Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Toledo, Ohio
7:00 PM
Temple University
40
at
24
TOLEDO
Pierce's Record-Setting Day Leads Temple to Fifth Straight Win, 40-24, Over Toledo
10.24.09 | Football
Owl RB sets new freshman marks, rushes for 212 yards and three TDs
Boxscore in PDF
Postgame Notes in PDF
Postgame Quotes in PDF
TOLEDO, OHIO - Freshman RB Bernard Pierce not only returned to the Temple lineup one week after leaving the field on a stretcher, but the rookie from Glen Mills Academy rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns to lead Temple to a 40-24 win over Toledo Saturday evening in front of 16,334 at the Glass Bowl. The Owls (5-2, 4-0) extended their winning streak to five games while taking over sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Toledo fell to 4-4 and 2-2.
It marked the first time that Temple has won five in a row since the 1979 team accomplished the feat en route to a 10-2 record. That Owl team, which was honored at halftime of the team's win over Buffalo this year, won the Garden State Bowl to end its season – the last bowl appearance in program history.
Pierce, who had a streak of three straight 100-yard rushing games snapped when he left the Army game in the second quarter and 65 yards, looked very healthy. He not only broke Temple legend Paul Palmer's freshman season rushing mark (628 yards) and now has amassed 766 on 135 carries, but he also bettered the former Heisman trophy finalist's freshman touchdown record (6) and now has a team-high nine touchdowns. His three rushing TDs also tied Palmer's rookie mark and it was the first time a Temple player rushed for three scores since Walter Washington accomplished the feat against Syracuse in 2004.
Pierce, who became the first Temple player since 2002 (Tanardo Sharps, 215 yds in 20-17 win at Rutgers) to rush for 200 yards in a game, did prove to be human, fumbling twice in the third quarter. They did not prove to be costly as Toledo recovered the first, but the Temple defense held. Pierce recovered the other.
The Owls started quickly, scoring on their first two possessions. After a 12-yard punt return by Delano Green gave Temple the ball at the Toledo 44, Pierce rushed four times for 33 yards and junior QB Vaughn Charlton (11-20-0, 122 2 TD) found junior WR Michael Campbell (4 catches, 40 yds) in the left corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Toledo senior safety Barry Church, who was a one-man show for the Rockets all night, blocked freshman PK Brandon McManus' point after attempt, making it 6-0.
On the Owls next possession, Pierce led the way, rushing for 18 yards and picking up another eight on a reception. He then finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown, diving into the end zone over the Owls' offensive line.
Toledo, which had not picked up a first down over the first two possessions behind third string QB Alex Pettee (29-47-2, 265 yds, 1 TD), answered quickly as Morgan Williams took the kickoff at the 15 yard-line and broke tackles en route to an 85-yard return to cut the lead to 13-7.
Pierce then broke off a 39-yard run to paydirt, the longest run from scrimmage by any Owl this season, early in the second quarter to push the lead to 20-7.
On the Rockets next possession sophomore DE Adrian Robinson then forced a fumble by Pettee which was recovered by senior DT Andre Neblett at the Toledo 18. The Owls were unable to move the ball and settled on a McManus 30-yard field goal to increase the lead to 23-7.
Pettee then started to get some rhythm, driving the Rockets on a nine-play, 29-yard drive with PK Alex Steigerwald, one of the nation's top kickers, connecting on a 48-yarder to make it 23-10.
The Rockets would score again in the final minute of the half, as Pettee connected on five-of-seven passes on a 61-yard drive that was capped by a six-yard TD run by DeJuane Collins that cut the Temple lead to 23-17.
The second half started with Pierce fumbling on the Owls' first possession. Temple's defense, which had another solid game, held the Rockets to a three-and-out at midfield.
On the Rockets' next possession, senior LB Alex Joseph intercepted Pettee as sophomore DE Morris Blueford, Jr, applied pressure. Joseph ran it back to the Toledo six. Three plays later Pierce ran it in from two yards out for his third score of the game.
McManus added another field goal on Temple's next possession, a 29-yarder, to make it 33-17.
The two teams traded fourth quarter touchdowns. Senior WR Jason Harper caught a short pass from Charlton and went 36 yard to give Temple a 40-17 lead and break the game wide open.
Pettee connected with Morgan Williams on a 27-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes to play for the final points in the contest.
Junior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph led the Owls defense with 10 tackles. Freshman RB Matt Brown broke his first two kickoff returns for over 40 yards and ended with three KO returns for 110 yards.
The Owls next travel to Navy for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff next Saturday. The game will be televised live on CBS College Sports and can be heard on 1340 AM WHAT.
Postgame Notes in PDF
Postgame Quotes in PDF
TOLEDO, OHIO - Freshman RB Bernard Pierce not only returned to the Temple lineup one week after leaving the field on a stretcher, but the rookie from Glen Mills Academy rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns to lead Temple to a 40-24 win over Toledo Saturday evening in front of 16,334 at the Glass Bowl. The Owls (5-2, 4-0) extended their winning streak to five games while taking over sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Toledo fell to 4-4 and 2-2.
It marked the first time that Temple has won five in a row since the 1979 team accomplished the feat en route to a 10-2 record. That Owl team, which was honored at halftime of the team's win over Buffalo this year, won the Garden State Bowl to end its season – the last bowl appearance in program history.
Pierce, who had a streak of three straight 100-yard rushing games snapped when he left the Army game in the second quarter and 65 yards, looked very healthy. He not only broke Temple legend Paul Palmer's freshman season rushing mark (628 yards) and now has amassed 766 on 135 carries, but he also bettered the former Heisman trophy finalist's freshman touchdown record (6) and now has a team-high nine touchdowns. His three rushing TDs also tied Palmer's rookie mark and it was the first time a Temple player rushed for three scores since Walter Washington accomplished the feat against Syracuse in 2004.
Pierce, who became the first Temple player since 2002 (Tanardo Sharps, 215 yds in 20-17 win at Rutgers) to rush for 200 yards in a game, did prove to be human, fumbling twice in the third quarter. They did not prove to be costly as Toledo recovered the first, but the Temple defense held. Pierce recovered the other.
The Owls started quickly, scoring on their first two possessions. After a 12-yard punt return by Delano Green gave Temple the ball at the Toledo 44, Pierce rushed four times for 33 yards and junior QB Vaughn Charlton (11-20-0, 122 2 TD) found junior WR Michael Campbell (4 catches, 40 yds) in the left corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Toledo senior safety Barry Church, who was a one-man show for the Rockets all night, blocked freshman PK Brandon McManus' point after attempt, making it 6-0.
On the Owls next possession, Pierce led the way, rushing for 18 yards and picking up another eight on a reception. He then finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown, diving into the end zone over the Owls' offensive line.
Toledo, which had not picked up a first down over the first two possessions behind third string QB Alex Pettee (29-47-2, 265 yds, 1 TD), answered quickly as Morgan Williams took the kickoff at the 15 yard-line and broke tackles en route to an 85-yard return to cut the lead to 13-7.
Pierce then broke off a 39-yard run to paydirt, the longest run from scrimmage by any Owl this season, early in the second quarter to push the lead to 20-7.
On the Rockets next possession sophomore DE Adrian Robinson then forced a fumble by Pettee which was recovered by senior DT Andre Neblett at the Toledo 18. The Owls were unable to move the ball and settled on a McManus 30-yard field goal to increase the lead to 23-7.
Pettee then started to get some rhythm, driving the Rockets on a nine-play, 29-yard drive with PK Alex Steigerwald, one of the nation's top kickers, connecting on a 48-yarder to make it 23-10.
The Rockets would score again in the final minute of the half, as Pettee connected on five-of-seven passes on a 61-yard drive that was capped by a six-yard TD run by DeJuane Collins that cut the Temple lead to 23-17.
The second half started with Pierce fumbling on the Owls' first possession. Temple's defense, which had another solid game, held the Rockets to a three-and-out at midfield.
On the Rockets' next possession, senior LB Alex Joseph intercepted Pettee as sophomore DE Morris Blueford, Jr, applied pressure. Joseph ran it back to the Toledo six. Three plays later Pierce ran it in from two yards out for his third score of the game.
McManus added another field goal on Temple's next possession, a 29-yarder, to make it 33-17.
The two teams traded fourth quarter touchdowns. Senior WR Jason Harper caught a short pass from Charlton and went 36 yard to give Temple a 40-17 lead and break the game wide open.
Pettee connected with Morgan Williams on a 27-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes to play for the final points in the contest.
Junior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph led the Owls defense with 10 tackles. Freshman RB Matt Brown broke his first two kickoff returns for over 40 yards and ended with three KO returns for 110 yards.
The Owls next travel to Navy for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff next Saturday. The game will be televised live on CBS College Sports and can be heard on 1340 AM WHAT.
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