Black Cherry Friday

As far as monumental achievements go, the Temple football team’s fifth victory of the 2008 season wasn’t exactly building the Egyptian pyramids. Then again, it was probably a step above the development of silly putty, too, considering how far the program has come since Coach Al Golden took over before the 2006 season.

Friday’s 27-6 victory over Akron at Lincoln Financial Field, the Owls’ second straight to end the season, was significant enough that Golden received the obligatory Gatorade shower after the game. Temple finished 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference, notching the most wins for the program since a 7-4 season in 1990.

Had the Owls knocked down that Hail Mary pass on the final play at Buffalo in September, they would be the MAC East champions and on their way to Detroit to take on undefeated Ball State in the conference title game.

But Friday was about accentuating the positive as Golden indicated in his postgame address, while senior quarterback Adam DiMichele and wide receiver Bruce Francis both counted the win as the highlight of their careers. Temple scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to grab the victory.

With the score tied at 6-6 following Akron kicker Igor Ivelcic’s 18-yard field goal with 10:15 remaining, the Owls took the lead on the next possession. DiMichele hit Jason Harper over the middle for a 50-yard gain down to the Akron 4, and the quarterback scored on a four-yard keeper around the right side to put Temple ahead with 7:59 to play.

True freshman Kevin Kroboth might have made the biggest play of the game on the ensuing Zip drive, intercepting a Chris Jacquemain pass and returning it 50 yards to the Akron 18. Five plays later, Marcellous Grigsby went in from the 3 to put the Owls ahead, 20-6. Grigsby added a second TD on a 9-yard run to ice the game with 2:29 to play.

The Owls defense held the Zips to a pair of field goals a week after allowing 52 points and 484 passing yards in a 55-52 shootout victory against Eastern Michigan.

The second kick came after Temple held at the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter, and Ivelcic’s field goal only tied the game.

DiMichele scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter for the only points of the first half, but the extra point attempt failed.

Francis caught two passes for 16 yards, extending his school record streak of consecutive games with a reception to 38. Center Alex Derenthal made his 46th consecutive start, also a school record.

Golden Postgame: Listen to Audio

DiMichele Postgame: Listen to Audio

Francis Postgame: Listen to Audio

Kroboth Postgame: Listen to Audio