Receiver bright spot in Miami football's loss

Sophomore Nick Harwell set records for catches and receiving yards.

Miami (Ohio)'s Nick Harwell is helped to his feet by teammate Chris Givens, left, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in Philadelphia.

Tom Mihalek/AP Miami (Ohio)'s Nick Harwell is helped to his feet by teammate Chris Givens, left, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in Philadelphia.

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By Staff Report Updated 6:59 AM Thursday, November 10, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — The Temple Owls held on to defeat the Miami RedHawks 24-21 Wednesday night despite a record-breaking performance by Nick Harwell.

The sophomore wide receiver established new Miami single-game records for both catches (15) and receiving yards (229). Harwell also caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Zac Dysert.

Temple (6-4, 4-3 in the Mid-American Conference) countered with a defense that sacked Dysert seven times, including five in the second quarter alone and a strong running game led by Matt Brown and Chris Coyer.

Brown filled in for Bernard Pierce, the MAC’s leading rusher who is out with a head injury, and rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Coyer, making his first start at quarterback, ran for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Dysert did complete 28-of-37 passes for 364 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

His third touchdown was a 14-yard strike to Harwell with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter, but Temple was able to keep the ball and run out the clock to snap a two-game winning streak for the RedHawks (4-6, 3-3 MAC).

Brandon McManus put Temple on top 3-0 with a 32-yard field goal early in the first quarter.

Miami answered with Dysert’s first touchdown pass to Harwell, covering 29 yards. It gave the RedHawks a 7-3 lead with 3:33 left in the first period.

The Owls scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Coyer to Deon Miller and a 9-yard TD run by Coyer after Adrian Robinson had intercepted a Dysert pass and returned it 14 yards to the Miami 9.

The RedHawks rallied in the third quarter when Chris Givens caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dysert, but Brown’s 2-yard touchdown run with 13:09 left in the fourth period put Temple back on top by 10 points.

Temple’s victory ended a two-game losing streak.