Such is the life of a kicker after missing two field goals in the first half, Temple’s Brandon McManus kicked the Owls to a 13-10 victory over Central Michigan by making two after halftime including the game winner in overtime. It was the Owls first ever overtime win and they are 2-0 for the first time since 1981.

The Owls defense stopped the Chippewas, who had the ball first in overtime, when cornerback Kee-Ayre Griffin intercepted a Ryan Radcliff pass in the end zone.

The Chippewas (1-1) moved the ball on the Owl’s defense in the first quarter gaining 96 yards on 19 plays but it was Temple that had the only scoring chance despite gaining just 53 yards on seven plays. On their first offensive play, Stewart hooked up with Rod Streater for a 56-yard completion however McManus, the hero in a week one win over Villanova, was wide right with a 44-yard field goal attempt.

Early in the second quarter – after stopping the Chippewas Paris Cotton on a fourth-and-one from the Temple 25 – the Owls got their offense going. They moved to the Central Michigan six-yard line where a Bernard Pierce touchdown run was wiped out by a penalty. The drive, which consumed more than seven minutes of game time, would come up empty when McManus missed again; this time from 38 yards out. Pierce would get a second chance on the Owls next possession when he capped a 10-play drive that covered 69 yards with a four-yard run. Along the way, Pierce converted a third-and-one with a 24-yard run and Stewart scrambled eight to pick up a first down on a third-and-eight from the Chippewas 34.

Central Michigan tied the score midway through the third quarter on a one-yard run by Cotton. The score was set up by Cody Wilson, who took a short pass from Radcliff, made some Owls miss and went 70 yards in all. The Owls answered with a field goal as McManus finally connected. His 31 yarder capped a drive that featured a lot of Matt Brown (eight touches for 31 yards) as Pierce left the game with a left hand injury.

The Chippewas used half the fourth quarter on a drive that tied the score at 10 with just over a minute left. David Harman connected from 31 yards but the Owls had a chance only to see Stewart fumble when he was sacked. The Owls defense forced a fumble of their own, the Chippewas recovered but time had run out in regulation.

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