Three In A Row

After watching junior quarterback Adam DiMichele get carried off the field with a broken leg, an inspired Temple defense carried the team to a 24-17 win over Miami-Ohio on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.

The victory gave the Owls their first three-game win streak since 1990, and pushed them into the middle of the unpredictable MAC East race. Temple improved to 3-5, 2-2 in the MAC East. Miami dropped to 4-4, 2-1 in the MAC East.

The final result seemed unlikely when DiMichele broke his left tibia on a sack by Miami linebacker Clayton Mullins in the second quarter. Just a few minutes earlier, DiMichele had given the Owls a 14-7 lead with a QB sneak, which came two plays after he caught a 43-yard pass from wide receiver Bruce Francis on an across-the-field throwback.

After looking a bit shaky in his first half relief work, sophomore quarterback Vaughn Charlton settled in and completed a 61-yard TD pass to Francis to give the Owls a 21-7 lead in the third quarter.

The Cherry and White defense did the rest. Their biggest stop came midway through the fourth quarter, when junior defensive end Leyon Azubuike stuffed Miami tailback Cory Jones for a loss on 4th-and-2 at the Temple 4. Later, freshman cornerback Jamal Schulters broke up a 4th-and-2 pass attempt into the endzone.

The RedHawks scored 10 points and recovered a pair of onside kicks in the last two minutes, and had a chance to tie the game with a 70-yard bomb on the final play. But Miami quarterback Dan Raudabaugh's pass was intercepted by Owls safety Dominique Harris.

Sophomore defensive end Junior Galette was one of many defensive stars for the Owls, finishing with three quarterback sacks. Freshman safety Jaiquawn Jarrett also stood out in run support and pass defense.

The Owls started strong thanks to Galette’s sack-fumble of Raudabaugh on Miami’s third offensive play. Taking possession at the Miami 22, DiMichele completed a third down pass to Dy’Onne Crudup, and backup tailback Jason Harper took it from there, running three straight times to get into the endzone.

Miami answered with a touchdown, which could very well have been a field goal or less. After driving to the Temple 22, the RedHawks stalled, and placekicker Nate Parseghian trotted on for a 4th-and-1 field goal attempt. The attempt was aborted, however, as Miami was called for delay of game.

Backed up five yards, Coach Shane Montgomery decided to go for the first down. Against serious pressure, Raudabaugh hit wide receiver Eugene Harris across the middle, and Harris slipped away from Owls linebacker John Haley and picked up the first down. On the next play, Raudabuagh hit tight end Jake O'Connell down the seam with a 19-yard touchdown pass.

Following DiMichele’s long catch and touchdown sneak, and after he was injured, the Temple defense really locked things down.

The RedHawks got the ball at the Temple 28, but only picked up one first down before Parseghian was wide left on a 31-yard field goal attempt. Their next possession went nowhere, even after they were given a second chance thanks to an illegal substitution penalty against the Owls on a punt attempt.

Given one more chance to score before halftime, Raudabaugh moved the RedHawks to the Temple 33 before missing two passes and getting sacked by Galette.

The Owls played conservatively with Charlton at the helm and carried their 14-7 lead into the half.