Temple faces test in Toledo

Halfway through its schedule and tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division, Temple will visit Toledo tonight for a game that promises to test the Owls in several ways.

Temple goes in with a 4-2 record that includes a 3-0 league mark. Toledo, a MAC West Division team, is 4-3 and 2-1.

"They'll probably be the toughest team we've played since Penn State," said Temple tight end Steve Maneri, who scored the fourth-quarter go-ahead touchdown in the Owls' 27-13 win over visiting Army last Saturday. "It's going to be cold and it's going to be windy. We're looking forward to the game and taking another step in the MAC. We just want to get out there and put four quarters together, something we have not done this season."

In Toledo, Temple has an opponent that lost at Purdue (52-31), to Ohio State (38-0) in Cleveland, and to visiting Western Michigan (58-26). The Rockets defeated Colorado at home, and won at Florida International and Ball State before adding a 20-19 victory over Northern Illinois last Saturday in a game that was decided when Toledo defensive back Barry Church blocked a field-goal attempt by the visitors with 37 seconds remaining.

What concerns Temple coach Al Golden the most about Toledo is its pass offense, which ranks second in the MAC with 310.6 yards per game. The Rockets, who also are second in the conference with 29.9 points per game, are hoping that starting quarterback Aaron Opelt can return to the lineup after missing last week's game with a shoulder injury.

In that game, backup quarterback Austin Dantin suffered an ankle injury. He is out for this week. If Opelt and Dantin can't go, Toledo will turn to Alex Pettee to run its spread offense. Pettee has seen action in only one game this fall.

The Rockets have passed 277 times for 2,174 yards while running for 1,034 yards on 215 attempts. Regardless of who lines up behind center for Toledo, Temple knows what to expect.

"When you're ninth in the NCAA in passing, you pass," Golden said.

"They are very good offensively, but we take pride in our defense, and their spread offense is nothing we haven't seen before," said linebacker John Haley, whose unit leads the MAC in total defense. "We just have to play sound defense and take care of that spread."

Temple, which has listed leading rusher Barry Pierce (shoulder, neck) as doubtful for this week, is riding a four-game winning streak for the first time since 1985.

Though the Owls have been strong on defense, they still need to make strides offensively. Temple is 10th in the league in pass offense with 173.5 yards per game, and seventh in scoring offense with 23.7.

"We have to go on the road and win a game," Golden said. "The previous six games don't matter for us."

Tonight at 7, Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio.

Radio: WPHT-AM (1210).

Records: Temple, 4-2, 3-0 Mid-American Conference; Toledo, 4-3, 2-1.

Coaches: Temple, Al Golden (fourth season, 14-28); Toledo, Tim Beckman (first season).

Series: Toledo leads, 6-2.

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