical third-and-short. Attempting to get a quick jump into the Army backfield, Temple was called for a false start, giving new life to the drive. A steady rushing attack marched Army to the Temple eight yard-line, settling for a 24-yard Carlton field goal to put the score at 13-3.
On the next TU drive at 1:34 in the second half, Pierce turned the corner on a four-yard run, and was met by sophomore LB Andrew Rodriguez. That ended the game for the Temple rookie back, but his 65 yards rushing would end up leading the team. The score would remain the same heading into halftime, with much of the first stanza played through light rain.
Deferring their choice to the second half, Army senior Damion Hunter took the second half kickoff to their 33 yard-line. The offense would find its rhythm, driving down to the Temple six yard-line on 13 plays. Again the TU defense would deny the end zone, with junior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph making the stop on third-and-three. Carlton split the uprights from 23-yards out, bringing the score to 13-6.
Momentum seemed to favor Army, as the Owls offense stalled on the ensuing drive. Things fell apart when a personal foul penalty was tacked onto an eight-yard sack by junior Josh McNary. Again flushed out of the pocket, Charlton was run down by McNary right over the TU goal-line.
Army head coach Rich Ellerson challenged the spot, hopeful for a safety. The ruling on the field stood, and the Owls were forced to punt at their own one.
Taking over with a short field, Army started the drive at the Temple 39 yard-line. A 16-yard scamper from Steelman, and two bursts from junior RB Patrick Mealy put the Black Knights on the Temple 4, setting up a four-yard touchdown toss from Steelman to Villanueva. Carlton would send home the extra point to deadlock the score at 13-13.
A short TU drive on the following possession would result in a junior Jeff Wathne punt, which was nearly downed on the one-yard line but slipped into the end zone.
Taking over on their own 20 yard-line, the Black Knights were met by a determined Temple defense. The Owls shutdown the Army offense on third-and-one, with sophomore CB Kevin Kroboth coming up with a timely tackle for no gain.
A one-possession quarterback switch early in the fourth quarter may have proved to be a difference maker for the Owls, as sophomore Chester Stewart took over the reins for five plays, giving Charlton a chance to regain focus.
The field position game paid off for Temple, with Wathne pinning Army on its own 15 to start the drive.
The TU defense again came up big, with senior LB John Haley making a stop for no gain on third-and-one. Deciding to go for it on fourth down, Army's Steelman was met by DT Muhammad Wilkerson for no gain, giving the Owls the ball back on the Army 24.
On the first play after the turnover Charlton, hit as he threw, released a floating pass that was intercepted by safety Travis Donovan. In the midst of the play, a flag on Army's Hill was thrown for pass interference, but picked up as a result of what was called a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage.
Owls' head coach Al Golden tossed the red flag, challenging the tip. Upon further review, the ruling was overturned, giving the Owls the ball back with 12 penalty-yards tacked on.
A pair of three-yard runs from senior RB Lamar McPherson put TU on the Army six. Taking a timeout at 7:31, Golden drew up a perfectly executed fade pass from Charlton to Maneri, giving the Owls a 20-13 lead.
Again the Army attack was halted, when Owls' sophomore DE Adrian Robinson sacked Steelman, forcing a loose ball that was scooped up by senior LB Alex Joseph on the Army one yard-line.
Seeing an opportunity to close out the game, sophomore Kee-ayre Griffin plunged one yard for the score, giving the Owls the lead for good at 27-13.
Defensively, junior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett led the way with nine tackles, followed by “Peanut” Joseph with seven.
Temple, tied with Ohio U (5-2, 3-0) for first place in the MAC East, next travels to face MAC-foe Toledo on October 24. Action is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
Kajiya Hollawayne, 9/8/25
Monday, September 08
Katin Surprenant, 9/8/25
Monday, September 08
K.C. Keeler, 9/8/2025
Monday, September 08
Javier Morton, 9/6/25
Saturday, September 06
