BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University football (3-5, 2-2 C-USA) will return home to host UAB this Saturday, Oct. 29 at FAU Stadium. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. and will air on CBSSN. Fans are encouraged to wear black to match the team or come in the Halloween Spirit. Tickets may be purchased for just $5 HERE. If you want to upgrade, you may do so HERE.
FAU’s defense has faced a strong run game all year long, and Saturday’s opponent may be a step stronger than previous foe in their run attack with DeWayne McBride, who averages 7.0 yards per carry and a squad that is averaging 242.3 rushing yards per game.
Defensively, FAU welcomes the return of Evan Anderson, who has played the last two games. Anderson recorded eight tackles a week ago, despite being double teamed much of the game. Teja Young will continue to quarterback the defense as the program’s all-time leader in pick-sixes with four. He has collected two interceptions in 2022 and has returned both for scores. His record-breaking fourth was a 72-yard return at UTEP.
The Owls hold a 5-3 all-time record versus the Blazers, who enter the contest with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-2 C-USA mark, including a 31-14 loss a year ago in Birmingham, Alabama and a 49-6 win in the 2019 Conference USA Championship game, also played at FAU Stadium.
The game is scheduled to air on CBS Sports Network and on Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM. Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will provide the radio coverage.
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando
On having a defensive rotation
“I think there were a lot of guys that just needed reps. We talked about in camp, and it has been a little bit of a blessing that we rotated so many guys. I think you’re starting to see guys come along a little bit faster than what we anticipated, some of the younger guys. I think that’s a part of development and part of being patient. In this day and age, especially in the college game, when you’re dealing with younger people, sometimes it’s hard to be patient, but I think guys are learning every day and they’re getting a lot of quality reps. Take a look at a guy like (Amari) Wasnley, he’s a guy that comes to the top of my head that we were really fired up about. He had a couple of setbacks, but he’s playing really strong. Working on some of the guys like Jaylen Wester, some of the other guys that are talented and just need repetitions, but the more that they’re playing the better off they are going to be.”
On Teja Young recording two pick sixes
“It’s been pretty cool with him. He’s got a record in his hand right now which is probably going to be broken at some point, but it’s pretty cool for somebody that’s given so much to this program, when he has kids and look back at that and say I was the record holder. I think he’s one of those guys that when he has the ball in his hands, you should always be straining. You look at Mike [Antoine Jr.], he literally ran about 200 yards across the field to give him that last block to push him through. It’s really good for us because he’s a guy that works extremely hard. He’s a guy that does everything the right way, and I think the Football Gods reward those guys.”
On limiting explosive plays
“Sometimes you get into a call that’s a little bit rough, and guys are going to have to fight through it, but it was just execution in the call. If you really watch [the 77-yard TD by UTEP], there were a handful of things that are very correctable. But that’s such a big play during that game because we had a ton of momentum, we just came off of the pick six, and then we didn’t execute…When you have losses that are three or less and then you start to talk about being in a tight red zone and giving up touchdowns instead of giving up field goals, there’s a handful of wins right there. It’s all the things that go into training guys to be exact because if you let your guard down in Division I football, you’ll give up big plays. And that’s what we have to eliminate. We have to eliminate the big plays”
On UAB’s offense
“Their tailbacks are explosive. They are kind of like thunder and lightning. They’re committed to running the football. We think they’re going to run the ball maybe 48-50 times. They’re averaging 42 right now. We’ll see what their QB situation is coming into it and how much they want to change. They run the football, play really good defense and they can flip the field on you. That’s why they win ball games. There’s a lot of similarities to what we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks.”
On red zone defense
“Everything is faster down there. Everything needs to be processed quicker. You have to be more aggressive down there, and then schematically we have to be smart about the things that we’re doing. With this team coming up, they’re fully committed to running the football down there, so we’re going to have to try to make them throw. Today, this is what we work on, tight red zone and third down because they’re so critical in terms of having success. So, continue on doing it. From myself, just keep looking at things we can do better, and then we just have to execute at a higher level than what we’ve been doing.”
On linebackers stepping up with Eddie Williams injured
“Everybody has to pick it up. That’s one of those things that’s next man up. As we continue to move forward, that’s in a lot of positions. We’ve had some guys go down, had some guys come back, and I think that’s a challenge for those guys, but everybody wants to play. If they’re out on this field and giving everything that they have, then they deserve the right to play.”
Evan Anderson
On Teja Young getting a pick six
“Watching him run down the field was exciting because we needed a spark to get the offense going. When he got the pick six, that’s what we all thought we needed for us to win the game.”
On the process of recovering from injury
“Just watching the film, talking to my teammates, and just trying to play the game through them while I was hurt.”
On getting back on the field
“It felt good being back to play football. It felt like I got my freedom back. It felt like I was myself.”
On easing back into it
“I feel like I was playing alright. I have to play better so we can win.”
On the defensive line room
“I feel like we’re all good. There’s no drop when somebody gets hurt, I feel like we just keep playing like it’s next man up. Everybody has been working and grinding, so it’s not a shock to them, they’re already prepared.”
On the defensive line room limiting explosive plays
“We just know we have to play a perfect game, or as perfect as you can. The little stuff. We have some young guys that are playing, so we have to make up for their mental mistakes because they’re still learning. The D-Line, most of us have been here for at least two years so we know what the standard for the defense is. We just have to do our job.”
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 last-second field goal loss to UTEP and will feature running back Larry McCammon and will go one-on-one with defensive coordinator Todd Orland. Two of the three Wester brothers on the roster (LaJohntay and Jaylen) will continue the “Football in Paradise” series. Inside the Owls Burrow airs on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30am on Bally Sports Florida.
TICKETS
To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE or HERE. Call the FAU ticket office, today, to secure your tickets. Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
