8/31/2001 - Football
Temple Football Defeats Mids In Opener, 45-26

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PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Big East Conference is booting Temple out of the league at the end of the season, but the Owls are out to prove they still belong.

Jason McKie led an effective ground attack with 120 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries as Temple pulled away in the second half for a 45-26 victory over Navy in the opener for both schools.

One of the reasons Temple is getting tossed is because it has failed to meet attendance requirements. Meanwhile, on the field, the Owls have visions of their first winning season since 1990. Temple, which was 4-7 last year, had too much for the Midshipmen, who were coming off a 1-10 campaign.

Temple jumped to a 10-0 lead on Scott Devin's 19-yard touchdown pass to Lester Trammer and Jared Davis' 39-yard field goal. Navy closed to 10-6 on a pair of field goals by David Hills, but Jason McKie scored on an 80-yard TD run to give Temple a 17-6 halftime lead and the Owls were never threatened.

Temple stretched its lead to 31-13 in the third quarter on Zamir Cobb's 47-yard punt return and Sean Dillard's 11-yard TD run.

Backup Mac Devito tossed TD passes of 11 yards to Cobb and 25 yards to Chonn Lacey in the fourth period.

Makonne Fenton added 94 yards on 13 carries for the Owls, who outgained the Middies, 319-89, on the ground.

Craig Candeto threw a pair of touchdowns in the second half for Navy in relief of Ed Malinowski. Candeto was 4-of-15 for 106 yards. Malinowski was 9-of-15 for 86 yards.