College Football Notes: Are Owls bowl-bound?

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Temples senior class has already won more football games than any other senior class that preceded it.

Now, the illustrious group wants two more victories, one of which is likely contingent on the other. If the Owls can topple Kent State in Fridays high noon regular-season finale at Lincoln Financial Field, they hope and expect to earn a spot in a bowl game.

Weve talked a lot about being able to run the last 100 meters, Temples first-year head coach Steve Addazio said. Well, here we are. Were in the homestretch right here and weve got to find a way to win. A lot of it comes down to will and desire.

The Owls (7-4 overall, 4-3 MAC) have already been eliminated from a spot in the MAC Championshipwhich, admittedly, was a bitter pill to swallowbut they still have the ability to make this season a soaring success.

Following Temples dominant 42-14 win over Army last weekwhen, once again, star junior running back Bernard Pierce led the way, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdownsAddazio indicated he thought his team should be invited to a bowl if they finish with an 8-4 mark.

There is, however, reason to be wary. Last year, the Owls were left at home with the same 8-4 record, a season making their first bowl appearance in 30 years. That year, they were 9-3 in the regular season, before losing to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl.

Either way, to have the opportunity to win their first bowl game since 1979, the Owls know they likely need to take care of a solid Kent State squad that, according to Addazio, looks a lot like his own team.

Were two similar teams in a lot of respects, Addazio said. Both of us want to win with defense. We both want to be able to play a tough, physical game. We both want to be able to run the football and play good special teams. Were probably not too far off from each other. It will be a tough battle to finish off the MAC season.

Like Temple, Kent State is guided by a first-year head coach (Darrell Hazel). And also like Temple, the Golden Flashes come into Fridays regular-season finale with a lot to play for, despite being out of contention for a spot in the MAC championship.

Riding a three-game winning streak, Kent State (5-6, 4-3) is fighting to become bowl eligible with its sixth overall win. And to get there, the Flashes will rely on their stingy rushing defense led by Roosevelt Nix, a defensive lineman who Addazio said is all over the field.

I dont think theres any question were going to throw the ball, said Addazio, whose team has been fueled by its dominant ground game all year. When you see a team like theirs thats going to stop the run, youve got to make sure you have answers. Theyre for real in rushing defense.

Of course, the Owls have proven theyre for real this season, too. And Addazio expects another memorable performance from the winningest senior class in program history, a group that includes, among other standouts, linebacker Stephen Johnson, Temples leading tackler and the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week.

The seniors, who will be honored in a pregame ceremony Friday, represent the first class in school history to be bowl eligible in three consecutive years.

Id say theyre resilient, Addazio said. They battled through a coaching change and totally bought into what were doing here. Any time you have a group of guys like that, its really terrific. These guys are eager and anxious to be coached.

Ive been really thrilled with their attitude, their work ethic and their desire to really continue to be great.
Award season
Villanova (2-9) and Penn (5-5) both ended disappointing seasons last weekend with the Wildcats losing to Delaware at PPL Park and the Quakers falling to Cornell in a Franklin Field shootout.

But each team still had plenty of standout performances throughout the seasonwhich they were rewarded for this week.

For Villanova, four players copped all-CAA honors with senior cornerback Jimmy Pitts and junior center Dan Shirley landing on the first team and junior punter Mark Hamilton and freshman linebacker Dillon Lucas being named to the third team.

Pitts finished the 2011 season with 60 tackles and five interceptions, including three in one game; Shirley anchored an offensive line that helped the Cats average nearly 300 yards of total offense per game; Hamilton averaged 42.8 yards per punt; and Lucas started all 11 games as a true freshman and led the team in tackles with 92.

For Penn, senior captains Greg Van Roten and Erik Rask became Penns first unanimous first team All-Ivy League selections since 2006, while senior wideout Ryan Calvert defensive lineman Brandon Copeland were also first team picks.

Senior defensive lineman Jared Sholly and senior defensive back Matt Hamscher were named to the second team, while junior offensive lineman Joe Bonadies, junior running back Brandon Colavita and senior tight end Luke Nawrocki were named honorable mention.

Rask, a linebacker, finished with 83 tackles, Penns highest single-season total since 2006, and added 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and his first collegiate touchdownin his final game. Van Roten played both tackle and guard to aid the Quakers high-scoring offense. Calvert was second in the Ivy League with 58 receptions and fourth in the league with 641 receiving yards. And Copeland was named to the first team for the second straight season after recording a career-high 51 tackles.

Email Dave Zeitlin at djzeitlin@gmail.com

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