Temple prevails for seventh win in a row

The first two Temple scores came on six-play drives. One covered 33 yards, the other 51. The first was set up by a 30-yard punt return by Delano Green, the second by a Kevin Kroboth interception.

With 5:21 left in the second, the Owls went up 18 on a 7-yard run by Pierce, which culminated another six-play march, this one covering 86 yards. A 45-yard pass from Stewart to James Nixon directly preceded Pierce's second TD.

Miami (1-9, 1-5), which had beaten Toledo at home a week earlier, got back into it on an 11-yard TD pass from Dysert to Armand Robinson with 3:41 to go until halftime, and Trevor Cook's second field goal, this time from 26, at 11 seconds. It came after Stewart fumbled at the 22.

The Owls won the third quarter, 10-0. Mostly because they kept handing off to Pierce, who carried 15 times, or as many as he had in the first 30 minutes. He got it on their first six plays, and seven of the first eight, which led to a 42-yard McManus FG. The next time the Owls touched it, Pierce again lugged it on seven of eight snaps, this time to finish things off. His 14-yard run put Temple up by 18 with 17 1/2 minutes remaining.

Yet it would somehow turn into a game again. One they nearly lost.

When you're charting new territory, there's always another lesson lurking just ahead.