Changing quarterbacks when you are riding a six-game winning streak is an unconventional strategy. But Temple coach Al Golden couldn’t wait to get sophomore Chester Stewart (DeMatha/Hanover) into the lineup.
So Golden pulled junior Vaughn Charlton in favor of the more talented, but less experienced Stewart. Two wins later, Temple (8-2) has its winning streak intact and is ready to give more responsibility to Stewart, a 6-3, 225-pound prototype with big-play potential.
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In a 56-17 win over Akron Saturday, Stewart led a comeback from 10 points down, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two other scores. In two games as a starter, Stewart has not thrown much, but has made plenty of big plays, completing 12 of 22 passes for 288 yards.
“Am I worried about changing quarterbacks during a winning streak?” asked Golden last week. “What winning streak? For us, it’s all about today.”
Charlton (90 of 178, 1,200 yards, 9 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) was having a solid season, but was benched after struggling (5 of 17, 37 yards) in a win over Navy.
Golden has never doubted Stewart’s ability. In fact, he offered Stewart a scholarship in the spring of his junior year, before he’d even started a varsity game.
After Stewart led DeMatha to an undefeated season and a WCAC championship in 2006, throwing the winning TD pass in overtime of the title game win over Good Counsel, many bigger schools came calling, but Stewart stuck with Temple.
