Scout.com > Temple Owls' Title Hopes Dashed By Flashes Story URL: http://temple.scout.com/2/811262.html Shawn Pastor OwlsDaily.com Nov 12, 2008 Temple found another way to lose a football game on Wednesday night, wasting the best offensive output of Coach Al Golden’s tenure in a 41-38 loss to Kent State in front of approximately 500 fans at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio. The loss knocked the Owls out of the MAC East race, and locked up the program’s 18th consecutive losing season. Temple found another way to lose a football game on Wednesday night, wasting the best offensive output of Coach Al Golden’s tenure in a 41-38 loss to Kent State in front of approximately 500 fans at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio. The loss knocked the Owls out of the MAC East race, and locked up the program’s 18th consecutive losing season. The Cherry and White defense was shockingly bad against the Golden Flashes, surrendering 561 yards of total offense. Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman had 232 yards passing and 144 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns. Tailback Eugene Jarvis had 34 carries for 185 yards and a score. The Owls got similarly big numbers from junior wide receiver Jason Harper, who caught 10 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Travis Shelton returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. But Temple ran out of big plays in the fourth quarter, failing to produce a first down on three straight possessions after Nate Reed’s 26-yard field goal gave the home team a three-point lead with 6:12 to go. The big miss came just before the two-minute mark, when sophomore Marquise Liverpool caught a 4th-and-5 pass and was tackled one foot short of a first down. While Kent State’s offense had been very productive in recent weeks, scoring 54 points against Miami and 30 against Bowling Green, there was little reason to think Edelman and Jarvis would be absolutely unstoppable against the Owls, who limited MAC offensive leaders Western Michigan and Central Michigan to less than 300 yards apiece earlier this season. But Temple obviously missed the services of junior sack specialist Junior Galette, who did not make the trip for disciplinary reasons, and may miss the rest of the season, according to a source. Cornerback Jamal Schulters played at less than 100 percent and left the game after tweaking his ankle. Most of the trouble, though, was the result of poor tackling and a number of superb plays by Edelman and Jarvis. The Owls just couldn’t keep their hands on either of them. For awhile, it looked like Kent State would run away with the victory. The Golden Flashes scored on three of their first four possessions, taking a 21-3 lead as Temple’s first four possessions went field goal, punt, fumble, punt. But Edelman made an ill-advised throw against heavy pressure and his tipped pass was intercepted by Dominique Harris at the Kent State 27. Kee-ayre Griffin followed with a 21-yard TD run. The Owls were poised to score again before halftime, only to have quarterback Adam DiMichele sacked on consecutive plays in the final 30 seconds. Then, in a stunning twist, senior wideout Bruce Francis got behind the KSU defense and hauled in a 32-yard TD pass from DiMichele with 13 seconds remaining. Shelton continued that momentum and gave the Owls the lead with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the third quarter. But the Temple defense didn’t do its job, letting Jarvis break free on an option pitch for a 39-yard gain. Edelman scored and Kent State regained the lead, 28-24. Then it was Temple’s turn, as DiMichele hit Harper for a 35-yard score. Then it was Edelman’s turn to lead a touchdown drive. After consecutive fumbles – the first one forced by Harris and recovered by Temple safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, the second one committed by Temple tight end Kevin Armstrong – the Golden Flashes added a field goal to take a 38-31 lead. DiMichele hit Harper with a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 38-38 with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter. But, as was the case all night, the Temple defense couldn’t make the stop. Edelman started the decisive drive with a wild, weaving 35-yard run. Reed finished the drive with the go-ahead field goal. Griffin left the game before halftime with an apparent ankle injury. He totaled 11 carries for 56 yards. Besides Schulters, cornerback Evan Cooper, Jr., was also injured for one stretch, forcing the Owls to use converted safety Wilbert Brinson and true freshman Marlin Terrell at cornerback. But the entire defense deserved blame for this one. There were a few bright spots on offense and special teams, most notably placekicker Jake Brownell, who booted a 43-yard field goal. Punter Jeff Wathne prevented a huge loss when he escaped several pursuers to get off a punt after a bad snap, but he also sent the game’s opening kickoff out-of-bounds. True freshman Pat Boyle started at left tackle, ahead of sophomore Derek Dennis. The final score just added to the horror show that the 2008 season has become for the Owls, who dropped to 3-7, 2-4 in MAC play. Copyright © Scout.com and OwlsDaily.com