Brian Manzullo

Senior right tackle Greg Wojt said starting a game aggressively is the offensive line’s consistent focus.

It becomes even more imperative as the Chippewas face Temple at 4 p.m. Saturday for 2008’s Homecoming game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The Owls (2-4 overall, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) have outscored opponents 34-0 in the first quarter and have scored first in five of their six games. The only exception was Sept. 20 at then-No. 15 ranked Penn State, when the Nittany Lions scored the first 31 points in the second quarter en route to a 45-3 win.

“We’ve got to start fast – you look at their defensive line; they’re extremely talented, big, athletic and deep,” said CMU coach Butch Jones. “They’ll rotate a lot of players, same thing at the linebacker spot and then the secondary with big physical guys who’ll re-route you and try to disrupt the timing.”

CMU (3-2, 2-0 MAC) is attempting to win its fourth consecutive Homecoming game for the first time since it won 17 straight from 1966-82.

Doing so will require discipline from the offense – the Owls allow just 18.5 points per game, which ranks third in the MAC. In conference games, Temple holds opposing rushers to 76 yards per game, which ranks first in the MAC.

Wojt, who admits to checking the CMU rushing totals throughout the game, said he hopes to change Temple’s dominance against MAC rushers this season.

“That’s always a great feeling looking up at the scoreboard and seeing all those yards rushing. That really means the line was functioning, the running backs were moving the ball,” he said. “It’s a great feeling when you see those numbers and you know the game was won in the trenches.”

CMU’s top rusher this season is junior quarterback Dan LeFevour. LeFevour has 318 yards rushing this season, 110 more than the team’s top running back, senior Ontario Sneed, who has 208.

With LeFevour crucial not only to the team’s passing success but to its running success as well, senior captain Andrew Hartline said the offensive line must keep its quarterback on his feet throughout the game.

However, the Temple defensive line has shown the ability to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. The Owls recorded four sacks last Saturday in their 28-10 win against Miami University. Junior defensive end Junior Galette leads the Owls with 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.

“One thing after the Purdue game we realized is Dan can’t take those types of beatings, especially if we’re going to use him as a running threat,” Hartline said. “So I think any time we pass the ball, I think Dan’s got to be able to be relaxed and I know when he is relaxed it gives him a better chance to get the bigger plays in.”

Protecting LeFevour might prove more difficult this week as two members of the offensive line are questionable. Sophomore Center Colin Miller is nursing a knee injury, while sophomore Jeff Maddux is recovering from illness.

Likely starting in Maddux’s place at left guard is Kyle Curtis, a junior-college transfer who would make his first start. Joe McMahon likely will move from right guard to center and Allen Ollenburger could take McMahon’s position at right guard.

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E-mail the author: Justin Berndt