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Do IT this week: Layering
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:42 p.m. EST, Nov 12, 2009
Temple football coach Al Golden is well aware that the University of Akron is capable of being a spoiler for the second consecutive week.
Last Saturday, Kent State came to InfoCision Stadium as a contender in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference and left as a longshot when the Zips pulled a 28-20 upset.
Temple (7-2, 5-0), the MAC-East leader, follows the Flashes into the new UA facility Friday with a chance to solidify their first-place status.
But Golden knows that the underdog Zips (2-7, 1-4) are playing loose and playing once again to affect the MAC-East race.
''Kent State was in the mix. They still are in the mix,'' Golden said. ''But, obviously, Akron viewed them as somebody they could knock off.
''They look at us the same way. They want to knock us off. We have to get our focus up.''
Temple comes to Akron on a seven-game winning streak and as a four-point favorite. The Owls lost to Villanova (27-24) and Penn State (31-6) in their first two games before knocking off the likes of Army (27-13) and Navy (27-24) as part of their longest winning streak since 1973.
Meanwhile, the Zips ended a six-game losing streak by beating the Flashes with their most inspired performance of the season. After a series of distractions and competitive losses in September and October, the Zips started November by retaining the Wagon Wheel trophy and hoping to close the season strong.
''With everything that has happened, can we continue to improve? That's what we have stressed to these kids,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''Temple probably is the most-talented team in the league, especially defensively. It is a tremendous challenge.
''From our standpoint, our guys have been plugging away and trying to win football games. We have been close, got one done and hopefully, from that, is a momentum builder.''
The Zips will face an Owls team that relies on a defense that ranks 31st in the country and second in the MAC behind Northern Illinois in allowing 329.7 yards per game.
The line and linebackers have been stuffing the run, ranking 24th nationally by allowing just 106.7 yards rushing per game.
''I have said it for three years that this is the best defense in the league. Their front seven is outstanding,'' Brookhart said. ''You have to take advantage of the opportunities because it is tough to continually march the ball versus them.''
The Owls have one of the conference's best defensive players in end Adrian Robinson, who leads the MAC in sacks and is sixth in tackles for loss.
Temple is second in the MAC in sacks, behind only Kent State. The Zips' offensive line allowed no sacks in the victory over KSU and will be challenged once again.
''Personally, I really think Temple has the best D-line I have played against since I have been at Akron and I have played against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State,'' said senior guard Zack Anderson, a native of the Philadelphia suburb of Lester. ''It's their physicality. I grew up near Philly and you have to have an attitude to live in that city. A lot of their guys grew up there and are from tough areas.''
Offensively, Temple relies on freshman tailback Bernard Pierce, who leads the MAC in rushing with 1,211 yards on 204 carries and has 14 rushing touchdowns. He has six games of more than 100 yards, including 267 against Navy.
Pierce will be a challenge for a Zips defense that allowed Kent State to rush for only 38 yards on 21 carries, a 1.8-yard average.
The UA defense got contributions all over the field. Linebacker Brian Wagner, the leading tackler in the MAC, had 15 tackles, and cornerback Miguel Graham had a school-record six pass breakups.
''I love their defense,'' Golden said. ''You can make a case that they are the fastest defense we have played all year. They really run to the ball well.''
On offense, the Zips will be looking to carry over the consistency and balance shown against Kent State.
UA ran 75 plays against the Flashes, with 40 being runs and 35 being passes. Of the 25 first downs, 12 came on runs, 12 on passes and one on a penalty. The runs produced 168 yards and the passes 261.
Freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely continued to develop and the running attack by committee had four backs account for 130 of the yards.
''Offensively, we operated well and consistently,'' Brookhart said.
The Zips have one more home game after Friday, meeting Eastern Michigan on Nov. 27. They travel to Bowling Green to play the Falcons on Nov. 20.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Temple football coach Al Golden is well aware that the University of Akron is capable of being a spoiler for the second consecutive week.
Last Saturday, Kent State came to InfoCision Stadium as a contender in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference and left as a longshot when the Zips pulled a 28-20 upset.
Temple (7-2, 5-0), the MAC-East leader, follows the Flashes into the new UA facility Friday with a chance to solidify their first-place status.
But Golden knows that the underdog Zips (2-7, 1-4) are playing loose and playing once again to affect the MAC-East race.
''Kent State was in the mix. They still are in the mix,'' Golden said. ''But, obviously, Akron viewed them as somebody they could knock off.
''They look at us the same way. They want to knock us off. We have to get our focus up.''
Temple comes to Akron on a seven-game winning streak and as a four-point favorite. The Owls lost to Villanova (27-24) and Penn State (31-6) in their first two games before knocking off the likes of Army (27-13) and Navy (27-24) as part of their longest winning streak since 1973.
Meanwhile, the Zips ended a six-game losing streak by beating the Flashes with their most inspired performance of the season. After a series of distractions and competitive losses in September and October, the Zips started November by retaining the Wagon Wheel trophy and hoping to close the season strong.
''With everything that has happened, can we continue to improve? That's what we have stressed to these kids,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''Temple probably is the most-talented team in the league, especially defensively. It is a tremendous challenge.
''From our standpoint, our guys have been plugging away and trying to win football games. We have been close, got one done and hopefully, from that, is a momentum builder.''
The Zips will face an Owls team that relies on a defense that ranks 31st in the country and second in the MAC behind Northern Illinois in allowing 329.7 yards per game.
The line and linebackers have been stuffing the run, ranking 24th nationally by allowing just 106.7 yards rushing per game.
''I have said it for three years that this is the best defense in the league. Their front seven is outstanding,'' Brookhart said. ''You have to take advantage of the opportunities because it is tough to continually march the ball versus them.''
The Owls have one of the conference's best defensive players in end Adrian Robinson, who leads the MAC in sacks and is sixth in tackles for loss.
Temple is second in the MAC in sacks, behind only Kent State. The Zips' offensive line allowed no sacks in the victory over KSU and will be challenged once again.
''Personally, I really think Temple has the best D-line I have played against since I have been at Akron and I have played against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State,'' said senior guard Zack Anderson, a native of the Philadelphia suburb of Lester. ''It's their physicality. I grew up near Philly and you have to have an attitude to live in that city. A lot of their guys grew up there and are from tough areas.''
Offensively, Temple relies on freshman tailback Bernard Pierce, who leads the MAC in rushing with 1,211 yards on 204 carries and has 14 rushing touchdowns. He has six games of more than 100 yards, including 267 against Navy.
Pierce will be a challenge for a Zips defense that allowed Kent State to rush for only 38 yards on 21 carries, a 1.8-yard average.
The UA defense got contributions all over the field. Linebacker Brian Wagner, the leading tackler in the MAC, had 15 tackles, and cornerback Miguel Graham had a school-record six pass breakups.
''I love their defense,'' Golden said. ''You can make a case that they are the fastest defense we have played all year. They really run to the ball well.''
On offense, the Zips will be looking to carry over the consistency and balance shown against Kent State.
UA ran 75 plays against the Flashes, with 40 being runs and 35 being passes. Of the 25 first downs, 12 came on runs, 12 on passes and one on a penalty. The runs produced 168 yards and the passes 261.
Freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely continued to develop and the running attack by committee had four backs account for 130 of the yards.
''Offensively, we operated well and consistently,'' Brookhart said.
The Zips have one more home game after Friday, meeting Eastern Michigan on Nov. 27. They travel to Bowling Green to play the Falcons on Nov. 20.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 10:54 PM, 11/12/2009
I wanna piece of The Owl. . .& Bill Cosby. . . .& Philadelphia. . .& a Philly Cheesesteak. . .& Hall & Oates. . .
FEAR THE ' ROO. . .
Posted 05:42 PM, 11/13/2009
The only piece of Pierce you'll get is the air behind his back. He's got world-class speed.
