Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Pierce Leads Temple To Sixth Straight Win, 27-24 At Navy
10.31.09 | Football, Pierce4Heisman
Freshman back rushes for 267 yards and two touchdowns as Owls become bowl eligible
Boxscore in PDF
Video Highlights
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ANNAPOLIS, MD - Freshman Bernard Pierce was a one-man wrecking crew, as he rushed for 267 and two touchdowns to lead Temple to a come-from-behind 27-24 win over Navy in front of 28,305 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium Saturday afternoon. It marks the first time Temple (6-2, 4-0) has won six in a row since 1974 and the first time an Owl team is “bowl eligible” since the 1990 season. Navy, which had its five-game win streak snapped, is now 6-3.
Temple's all-time freshman rusher, Pierce now has with 1033 yards on the season and a school record 11 TDs for a freshman. His 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter is the Owls' longest run from scrimmage this season.
With his second consecutive 200-yard game Pierce became the first player to record back-to-back 200-yard performances since all-time rusher Paul Palmer did it in 1986, his senior season. He also became the first Owl to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for a season since Tanardo Sharps accomplished the feat as a senior in 2002.
Both of Pierce's runs were long, his first put the Owls ahead 7-3, as he broke one down the left sidelines at the 11:11 mark of the second quarter. His other touchdown came with 2:41 remaining, a 41-yard run, again down the left sideline. He broke through numerous Midshipmen defenders to find paydirt on both carries.
His 267 yards was 30 more than the entire Navy team (237), which entered play averaging 286.38 yards per game, third among NCAA Bowl Subdivision teams.
Navy, which scored all three of its touchdowns via Temple mistakes, regained the lead on a botched Owl punt in the end zone. Junior punter Jeff Wathne fielded a low snap and kicked the ball to the Owls 12. Jarred Shannon initially fielded the ball, but then fumbled it at the three. David Wright recovered and carried it into the end zone to make it, 10-7.
That lead lasted all of 13 seconds as sophomore WR James Nixon took the ball in the end zone and ran it all the way for a school and stadium record 100 yard TD return. That made the score 14-10 with 1:41 remaining on the clock.
Temple took possession in the third quarter and Pierce rushed for 38 yards on six carries before the Owl drive stalled at the Navy 28. Freshman PK Braandon McManus then connected on a 45-yard field goal, his longest of the season, to extend the TU lead to 17-10.
The Cherry and White defense, which played solid the entire game, held Navy to a three-and-out on the next possession, but junior PR Delano Green, muffed the punt as he was bumped by teammate Anthony Ferla, and Craig Schaefer recovered for Navy at the TU 29.
Five plays later Vince Murray scrambled into the end zone from five yards out to tie the score at 17-all.
Junior QB Vaughn Charlton, who struggled through a five-for-17 passing day for 37 yards, was picked off at midfield by Wyatt Middleton. The Midshipmen then methodically went on a 12-play 51-yard scoring drive that allowed them to regain the lead at 24-17 when QB Kriss Proctor ran in from two-yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Temple, behind Pierce, answered with another McManus field goal on their next possession, to cut the margin to 24-20. Pierce broke a 23-yard run and was horse-collared to the ground, tacking on an additional 15 yards to the Navy 21. Freshman Matt Brown carried for an 11-yard first down run, before the drive stalled at the four.
The Owls defense, led by sophomore DT Muhammad Wilkerson's career-high 13 tackles, held again, but Charlton tossed his second interception on the team's next possession with Middleton again the culprit.
Again the defense held Navy without a first down, forcing a punt.
It was all Pierce on the final Owl possession. The freshman back broke a 12-yard run to start the drive. After a Charlton incompletion, he ran for six yards, setting up a third and four at the Navy 41. Pierce then took the ball and broke free down the left sideline. He then bullied his way into the end zone over the final five yards to give Temple the lead, 27-24, and the won.
Navy, which did not attempt a pass in its win over Wake Forest last week, through four incomplete passes on its last drive before Adrian Robinson ended the threat and game with his second sack.
Besides Wilkerson, senior NT Andre Neblett (11 tackles) and senior LB Alex Joseph (10) each had double figure tackles. Junior Jaiquawn Jarrett made an interception.
Temple next plays home against Miami (OH) on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on 1340 AM WHAT.
Temple Postgame Notes
* Temple Team Captains: #12 QB Vaughn Charlton (offense). #6 Dominique Harris (defense), 86 TE Steve Maneri (offense), and #2 Andre Neblett (defense).
* Carrying flags for Temple tonight were #19 PK Brandon McManus, #71 OL Darius Morris, and #58 LB Elijah Joseph.
* With today's win, Temple won its sixth consecutive game. The last time Temple won six games in a row was 1974 under coach Wayne Hardin.
* With six wins on the season, Temple is now bowl eligible. The last time the Owls were bowl eligible was 1990 when they finished 7-4. Temple's last bowl appearance came in the 1979 Garden State Bowl where the Owls beat Cal, 28-17, at Giants Stadium.
* Freshman RB Bernard Pierce rushed for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Temple's all-time freshman rusher now has with 1033 yards on the season and a school record 11 TDs for a freshman. His 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter is the Owls' longest run from scrimmage this season.
* With his second consecutive 200-yard game Pierce became the first player to record back-to-back 200-yard performances since all-time rusher Paul Palmer did it in 1986, his senior season.
* Pierce has now rushed for 1,033 yards on 164 carries. He is the first Temple player to rush for 1,000 yards since Tanardo Sharps accomplished the feat in 2002.
* Junior DB Jaiquawn Jarrett's interception in the second quarter was his third this season (seventh of his career).
* Sophomore WR James Nixon's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown set the school record as well as the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium record. The previous Temple record was a 98-yard touchdown return by Jamal Schulters against Army in 2008.
* Freshman PK Brandon McManus nailed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter, his longest this season.
* Temple snapped a four-game losing streak to Navy and evened series at 5-5. The last Temple win prior to today came in 2001.
Video Highlights
mfile.akamai.com/9192/wmv/cstv.download.akamai.com/9192/cstv_videos/football/1009/103109_temple_cbsc.asx
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Freshman Bernard Pierce was a one-man wrecking crew, as he rushed for 267 and two touchdowns to lead Temple to a come-from-behind 27-24 win over Navy in front of 28,305 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium Saturday afternoon. It marks the first time Temple (6-2, 4-0) has won six in a row since 1974 and the first time an Owl team is “bowl eligible” since the 1990 season. Navy, which had its five-game win streak snapped, is now 6-3.
Temple's all-time freshman rusher, Pierce now has with 1033 yards on the season and a school record 11 TDs for a freshman. His 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter is the Owls' longest run from scrimmage this season.
With his second consecutive 200-yard game Pierce became the first player to record back-to-back 200-yard performances since all-time rusher Paul Palmer did it in 1986, his senior season. He also became the first Owl to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for a season since Tanardo Sharps accomplished the feat as a senior in 2002.
Both of Pierce's runs were long, his first put the Owls ahead 7-3, as he broke one down the left sidelines at the 11:11 mark of the second quarter. His other touchdown came with 2:41 remaining, a 41-yard run, again down the left sideline. He broke through numerous Midshipmen defenders to find paydirt on both carries.
His 267 yards was 30 more than the entire Navy team (237), which entered play averaging 286.38 yards per game, third among NCAA Bowl Subdivision teams.
Navy, which scored all three of its touchdowns via Temple mistakes, regained the lead on a botched Owl punt in the end zone. Junior punter Jeff Wathne fielded a low snap and kicked the ball to the Owls 12. Jarred Shannon initially fielded the ball, but then fumbled it at the three. David Wright recovered and carried it into the end zone to make it, 10-7.
That lead lasted all of 13 seconds as sophomore WR James Nixon took the ball in the end zone and ran it all the way for a school and stadium record 100 yard TD return. That made the score 14-10 with 1:41 remaining on the clock.
Temple took possession in the third quarter and Pierce rushed for 38 yards on six carries before the Owl drive stalled at the Navy 28. Freshman PK Braandon McManus then connected on a 45-yard field goal, his longest of the season, to extend the TU lead to 17-10.
The Cherry and White defense, which played solid the entire game, held Navy to a three-and-out on the next possession, but junior PR Delano Green, muffed the punt as he was bumped by teammate Anthony Ferla, and Craig Schaefer recovered for Navy at the TU 29.
Five plays later Vince Murray scrambled into the end zone from five yards out to tie the score at 17-all.
Junior QB Vaughn Charlton, who struggled through a five-for-17 passing day for 37 yards, was picked off at midfield by Wyatt Middleton. The Midshipmen then methodically went on a 12-play 51-yard scoring drive that allowed them to regain the lead at 24-17 when QB Kriss Proctor ran in from two-yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Temple, behind Pierce, answered with another McManus field goal on their next possession, to cut the margin to 24-20. Pierce broke a 23-yard run and was horse-collared to the ground, tacking on an additional 15 yards to the Navy 21. Freshman Matt Brown carried for an 11-yard first down run, before the drive stalled at the four.
The Owls defense, led by sophomore DT Muhammad Wilkerson's career-high 13 tackles, held again, but Charlton tossed his second interception on the team's next possession with Middleton again the culprit.
Again the defense held Navy without a first down, forcing a punt.
It was all Pierce on the final Owl possession. The freshman back broke a 12-yard run to start the drive. After a Charlton incompletion, he ran for six yards, setting up a third and four at the Navy 41. Pierce then took the ball and broke free down the left sideline. He then bullied his way into the end zone over the final five yards to give Temple the lead, 27-24, and the won.
Navy, which did not attempt a pass in its win over Wake Forest last week, through four incomplete passes on its last drive before Adrian Robinson ended the threat and game with his second sack.
Besides Wilkerson, senior NT Andre Neblett (11 tackles) and senior LB Alex Joseph (10) each had double figure tackles. Junior Jaiquawn Jarrett made an interception.
Temple next plays home against Miami (OH) on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on 1340 AM WHAT.
Temple Postgame Notes
* Temple Team Captains: #12 QB Vaughn Charlton (offense). #6 Dominique Harris (defense), 86 TE Steve Maneri (offense), and #2 Andre Neblett (defense).
* Carrying flags for Temple tonight were #19 PK Brandon McManus, #71 OL Darius Morris, and #58 LB Elijah Joseph.
* With today's win, Temple won its sixth consecutive game. The last time Temple won six games in a row was 1974 under coach Wayne Hardin.
* With six wins on the season, Temple is now bowl eligible. The last time the Owls were bowl eligible was 1990 when they finished 7-4. Temple's last bowl appearance came in the 1979 Garden State Bowl where the Owls beat Cal, 28-17, at Giants Stadium.
* Freshman RB Bernard Pierce rushed for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Temple's all-time freshman rusher now has with 1033 yards on the season and a school record 11 TDs for a freshman. His 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter is the Owls' longest run from scrimmage this season.
* With his second consecutive 200-yard game Pierce became the first player to record back-to-back 200-yard performances since all-time rusher Paul Palmer did it in 1986, his senior season.
* Pierce has now rushed for 1,033 yards on 164 carries. He is the first Temple player to rush for 1,000 yards since Tanardo Sharps accomplished the feat in 2002.
* Junior DB Jaiquawn Jarrett's interception in the second quarter was his third this season (seventh of his career).
* Sophomore WR James Nixon's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown set the school record as well as the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium record. The previous Temple record was a 98-yard touchdown return by Jamal Schulters against Army in 2008.
* Freshman PK Brandon McManus nailed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter, his longest this season.
* Temple snapped a four-game losing streak to Navy and evened series at 5-5. The last Temple win prior to today came in 2001.
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