Bernard Pierce ran for a career-high five touchdowns – four in the first half – and first-year coach Steve Addazio’s quarterback change sparked visiting Temple's shocking 38-7 rout of Maryland on Saturday.

The Owls (3-1) recorded their first win against Maryland in the seventh meeting between the teams. It was Temple’s third win - and first on the road - over a BCS school since 2002.

Coincidentally, the last two victories have been at the expense of Randy Edsall, who was the head coach at Connecticut when Temple beat the Huskies in Pennsylvania last year.

Pierce had touchdown runs of 1, 9, 4, 44 and 13 yards and now leads the FBS with 12 touchdowns He finished with 149 yards.

The only thing more eye-opening than Maryland’s neon yellow jerseys with red and black trimming was the Terrapins’ incompetence. The high-powered Maryland (1-2) offense was held to 121 yards in the first half and trailed 31-0 at intermission.

Also stunning was the Owls’ offensive production, which coincided with Addazio’s decision to switch quarterbacks after Mike Gerardi’s struggles cost Temple a chance at its first win in 70 years over rival Penn State.

Senior Chester Stewart, making his 15th career start, made Addazio look like a genius. Stewart gave the Owls’ offense a dimension it had been lacking, evidenced by his 54-yard completion to Evan Rodriguez on Temple's third play from scrimmage that set up Pierce’s first touchdown run.

Temple took a commanding 21-0 lead after Pierce’s third score, which was set up by a blocked punt.