BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University football is riding a two-game winning streak and sits at 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Like every week before, the Owls will work for one goal: to go 1-0 this week.
Standing in front of that 1-0 goal is UTSA, a team that captured the Owls’ previous conference, Conference USA, in both 2021 and 2022 and a team that has consistently been among the nation’s top-25. The Roadrunners have won 10-straight regular season conference games and 12-consecutive contest versus conference foes when including the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship games.
The Owls are 2-1 at home in 2023 under the direction of Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman and have never been beaten by the Roadrunners in three previous meetings.
Both programs are less than 25 years old, with the Owls being the older brother by 10 years and both programs were started from scratch under the direction of former University of Miami head coaches: FAU in 2001 and UTSA 2011.
The Owls are expected to be led by current AAC Offensive Player of the Week Daniel Richardson. Last week, the Miami native completed 31 of 38 passes for a career-high 382 yards and three touchdowns against one interception to help Florida Atlantic break open what had been a one-score game at halftime. His efforts guided what turned into a 56-14 victory over host USF. The FAU offense scored the final 35 points of the game.
The running back room is led by a duo of backs averaging more than five yards per carry. Senior Larry McCammon III has tallied 442 yards on 81 carries (5.5 per carry) while graduate Kobe Lewis has carried the ball 37 times for a total of 210 yards (5.7 per carry).
FAU’s offense is sparked by the play of junior LaJohntay Wester, who is averaging 103.67 yards per game and a nation leading 10.3 receptions per game. He is the only player in the country with double-digit receptions per game and has reached the milestone in four of six 2023 games. Last week, the wide receiver room proved they have more than one weapon, with redshirt sophomore Tony Johnson and junior Devin Price putting on an athletic display. Johnson is averaging 11.91 yards per catch and Price averages a team-leading 12.50 yards per catch.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator/QBs Charlie Frye
On the challenge of UTSA
“What I see on film is a defense that plays extremely hard. They run to the ball as good as I have seen this year getting 11 hats to the picture. It will be a big challenge for us.”
On what the USF game proved for the Owls offense
“They were able to put it all together. Playing for each other had a big part of what I was feeling all week, just extremely good execution by our guys. They deserve the credit. They are on the field. They are the ones doing the execution and playing for each other.”
Redshirt Sophomore WR Tony Johnson
On the wide receivers’ performances against USF
“It is a blessing to see that we worked hard together all summer and spring. I love the ‘slideouts.’ This year my boys are going to work and that is put on display. It is what we train for every day.”
On the offensive explosion
“I think it was well overdue. We work very hard and it was good to see it finally pay off. We are going to try to stack those games like that.
On the challenge against UTSA
“We are looking forward to the challenge. Like Coach Herman said today in our team meeting, this our chance to show that we are dominant and contenders for the American Conference. We want to go out and put on a show and prove that we are legit.”
Redshirt Senior OL Marquice Robinson
On the challenge of UTSA
“Just like with any other game and any other team, there is going to be adversity, ups and downs, so just staying the course and not worrying about the scoreboard, but just focusing on the next play.”
On the offensive explosion against USF
“It was overdue. You could see in previous games there were bits and pieces and you would see we could connect but we just couldn’t complete it. But we brought it all together against USF.”
Freshman TE Zeke Moore
On how his role has grown
“My coaches have trusted me and put me in a lot, so those reps have allowed me to get to this point. I knew it was possible because of the work I have been putting in up to that point.”
On how his mindset has adjusted during games
“Every week is a little bit different, but you learn your systems and how to go through a week. The extra stuff has settled down a little bit.”
On the offensive explosion against USF
“That is always the expectation we have had, but for the first time we did what we wanted to do. We still left a lot out there, but it was good to put that on film and prove to ourselves that is the expectation for us.”
GAME DETAILS
Saturday Oct. 21– UTSA AT Florida Atlantic (Homecoming)
- Time – 6 p.m.
- Television – ESPN+
- Radio – Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the game’s call on FoxSports South Florida
- ESPN+ – Richard Cross and Taylor McHargue will provide the coverage
- Fashion – The Owls will don new uniforms featuring sand coloring and palm trees along the side, while fans are encouraged to wear RED!
TAILGATING EXPERIENCE
It’s not too early to reserve your spot for FAU’s new Tailgating Experience. Spots are available for the Saturday, Oct. 21 versus UTSA, which also is homecoming weekend. For details and to RSVP
COACH’S RADIO SHOW
Frank Forte and Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman will appear together weekly on the FAU Coaches’ Show. This year’s show will be recorded live at Duffy’s Sports Grill, located at 401 N. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 each Thursday at noon. The show is scheduled to air each Friday night on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida, beginning at 6 p.m.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2023 season, the first in the American Conference, by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by going online HERE. For more ticket information click HERE. To purchase away game tickets, click on the above Buy Now link. Single-game tickets may also be purchased by visiting HERE.
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