Temple freshman Brandon McManus kicked a 19-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining to give the Owls a 34-32 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.
Freshman running back Bernard Pierce led the way for the Owls, rushing 40 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
Miami, which trailed 31-13 at the start of the fourth quarter, scored 19 unanswered points to take a 32-31 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Thomas Merriweather with 2:36 left in the game.
But a two-point pass attempt on the PAT failed, and Temple (7-2, 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference) maintained its hold on first place in the MAC East Division by driving 62 yards on six plays to set up the game-winning kick.
“We have to finish the game, and until we finish the game we’re going to feel the way we feel now, which is not very good,” said Miami coach Michael Haywood, whose team fell to 1-9 overall, 1-5 in the MAC.
Miami redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert completed 29-of-50 passes for a career-high 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The 427 passing yards is the fourth-highest total in school history.
The RedHawks’ comeback began early in the fourth quarter when Dysert hit true freshman tight end Steve Marck with a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Dysert connected again, this time on a 14-yard scoring strike to Armand Robinson, to close the gap to five points, 31-26, with 8:52 remaining. Miami was unable to complete its try for a two-point conversion pass.
Miami’s Jordain Brown and Evan Harris stopped Pierce on third-and-one to force Temple to punt, and Dysert directed a 14-play, 84-yard scoring drive which included a 46-yard pass to true freshman Luke Swift.
“I thought we had it for a second,” said Dysert, whose top receivers were Robinson, nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns; Jamal Rogers, five receptions for 84 yards; and Brayden Coombs, five catches for 66 yards.
Haywood said he is impressed with the way his players continue to battle with few wins to show for it.
“The best thing I can say,” Haywood said, “they practice hard during the week, and we see it on the field.”
Miami’s Trevor Cook kicked two field goals of 20 and 26 yards in the first half.
The RedHawks return home to face Bowling Green on Thursday, Nov. 12.