Temple's Pierce named MAC Offensive Player of the Week

CLEVELAND (9/26/11) – Temple junior RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) has earned Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for the East division, the MAC announced on Monday.

In Saturday’s 38-7 win at Maryland, Pierce rushed for a school record and MAC record-tying five touchdowns. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark in rushing for the 12th time in his career and third time this season. He finished the game with 149 yards on 32 carries for five touchdowns.

It was the first time in his career that he scored three touchdowns in the first quarter (on 31 yards rushing) alone.   The five rushing TDs also tied the MAC record, held by 10 players.  His 30 points also tied Sherman Myers’ (vs. Syracuse, 1979) school record for most points in a game.

After four games, Pierce leads the Owls (and the MAC) with 496 yards and a national-best 12 touchdowns on 87 carries. He is the Owls’ and MAC’s top scorer with 72 points.

Pierce stands third in career 100-yard games with 12.

Pierce (38) now needs just one touchdown to tie career leader Paul Palmer in all-time rushing TDs (39).

In this week’s national statistics, Pierce leads the nation in rushing touchdowns (12) and scoring (18.00 ppg) while ranking No. 10 in rushing (124.00).

Pierce also earned Honorable Mention National Player of the Week honors from the College Football Performance Awards and was named the Rivals.com MAC Player of the Week. He has been nominated for the FRS Running Back Performance of the Year by Intersport. Fans can vote for Pierce via Facebook until Oct. 2.

The MAC honor is the sixth of Pierce’s collegiate career and his second this season. He earned the season’s first honor on Sept. 5.

Additionally, senior TE Evan Rodriguez (North Bergen, N.J.) was named the National Tight End of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards. Against the Terrapins, he led the Owl receivers with a career-high 96 yards on five receptions.  

Temple (3-1, 1-0 MAC), which leads the nation in scoring defense (7.75 ppg) and received votes in this week’s USA Today Coaches’ Poll, hosts Toledo (1-3, 0-0 MAC) at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Noon.  The Rockets are the preseason favorite to win the MAC West Division and the 2011 MAC Championship.  ESPN Plus will televise the game (shown locally on 6ABC).