BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University football (3-4, 2-1 C-USA) will head to Texas to face their third-consecutive Texas opponent. The Owls will make their second trip to the Lone Star State in four weeks when they face fellow Conference USA member UTEP (3-4, 1-3 C-USA) this Saturday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. EST.
The Owls are coming off a week where three interceptions played a factor in the win over Rice, and FAU expects that they will need to meet their three takeaways per game goal to continue their winning ways. The defensive side of the ball welcomed the return of Evan Anderson last week and made use of the previous week’s bye to heal and have more players available.
As the Owls head to El Paso, FAU is No. 7 in defensive TDs. Linebacker Eddie Williams, who leads the team with 9.3 tackles per game, is ranked No. 28 nationally. Dwight Toombs dazzled the crowd last Saturday with an acrobatic end zone interception and is No. 10 nationally with three takeaways. Toombs’ INT was made possible by one of Armani-Eli Adams’ two pass breakups on the day and Adams added his first career interception.
The game is scheduled to air on ESPN+ and on Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM. Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will provide the radio coverage.
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando
On the defensive performance against Rice
“It was good. I thought we practiced really hard, so I think we were excited to go out there. Some of the additions like Evan (Anderson), I think that made a big difference to us defensively. I’m really proud of the guys in the fourth quarter. They came out there and made a couple of really nice plays. To sit there as a coordinator on the sidelines and watch them close out the game, they did a heck of a job.”
On overcoming adversity
“I was very encouraged. There was no panic, on both sides, offensively and defensively. You always get a little bit concerned when somebody hits a big play like what happened to us, but we recovered. It was really good to see our guys play clean football on both sides. The offense gets a lot of the credit too because they possessed the ball, and we played what Rice had normally done to other people to win games. It was a great team win, we fought through a lot of stuff, and we found a way to win.”
On UTEP’s offense
“You watch the similarities to what they do and what we just got done with Rice. I’ve competed against their head coach. He’s tough. He’s old school. He’s very similar to my beliefs philosophically in terms of controlling the clock, but they have the ability to throw the football. They have some really good skill players. Their QB is accurate and can throw the deep ball.”
On Sophomore Evan Anderson’s impact
“It’s huge. If you really watch the game tape and you watch offensive linemen who normally go one-on-one with somebody, but they have to commit two guys with it, it helps the guys behind you. I thought he was really active in terms of making plays too. There were some really impressive plays. There was a short yardage run where he jumped over the top and ran it down. The pick that we got towards the tail end of the game, he created the pressure that and made the QB throw it. He’s got experience, size, he’s a playmaker, and it was a huge part of that game the way that we played up front.”
On keys to shutting down UTEP WR Tyrin Smith
“We have to know where he’s at. They’ll move him around, which you’re supposed to do with that, but he creates issues and matchup problems. He’s quick, he can get on top of you. But we also have to be mindful they’re going to run the football. That’s the M.O. to set up the pass game. It’s going to be a challenge. They’ve had a week off to prepare for us, but it starts with having to stop the run game.”
On Armani Eli Adams
“He’s played really well for us, and he’s making play after play. He really understands what we’re doing. I think the guys were excited for him because he’s had opportunities in the past to make some plays and he finally finished one. He’s been playing really solid. To have those guys back there to go along with Teja (Young), we have a system where those guys have to do coverage checks, they’re part of some of the run fits that we have, they’re doing a really good job.”
On young players impressing
“You’re trying to get those guys in as much as you can. It just goes back to practice. All of these guys have proven to us whether or not they should be in the game by the way that they practice. When they get out there and they get their opportunity, it’s been earned. When they get on this practice field, they have to compete really hard, know what they’re doing, and then they earn that right. We have enough younger guys on that field that tells you the story that we have some quality depth. When you take a look at the overall recruiting class from the last couple of years, a lot of those guys are coming in for us. That’s a good job when you’re evaluating film and doing all of those things, of making sure you’re getting the right guys in your program.”
Redshirt Junior Safety Armani Eli Adams
On how the game slows down as he gets more experience
“When I first got here, it was kind of fast, but as I’ve gotten older, you recognize formations and tendencies of other teams, so it has just slowed down a lot for me over the years.”
On tipping the ball for the Dwight Toombs interception
“We were in a man coverage concept and basically I was just trying to make a play on the receiver, just play through his hands and Dwight did a great job of running to the ball.”
On the defensive performance against Rice
“We played well, but there’s still some things we have to correct. The 14 points, we still feel like they shouldn’t have gotten any points, really. After the first 14 points, we played well, but the 14 points we’re going to look back and say it shouldn’t have been that many. “
On the biggest challenge against UTEP
“The biggest challenge is just stacking the good days and weeks. Just being consistent on defense. Just building off of last week is probably going to be the biggest challenge this week.”
On stepping up when Teja Young was out
“It feels good, but Teja is always in our corner. He’s always rooting for us whether he’s playing or not. We’re rooting for him as well. Even when he wasn’t out there, he was still on the sidelines telling us what he sees, just doing his best when he wasn’t out there. Now that he’s back, he’s still been doing a great job like he always does, we’re just fortunate to have him.”
On making the interception
“It felt real good to get an interception. It’s different from getting a fumble, an interception feels great.”
On the defensive momentum from Saturday’s win
“In prior weeks, coming out of the third quarter, we weren’t as dominant as we should have been, but this game we were dominant after the first 10 minutes of the game. It felt great just going out there and executing.”
On keys to shutting down UTEP WR Tyrin Smith
“Just keep everything in front of you. Just don’t have any errors. If we have errors, it’s going to be a big play for him, so just making sure we’re aligned and assigned well, and everything should work out.”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
FAU Coaches Radio Show
For free mobile listening of all game broadcasts and coaches shows, FAU fans can download the Varsity Network app for iPhone or Android. The app features instant access to free gameday audio streams and the ability for fans to receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts. Local fans can tune in to Hubbard Radio (Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM) to follow the team.
FAU Television Inside the Owls Burrow
This week’s show will include a sit down with Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart. Show host and producer Frank Forte will review last week’s win over Rice with Taggart and the duo will preview the upcoming game at UTEP. Nicholas Marino will be featured in the “Pads Off” segment while coaches Brandon Harris and Derrick Gibson will be introduced.
TICKETS
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