BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Florida Atlantic University football team fell in its final regular season road matchup, on Saturday afternoon against Conference USA East Division leader WKU.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart:
“Very disappointing. We didn’t play like we should play against a good football team. Western (Kentucky) is a really good football team and we knew that coming in, and that we had to play our best to … beat this team. We didn’t do that offensively, another week where we didn’t produce like we should have. Very inconsistent, and you can’t be that against a team like Western.”
THE BEGINNING
After WKU (7-4, 6-1 C-USA) scored on its first drive, the Owls (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) threatened to tie on the ensuing possession, having 1st-and-goal on the Hilltopper 3. But back-to-back losses necessitated a field goal attempt instead, and Morgan Suarez split the uprights from 35 yards out for his first career FG.
THE TURNING POINT
The Hilltoppers kept their foot on the gas, scoring on their next two drives as well, but their attempt at four in a row was snuffed out by Teja Young, who picked off Bailey Zappe’s pass and returned it 62 yards the other way for his second pick-6 of the season. Immediately after, and 80 yards later, WKU was in the end zone again, and added a field goal before the halftime break for a 31-10 lead.
THE FINISH
The teams traded interceptions to start the third, FAU’s coming by Korel Smith (tying Young with his team-high third of the year). The Owls got on the board first in the frame on a drive that saw N’Kosi Perry go 4-for-5 and end on a nine-yard score to John Mitchell. WKU converted a turnover into points late in the third to go back up by three scores.
The fourth saw WKU score early and late for the game’s final two scores.
STATS AND RECORDS
- Young became the first Owl with two interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season since Ocie Rose in 2015. Willie Hughley is the only other FAU defender to achieve this feat (2003)
- FAU quarterbacks Perry (213) and Nick Tronti (63) combined to pass for 276 yards
- Je’Quan Burton led the receiving corps with seven receptions and 80 yards, while LaJohntay Webster nabbed six catches and had 47 yards receiving
- James Charles hauled in a career-long 45-yard catch
- Leading the defenders were Jordan Helm and Zyon Gilbert with 12 and 11 stops, respectively. Armani-Eli Adams added a career-best nine, including two for loss
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will need a win in their final regular season matchup, Senior Day next Saturday, to reach bowl eligibility. In town in Boca Raton that day is Middle Tennessee, a 7 p.m. kickoff on STADIUM Network and Fox Sports 640AM South Florida. To experience “Football in Paradise” for the final time in 2021, click HERE or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
