Temple Runs over Army, Eyes Bowl Berth

Share

Don't tell the Temple Owls their season is over. Their 42-14 rout of the Army Black Knights on Saturday showed no signs of a let down after the team was eliminated from the race for the MAC Championship earlier this week.

Though no longer in the running for the conference title—the team's number one goal since the preseason—the Owls still believe they'll be playing football after their final game of the regular season against Kent State next Friday. A record of 8-4 left Temple as one only two eligible teams not be invited to a bowl in 2010. Head coach Steve Addazio seems confident that won't be the case again in 2011.

"We have a really good football team and we're playing strong in November," said Addazio. "We're in the fourth largest media market in the country and we're a hot team. I'm sure there will be a great spot for us if we can go out and take care of business against Kent State on Friday."

Opening his post-game remarks with the words "respect" and "legacy," the coach drew attention to the fact that Saturday's win—the team's seventh of the season—was the 29th victory for the Temple senior class, a new school record. Two more games could see that total stretched to 31 and Temple with the same 9-4 season they put together in 2009, when they made their first bowl appearance in three decades.

"There's just so much to play for," continued Addazio. "Of course [we] were disappointed in the conference championship, but you can't be disappointed if you have the chance to win eight games in the regular season, play in a great bowl game, and get your ninth win."

Temple locked down it's seventh of the season on the back of two strong performances from running backs Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown. The Owls ran for 335 yards 5 TD's on the ground, setting another school record in the process. Pierce's second score of the game—a one-yard run to put Temple ahead 21-0—was the the Owls' 30th rushing touchdown of the season. Their (now) 32 scores on the run has surpassed the former record of 29 set in 2009.

Temple will look to add to their new records when they meet Kent State at noon on Black Friday. With any luck, it won't be the last we see of the Owls in 2011.

Contact Us