INSIDE SLANT

Can Temple’s self-proclaimed “Bernie and the Bug Show” carry on this Friday in the biggest game of the season—without Bernie?

“Bernie” is Temple’s stud freshman tailback Bernard Pierce (1,349 yards, 15 rushing TDs in 2009), who suffered a left shoulder injury during the first offensive series of the game of last Saturday’s game vs. Kent State and did not return. Temple head coach Al Golden has ruled Pierce out of this week’s nationally-televised game (ESPNU, 11 a.m.) for the MAC East title versus Ohio University (8-3 overall, 6-1 MAC).

And there are whispers that Pierce has suffered a separated left shoulder—which, if true—would leave his availability very much up in the air for the 2009 Marathon MAC Championship game on Dec. 4 vs. MAC West winner Central Michigan, if the Owls can best Ohio U this weekend.

With Pierce on the sideline, pint-sized tailback Matt “the Bug” Brown will take over the No. 1 tailback spot again. If he can come even close to last week’s production, then Temple will have a really good shot at beating Ohio U for the MAC East title on “Black Friday.” Brown might be the size of a middle-school kid (5-foot-5, 167 pounds), but he came up big-time last weekend against Kent, rushing for 156 yards and two scores as Temple rolled to its ninth straight win, 47-13.

Brown—and his new primary backups Lamar McPherson and Jason Harper—will have the luxury of running behind a large and physical offensive line, a unit that averages 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds from tackle to tackle. Over the past two weeks, that line has become more dominant as the game has worn on, as evidenced by the fact that Temple scored 49 unanswered points versus Akron two weeks ago and then 41 unanswered points last Saturday against Kent State.

However, this week’s foe—Frank Solich’s Ohio U club—is a much more potent team than either Akron or Kent State. Redshirt senior quarterback Theo Scott runs the Bobcats’ spread offense quite well and Ohio U’s wideout trio of LaVon Brazill, Terrence McCrae and Taylor Price have combined for 1,474 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Last week, the Owls (9-2 overall, 7-0 MAC) won their ninth consecutive game with a 47-13 win over Kent State in the home finale. It’s the first time in school history that the Owls have won nine consecutive games in a season.

• Temple puts the special in special teams as sophomore WR James Nixon is No. 5 nationally in kickoff returns (30.57 yards per return), while junior WR Delano Green is No. 18 in punt returns (12.72 yards per return).

• WR/PR Delano Green pulled off a program first last Saturday, becoming the first Temple player ever to return punts for touchdowns in consecutive games with his 52-yard return vs. Kent State. His two returns for touchdown tie the school record (Anthony Young, 1982) for punt returns for scores in a single season.

• The winner of the Temple-Ohio U contest will face West Division winner Central Michigan in the 2009 Marathon MAC Championship game on Friday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. ESPN2 will televise that game live nationally.

Series History:   The series is tied 1-1 (last meeting, 2008, 14-10 Temple win)

Scouting The Offense:   Temple’s freshman superstar tailback Bernard Pierce will miss the Ohio University game with a shoulder injury, but the Owls’ roster still possesses enough playmakers to light up the scoreboard. Chester Stewart, who took over as the team’s No. 1 quarterback earlier this month, energizes the Owls offense with his arm and his feet. With Pierce out, tiny, but talented backup Matt “the Bug” Brown will be Temple’s primary ballcarrier. He’ll come into this game with loads of confidence as he rushed for 156 yards and two scores last week after Pierce got hurt during the first series of the game. Wideouts Michael Campbell, James Nixon and Delano Green all sport game-changing speed as well. The concern for Temple in this one, besides the loss of Pierce, is Ohio U’s opportunistic defense, a unit that is second in the nation in turnovers forced (32).

Scouting The Defense:   Temple enters the Ohio U game ranked No. 18 nationally in sacks (2.73), and No. 18 in rushing defense (103.27), but will be tested by the Bobcats’ spread offense run by redshirt senior Theo Scott. The strength of the Owls’ defense is its front seven—particularly potential future pro in senior Andre Neblett (6-2, 300), a disruptive force at nose tackle, and a pair of sophomore budding stars in end Adrian Robinson, who is No. 6 in the nation in sacks (1.00 per game), and tackle Muhammad Wilkerson (7 sacks in 2009). Neblett and Wilkseron routinely occupy multiple blockers, allowing Jaiquawn Jarrett (64 tackles, 3 INTs), Dominqiue Harris (59 tackles) and the Joseph brothers, Alex (60 tackles) and Elijah (50 stops), to make plays.

Quote To Note:   “I have big shoes to fill. Bernard Pierce is one of the best running backs in the country.”—Temple tailback Matt Brown, who will start in place of the injured Pierce this week.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Temple at Ohio U, Nov. 27—These two teams are mirror images of one another—both have rugged defenses and playmakers aplenty on offense. To win what amounts to a MAC East title game, Temple must take care of the ball against Ohio U’s opportunistic defense, a unit that is second in the nation in turnovers forced (32).

Keys To The Game:   Temple, home to one of the best o-lines in the MAC, will rely on Matt Brown, all 5-5, 167 pounds of him, to replace the lost production of Bernard Pierce (shoulder injury), one of the nation’s most productive tailbacks. If Ohio U packs the box with defenders to slow down Brown, then redshirt sophomore quarterback Chester Stewart must hurt the Bobcats with both his arm and his feet.

Players To Watch:  

RB Matt Brown’s 71-yard TD run in the third quarter vs. Kent State was Temple’s longest run from scrimmage this season. After losing superstar freshman Bernard Pierce last Saturday, Temple needed someone to step up and Brown did the job, rushing for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns.He’ll need to come up big again this week for the Owls to best the Bobcats.

QB Chester Stewart replaced Vaughn a few weeks ago, because of Stewart’s stronger arm and greater mobility. It appears to be a masterstroke as Temple’s offense has been humming ever since.

PR/WR Delano Green returned a punt for a touchdown in a second straight game (the first Owl ever to pull off that feat) and later added a 50-yard TD run on a reverse in Temple’s rout of Kent State.

Roster Report:  

—Temple’s stud freshman tailback Bernard Pierce (1,349 yards, 15 rushing TDs in 2009) will miss this week’s game vs. Ohio U with a left shoulder injury. There are whispers that Pierce, who ranks No. 10 nationally in rushing (118.80) and No. 28 in scoring (8.18), has suffered a separated left shoulder—which, if true—would leave his availability very much up in the air for the 2009 Marathon MAC Championship game on Dec. 4 vs. MAC West winner Central Michigan, if the Owls can best Ohio U this weekend. Matt Brown will start in his place this week vs. Ohio U.

• The recent emergence of Matt Brown, small (5-5, 167 pounds), but speedy tailback from Baltimore, as a dependable backup to Pierce has resulted in Temple coach Al Golden moving sophomore Kee-ayre Griffin, who has battled minor injuries all year, to cornerback. Golden appears to have made the right call on both players as Brown rushed for 156 yards and two scores vs. Kent State last week and will start this week against Ohio U and Griffin recorded his first career interception on Saturday and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. Griffin will stay at cornerback despite the injury to Pierce, Golden says.

• Starting right guard Colin Madison (6-3, 318), a junior, has winning football in his DNA. His second cousin is four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Madison.