Mids need to get past loss, focus on Irish

Football is usually won in the trenches. That is exactly where Temple beat Navy on Saturday.

The Owls controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that performance in the most basic element of football was enough for them to overcome numerous mistakes.

A Temple offensive line that averages 310 pounds per man mauled Navy and paved the way for freshman tailback Bernard Pierce to rush for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Massive defensive tackles Muhammad Wilkerson and Andre Neblett combined to make 24 tackles and anchor a defense that limited the Midshipmen to 227 yards rushing - 60 below their season average.

"They beat us up front," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said matter-of-factly.

Niumatalolo was referencing the Owls' defensive line in that instance, but he could easily have been talking about their offensive line as well.

Temple's strength and experience is on the right side with junior guard Colin Madison (6-foot-4, 318 pounds) and senior tackle Darius Morris (6-4, 305), but it was the left side duo of sophomore guard Steve Caputo (6-5, 315) and senior tackle Devin Tyler (6-7, 308) that sprung Pierce for his two long touchdown runs.

Executing a zone blocking scheme to perfection, the Owls locked on every defensive lineman and linebacker to create nice running lanes for Pierce, whose 267 yards are believed to be the second-most the Mids have ever allowed an opposing runner.

"I don't think you find that combination of strength and vision in many backs," Navy inside linebacker Ross Pospisil said. "He did a great job of finding holes, and their offensive line does a good job of putting body on body."

Navy missed a ton of tackles, due equally to poor fundamentals as well as the 6-foot, 210-pounder's power and strength. However, in most cases the Midshipmen's front seven was simply well-blocked, evidenced by the fact Pospisil was held to four tackles. It was tied for the lowest total this season for Pospisil, who leads the team with 65 tackles.

Left end Jabaree Tuani had a good game with six tackles, but the rest of the defensive line combined to make just four stops. Outside linebackers Ram Vela, Clint Sovie and Craig Schaefer totaled only three tackles among them.

Pierce, a product of the Glen Mills reform school, already has established Temple freshman records with 1,033 yards and 11 touchdowns, certainly looks like a future NFL Draft pick.

"Pierce was a big, strong running back. He broke a lot of tackles and had good vision," said safety Wyatt Middleton, whose three tackles equaled a season low. "I think the coaches put us in good position. We just have to make plays."

Temple (6-2) has won six straight games for the first time since 1974 and hopes to receive a bowl bid for the first time since winning the Garden State Bowl in 1979. Head coach Al Golden said last week the Owls have developed toughness and learned how to win, which was evident on Saturday.

Navy was just 7-for-17 on third down conversions, proof that Temple's defense rose up and got stops at critical times. Wilkerson (13), Neblett (11) and middle linebacker Alex Joseph (10) all reached double digits for tackles while end Adrian Robinson had two sacks, increasing his season total to 10.

That ability to run the ball and stop the run enabled Temple to overcome a weird 3-yard punt return for touchdown, a fumbled punt that resulted in another Navy touchdown and two interceptions.

"This team is different. This team has unity. This team won't crack. They just hang in there and stay together," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "I see a team that has some poise and believes in the brand. If you can run the football, you are going to impose your will and I think that's what happened today."

Navy (6-3) was thwarted in its bid to win six straight games for the first time since 1979 and to become bowl eligible. The Midshipmen missed two scoring opportunities in the second quarter when Kriss Proctor was picked off on a pass intended for a wide open Mario Washington in the end zone and fellow quarterback Ricky Dobbs was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-one from the Owls' 32-yard line.

"For me, this is probably our best win all season to come down here and give it to them in their house," Neblett said. "This has got to be our top win. They beat us three years in a row and last year was just a heartbreaker with them scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter."

Navy has rarely lost back-to-back games during its current run of six straight winning seasons. The Midshipmen won following each of their losses earlier this season, but that task will be more difficult this time around.

"We're still in search of number seven. We have a tremendous opponent next week in Notre Dame. We've got to get back to work and dig deep and I know we will," Pospisil said.

Navy has already been installed as a heavy underdog for Saturday's road game against 19th-ranked Notre Dame (6-2), which whipped Washington State 40-14 this past Saturday night.

"We've got to find a way to bounce back. We don't have any alternative. We have an unbelievable challenge next week going to South Bend. We have to lick our wounds quickly and move forward," Niumatalolo said.