McManus sends Temple to victory in OT

A 30-yard field goal by Temple kicker Brandon McManus gave Temple a 13-10 win over Central Michigan at Lincoln Financial Field in the Mid-American Conference opener Thursday night. It was the Owls' first-ever extra-session win in seven tries.

Temple got an interception in the end zone by defensive back Kee-Arye Griffin after CMU had taken possession first in the overtime period.

Defending champion CMU saw its streak of success against teams from the league's East Division end.

CMU (1-1), the defending conference champion, entered this season with three titles in the last four years. The Chippewas defeated visiting Hampton, 33-0, last week in their first game of the year.

Temple (2-0), the preseason favorite to take the conference championship this fall after sharing the MAC East Division title in 2009, won at home against Villanova, 31-24, to open its season.

CMU, a MAC West Division team, had won 18 consecutive games against East Division squads.

Down by 7-0 at the break last night, CMU knotted the score on a 1-yard scamper by running back Parris Cotton with 7 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 70-yard pass play from Chippewas quarterback Ryan Radcliff to wide receiver Cody Wilson.

But McManus, who missed two field-goal attempts during the first two quarters, put the Owls ahead with a 31-yarder at the 2:17 mark of the period. Temple went 66 yards on 11 plays to regain the lead.

CMU threatened the Owls' three-point edge at the beginning of the fourth quarter by moving into field-goal range, but Chippewas kicker Paul Mudgett couldn't convert a 27-yard attempt with 11:38 remaining.

With 1:11 showing on the clock, David Harman came on in place of Mudgett and made good on a boot from 31 yards to make it 10-10.

On Temple's ensuing possession, Owls quarterback Chester Stewart lost a fumble as he was being sacked, and defensive tackle John Williams recovered for CMU. But CMU failed to capitalize, and regulation ended in a deadlock.

Having forced CMU to punt on the game's first possession, Temple had a chance to score after Stewart teamed with wide receiver Rod Streater on a first-down pass play that was good for 56 yards to the CMU 32-yard line. But a 44-yard field-goal attempt by McManus with 8:07 remaining in the first quarter was wide right.

Minutes later, Temple had another opportunity when linebacker Stephen Johnson grabbed a pass attempt out of the air after it was juggled by CMU halfback Carl Volny. From its own 27-yard-line, Temple kicked the ball back to the Chippewas four plays later.

On the first play of the second quarter, Temple appeared to have gained momentum when it stopped CMU on a fourth-down play to take over at its own 26-yard line.

The Owls made their way to the Chippewas' 21-yard line, but McManus was wide left on a 38-yard three-point attempt with a little less than eight minutes remaining in the half.

Bernard Pierce, who had a 6-yard touchdown run that was called back earlier, finally snapped the 0-0 tie when he went around right end for a 4-yard score with 1:33 left in the first half.

The scoring run capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive.

Both teams had a fumble recovery before the second quarter expired, but neither was able to take advantage as Temple carried the 7-0 lead into intermission.