| BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University football earned the program’s 10th straight victory at FAU Stadium, pulling away from Fordham via a 31-7 second half in a 45-14 Saturday win. QuotableHead coach Willie Taggart: “We’re very excited about the win. Our guys got another win at home. (I) wasn’t really excited about how we started. I thought we were really sloppy on offense, missed a lot of throws. We had some open guys that we didn’t connect on and that really changed the game for us early. It was sloppy early on, but I was happy with how they came out in the second half and found a way to play like they were supposed to play. Again, I wasn’t necessarily happy with our beginning but was happy with the finish of our football team. There’s a lot of work to be done. I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we can or should be, but that’s the beauty of only three games, there’s more games to play and practices to get done.” The BeginningThe first four drives of the game, two for each side, ended in punts. The Owls (2-1) recorded the game’s first first down at 8:23, another two plays later, and a 25-yard completion to the Fordham 20 – N’Kosi Perry to Brandon Robinson – the snap after. James Charles then tiptoed down the east sideline for 19 yards to the one, and three plays later, Perry faked a handoff and dove over the goal line from the two-yard line for the game’s first score. The Turning PointFordham (0-3) knotted it up early through the second, on a similar drive (their first first down followed by a long gain – a 35-yard rush – and eventually a 14-yard pass for the score). FAU immediately drove to the red zone, but missed a field goal attempt. It wasn’t until later on in the quarter when the Owls retook the lead. Fordham shanked a punt allowing FAU to start the drive on the Rams’ 35; Perry went to LaJohntay Wester for 16 and six; and Larry McCammon III rushed for six to the six, then six into the end zone for his first rushing TD of the year. Out of the break, the Owls forced a three-and-out, and scored on the next possession, ending on a Perry to Wester 25-yard catch-and-run down the near sideline, to make it 21-7. The FinishStill in the third, Fordham recovered a muffed punt at midfield, but the Owls had two tackles for loss on the next three plays, the last an 11-yard sack by Jaylen Joyner. The lead was extended on a tremendous catch by TJ Chase in the end zone, a 17-yard score, late in the third. Fordham scored with just under 10 minutes left, cutting it to 28-14. FAU answered with a quick six-play drive, five of them rushes from Kelvin Dean, Jr. It started with his 31-yard rush, it ended with a two-yard touchdown, the first score of his career. And on the first play of the ensuing Fordham possession, Teja Young intercepted a pass and took it back the other way, a 22-yard pick-six. That and an Aaron Shahriari 23-yard field goal with 2:34 left capped the scoring. Quick HitsThe win means the Owls have matched their longest home winning streak, having won 10 straight once prior (from Sept. 16, 2017 to Oct. 6, 2018)Dependent on Saturday’s late BYU result, the FAU will be either one of eight or nine teams with current double-digit win streaks at homeDespite holding only a 7-0 lead, the Owls dominated the first period. Yardage was in their favor, 110-12 (and 45-0 rushing), and FAU had six first downs to the Rams’ zeroAt the half, Fordham had 85 total yards. Of those, 73 came on their scoring driveEarly in the final frame, Zyon Gilbert picked off a Fordham pass in the end zone. His would-be 104-yard return was negated as he barely stepped out at the threeStats and RecordsThe Rams would end up with just 29 rushing on 18 attempts, or 1.6 per tote. That’s the least amount of yardage an FAU defense has given up since Sept. 21, 2019 (Wagner, -6 yards)Wester became the first FAU receiver to have back-to-back 100-yard games since Jovon Durante (Oct. 6 and Oct. 20, 2018). He is also the first Owl with double-digit receptions since Harrison Bryant (10 against UTSA on Nov. 23, 2019)Young’s interception return was the Owls’ first since Azeez Al-Shaair against FIU on Oct. 1, 2016Perry and Nick Tronti combined for 301 passing yards. Perry was 27-of-43 for 278 yards and two scores, and Tronti was 3-for-3 for 23 yardsDean led the backfield with 74 yards on nine carries, 8.2 per. Malcolm Davidson was next with 63Dean, Davidson, McCammon, Perry and Charles combined for 229 yards on the ground, and 5.1 per carryBehind Wester on the receiving side was Robinson (five catches for 60 yards). Nine different receivers hauled in a passOwls’ defenders had seven tackles for loss, five pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and the two interceptionsWhat’s NextThe Owls head west to play Air Force, next Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. The return home is scheduled for the following weekend, hosting FIU on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 3:30 p.m. Get tickets by visiting HERE or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS. Both games will feature a live radio broadcast on Fox Sports 640AM South Florida. |
