In their most meaningful game of the season to date, the Owls came up short against Ohio.

Despite a strong performance by redshirt-sophomore quarterback Chris Coyer, the Owls lost to the Bobcats, 35-31.

A win could have put Temple in position to secure a Mid-American Conference Eastern Division title, but the Owls dropped a half game behind Ohio in the MAC East standings with a 3-3 in-conference record.

Coyer took over at quarterback from redshirt-senior Chester Stewart with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter and played the rest of the game. Coyer passed for 123 yards and three touchdowns and added a team-high 176 yards rushing.

But the defense couldn’t stop Bobcats’ senior running back Donte Harden and the rest of the Ohio offense. Harden rushed for 184 yards and a touchdown to go along with 75 yards receiving and a touchdown.

After four lead changes in the fourth quarter, the Owls got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining and a chance to win the game. But Coyer’s 4th-down pass intended for senior wide receiver fell short and gave Ohio their 35-31 win.