Temple Travels to MAC Champion Central Michigan :: Kickoff is 4 p.m. on Saturday

Oct. 6, 2008

THIS WEEK
Temple travels to defending MAC Champion Central Michigan for its fifth road game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Kelly / Shorts Stadium.

The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WPHT 1210 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis. The game will be videostreamed live on the web through All-MACcess. Live gametracker stats and audio streaming will be available on the Temple Athletics website at www.owlsports.com.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Al Golden, Temple stands 2-4 overall and 1-2 in Mid-American Conference play. The Owls claimed their first MAC win at Miami (Ohio) with a decisive 28-10 victory.

Returning 20 seniors and 26 juniors, Temple returns 21 starters this season and the top defense in the MAC. Senior WR Bruce Francis (Sicklerville, N.J.) is the Owls' top receiver with 18 catches for 239 yards and a team-best five touchdowns. Freshman RB Joe Jones (Davie, Fla.) leads the Owl rushers with 157 yards and a touchdown on 58 carries. Redshirt senior QB Adam DiMichele (McKees Rocks, Pa.) has completed 51-of-85 for 620 yards and five touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Chester Stewart (Hanover, Md.) follows, going 38-of-74 for 361 yards and three touchdowns in four games. Defensively, sophomore DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has 46 tackles, including a team-high 26 solos, and a team-best two fumble recoveries and an interception. The Owls will utilize their East Coast offense and 4-3 defense.

The game at Central Michigan is Temple's fifth road game and first-ever trip to Mount Pleasant. The Owls will play three of their next four games on the road. Temple has 24 days between its Western Michigan (Sept. 27) and Ohio (Oct. 21) home games. The next home game against Ohio is the Owls' only October home date.

Under the guidance of second-year head coach Butch Jones, the defending MAC champion Chippewas stand 3-2 overall and a perfect 2-0 in the MAC after a 27-25 win over Buffalo on Sept. 27. Central Michigan had a bye last week. CMU returns 16 starters to its multiple offense and multiple defense.

Temple has no players on its roster from the state of Michigan, and Central Michigan has no players from Pennsylvania.

TEMPLE-CENTRAL MICHIGAN-- THE SERIES
Despite the fact that Temple has sponsored football since 1894 and Central Michigan has fielded a gridiron team since 1896, Saturday's contest is just the teams' second meeting ever and first meeting as MAC rivals.

In the only meeting on Nov. 4, 2006, Central Michigan claimed a 42-26 win at Lincoln Financial Field. As a sophomore, QB Adam DiMichele threw three touchdown passes and caught another while completing 24 of 35 passes for 228 yards. Senior RB Tim Brown had his fourth 100-yard performance, carrying 23 times for 101 yards while also throwing the aerial score to DiMichele. WR Bruce Francis, as a sophomore, had two scoring grabs as the Owls out-scored the Chippewas 19-14 in the second half. As a redshirt freshman, CMU QB Dan LeFevour threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns while scoring on a six-yard run.

SERIES INFORMATION

Temple all-time vs. Central Michigan: 0-1 Temple in games at Temple: 0-1 Temple in games at Central Michigan: 0-0 First meeting in series: 2006 at Lincoln Financial Field, L, 26-42 Last meeting in series: 2006 at Lincoln Financial Field, L, 26-42

SERIES HIGHS Temple Owls Rushing: Tim Brown, 23-101, 0 TD (2006) Passing: Adam DiMichele, 24-35-0-228, 3 TD (2006) Receiving: Bruce Francis 7-66, 2 TD (2006)

Central Michigan Chippewas Rushing: Ontario Sneed, 10-148, 1 TD (2006) Passing: Dan LeFevour 18-22-1-268, 4 TD (2006) Receiving: Ontario Sneed, 5-93, 3 TD (2006)

Year Site Results TU Coach CMU Coach 2006 Lincoln Financial Field L, 26-42 Al Golden Brian Kelly