The Temple Owls (8-4) finished their regular season on a high note with a 34-16 win over Kent State on Friday. The Owls finished the season with at least eight wins for the third season in a row, a school record. Temple had the same record last season and was surprisingly left out of the bowl season.
Temple running back Bernard Pierce rushed 24 times for 189 yards and three touchdowns on Friday, 167 yards and all three touchdowns came in the second half of the game. The Owls needed a big game from Pierce as starting quarterback Chris Coyer was injured on just the third play of the game. Coyer's backup Chester Stewart was 6/6 passing on the day but his first fumble of the game gave Kent State a 6-0 lead in the second quarter (the extra point was blocked).
Matt Brown's 100-yard return gave Temple their first lead of the game on the kickoff after Kent State scored their touchdown. The Owls led the rest of the way.
Temple's win, their third in a row, might have secured them a spot in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which will be played on Dec. 31 in San Francisco.