The Temple football team will play its seventh and final road game this season at 8 tonight against Kent State, and the Owls must win to have a shot at the East Division title in the Mid-American Conference.
Buffalo and Akron lead the division with 3-2 records, while Temple is 2-3.
Buffalo shocked the visiting Owls, 30-28, with a last-second Hail Mary pass Sept. 13. That win gives the Bulls the tie-breaker should the teams finish with the same division record. Buffalo plays at Akron tomorrow night. Temple hosts Akron on Nov. 28.
Last season, Temple defeated Kent State by 24-14 at Lincoln Financial Field.
To beat the Golden Flashes (2-7, 1-4) this time, the Owls must stop quarterback Julian Edelman, who has passed for 1,348 yards and 11 TDs and rushed for 951 yards and 10 scores.
The Owls (3-6 overall) are coming off a 33-27 overtime loss at Navy on Nov. 1, during which the Midshipmen rallied from 20 points down in the fourth quarter.
"It's not one of those things you dwell on," said Temple wide receiver Bruce Francis, who has caught a pass in a school-record 35 consecutive games while tying the Owls' record for career touchdown receptions (18).
Francis had two touchdown catches against Navy, and Temple handled the Midshipmen's famed option offense. But when the hosts went to a passing game to play catch-up, they were successful.
"Since we returned from Navy, we've had leadership we've never had before," Temple coach Al Golden said. "We had some guys that challenged some guys in the film room. It wasn't out of frustration.
"I've been every pleased with the way they've responded. We can't see into the future, but maybe [the Navy game] is what they needed to wake up. We won't know until we see how we play the next three games."
Buffalo and Akron lead the division with 3-2 records, while Temple is 2-3.
Buffalo shocked the visiting Owls, 30-28, with a last-second Hail Mary pass Sept. 13. That win gives the Bulls the tie-breaker should the teams finish with the same division record. Buffalo plays at Akron tomorrow night. Temple hosts Akron on Nov. 28.
Last season, Temple defeated Kent State by 24-14 at Lincoln Financial Field.
To beat the Golden Flashes (2-7, 1-4) this time, the Owls must stop quarterback Julian Edelman, who has passed for 1,348 yards and 11 TDs and rushed for 951 yards and 10 scores.
The Owls (3-6 overall) are coming off a 33-27 overtime loss at Navy on Nov. 1, during which the Midshipmen rallied from 20 points down in the fourth quarter.
"It's not one of those things you dwell on," said Temple wide receiver Bruce Francis, who has caught a pass in a school-record 35 consecutive games while tying the Owls' record for career touchdown receptions (18).
Francis had two touchdown catches against Navy, and Temple handled the Midshipmen's famed option offense. But when the hosts went to a passing game to play catch-up, they were successful.
"Since we returned from Navy, we've had leadership we've never had before," Temple coach Al Golden said. "We had some guys that challenged some guys in the film room. It wasn't out of frustration.
"I've been every pleased with the way they've responded. We can't see into the future, but maybe [the Navy game] is what they needed to wake up. We won't know until we see how we play the next three games."
