With the starting quarterback position apparently up for grabs, not much was settled in the contest that ended Temple's spring drills.
Junior Mike Gerardi and senior Chester Stewart, who shared the duties last season, took snaps for both the Cherry and White squads. Redshirt freshman Connor Reilly played for the White team, and threw one touchdown in five pass attempts with an interception.
While sophomore Chris Coyer (hand) was held out as a precaution against making a minor injury worse, Gerardi and Stewart both had good days.
The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Gerardi, who started the last five games of Temple's 8-4 2010 season, completed 13 of 18 passes for 207 yards after starting for the White team. He had a touchdown throw and no interceptions.
The 6-3, 214-pound Stewart, the Cherry starter who led the Owls during the team's first seven games last fall, didn't throw a pick either as he went 10 for 12 for 202 yards with a 2-yard run for a score and a touchdown through the air.
Gerardi connected on a 71-yard touchdown pass with tight end Evan Rodriguez, a 6-3 250-pound senior-to-be who heads an outstanding corps at the position for Temple. Stewart and wide receiver Michael Doty teamed up on a 63-yarder, and Reilly's 21-yard scoring pass to running back Myron Myles in the fourth quarter provided the winning points.
"I wouldn't use today to give anybody a leg up on anything," said Addazio, who this summer will add junior college transfer Clinton Granger (George Washington High) and freshman Jalen Fitzpatrick to his stable of quarterbacks. "Through the spring practice, I felt they competed. I'm not ready to say who's who right now. Certainly, Gerardi and Stewart, you can feel very comfortable with those guys right now."
Addazio, who has introduced a spread offense to the Owls, asked two-time first-team all-Mid-American Conference running back Bernard Pierce to carry the ball only once as the coach looked at other prospects. The talented Matt Brown, who has complemented Pierce in Temple's running game, was suspended from spring drills after running afoul of Addazio and his staff.
Myles, who also scored twice on the ground, topped everybody with 133 yards on 20 carries. Ahkeem Smith had 53 yards on 13 carries.
"Bernard Pierce had a great spring," Addazio said. "I felt I had seen enough with Bernard coming into this scrimmage. I wanted to see those guys take the snaps. It was their opportunity to get a lot done and I thought they did."
Notes. After the game, senior linebacker Tahir Whitehead earned the Mark Bresani Award for spirit and enthusiasm; redshirt freshman wide receiver Brett Pierce was honored as the most improved non-scholarship player; senior defensive end Morkeith Brown was recognized as the most improved defensive player; sophomore tight end Alex Jackson was voted the most improved offensive player; and junior running back Smith was the most improved special-teams player.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.
