DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — After what happened last season to Miami University and what has happened over the last 16 seasons to the Temple Owls, both football teams are overjoyed to be on winning streaks.

The RedHawks went 2-10 a year ago but have won three in a row. The Owls, trying to break a string of 16 consecutive losing seasons, have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.

"We're going to face a very-much improved Temple football team that's a different team from the team we faced two years ago," said Miami coach Shane Montgomery. "They've beaten two good programs the last two weeks in Northern Illinois and Akron.

"They're similar to us in that they're playing a lot of young players, a lot of true freshmen and a lot of true sophomores," he added. "It'll be a challenge to go on the road and play a team with a lot of momentum."

Temple has 15 true freshmen on its two-deep roster, including seven starters.

The RedHawks don't have seven true freshmen in their lineup, but Montgomery is showing more of an inclination to use his youngsters with each passing week. He said he was hesitant to play them early in the season because he wanted to allow them to adjust to the college game.

"As we go through the year," Montgomery said, "we're asking these guys to do more and more.

"You saw true freshmen on offense Saturday that made some plays," he said, referring to wide receivers Chris Givens and Jamal Rogers, and running backs Thomas Merriweather and T.J. Lattimore, who combined for 126 yards of total offense against Bowling Green. "Defensively, Morris Council certainly has played a lot at defensive end."

Other Miami true freshmen who have seen action are David Davis (linebacker and special teams), Ryan Kennedy (linebacker) and DeAndre Gilmore (nickel back, special teams).

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197

or pconrad@coxohio.com.