From David Volz
The Florida Atlantic University football team defeated Tulsa 20 to 17. This was the Owls’ first win and its first game as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
FAU’s running back Larry McCammon III, a senior, scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. He scored early on a one-yard rush. Then McCammon scored on a ten-yard rush. Kicker Logan Lupo made both extra-point kicks and had a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“Our o-line wants to run the ball, they kept saying let’s run the ball, so why now?. Today was a statement game for us to prove to everybody that we can run the ball,” said McCammon.
Jayden Willams, a redshirt sophomore defensive back had an interception. LaJohntay Wester, a junior wide receiver, had a 32-yard punt return to set up a field goal.
The second half was played in a huge downpour. Defensive back Jarron Morris had an interception. Running back Kobe Lewis had a 58 yard run, the longest by an Owl player this season.
After the game, Head Football Coach Tom Herman said he was pleased with the victory and praised the team for coming together and dealing with adversity, “I am really proud of the way that we responded to that adversity. I told the guys that the team that jogged into FAU Stadium and Schnellenberger Field four weeks ago would not have won that game, and we did. We found a way to do it, even not playing our best at times in the second half. I’m really proud of the way that we responded, proud of the maturity and growth that we have shown. That team Tulsa, we knew they were not going to go away. Coach Kevin Wilson is too good of a coach and runs too good of a program. Our guys kept fighting. We ran into some self-inflicted wounds, which has been our M.O., but we found a way for the first time all year to really overcome those. Not saying I wanted it to happen it that way,”
Herman continued, “I think championship teams find ways to close the door when they have opportunities, we are not quite there yet. It doesn’t happen overnight, but I’m really proud of the growth and maturity that we have shown. We are going to celebrate this, this is the first win in our program’s history in this conference, and that is something to celebrate, especially against a team that has resided in this conference since its inception. I’m just really proud, but we also know it does not get any easier from here. We are taking the steps necessary to compete. The only long term goal we had was to compete for championships in late November and early December. We are still on track to do that, but we have to make the same kind of improvements week over week that we made the last few weeks.”
Desmond Tisdol, a senior linebacker said, “We had to come out and play better than we played against Illinois, Clemson, Ohio. We have been practicing to flush the bad moments that we had in those games and come practice hard, practicing those situations. Coach Roc (Bellantoni) gets on me every day to be the best version of myself and that is what I did.”
Florida Atlantic had a successful ground game rushing for a total of 241 yards. McCammon rushed for 130 yards and Kobe Lewis rushed for 87 yards. Both recorded career-highs. Wester was leading the NCAA in receptions before the bye week and he added nine more for 98 yards, including the longest passing play of the day with a 40-yard grab
On defense, Jackson Ambush, Desmond Tisdol and Jaylen Wester each had eight tackles.
