Owls Fall in Season Finale

Houston – The Florida Atlantic University football team (4-8, 3-5 AAC) concluded their 2023 season with a 24-21 loss to Rice (6-6, 4-4 AAC) on Saturday afternoon.

FIRST HALFIn the final game of the year, the Florida Atlantic Owls left it all on the field. On the very first play from scrimmage, graduate running back Kobe Lewis, who in his short time with FAU has stepped up as one of the team’s most impactful leaders, took the handoff outside and down the sideline for the 75-yard touchdown.

The defense would follow this up with a fourth down stand in the red zone thanks to a timely shared tackle by senior linebacker Eddie Williams and redshirt sophomore defensive back Jayden Williams. A second red zone turnover would be forced in the second quarter when junior cornerback Daedae Hill hauled in a one-handed interception.

Several different players got their first real opportunity on the field this season including redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyriq Starks, who played snaps in rotation with starter Daniel Richardson.

The Owls entered the locker room at halftime trailing 10-7.

SECOND HALFOn the team’s first offensive drive of the half, Florida Atlantic would score again. Richardson threw a dime to junior wide receiver Tony Johnson in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown, giving the Owls a 14-10 lead.

While Florida Atlantic found themselves trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter, the Owls put the ball in the hands of the reliable redshirt junior QB Michael Johnson Jr., who scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season to bring the game within three.

The Florida Atlantic Owls would get the ball back with less than two minutes remaining but could not move the ball, sealing the victory for Rice.

QUOTABLEHagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman
On the loss to Rice
“Obviously not the result that we wanted. What I told the team after the game is don’t ever get used to this feeling. It is something I worry about when you lose four straight to end the season, that is a feeling that can sink in. We have to make sure for the guys that are coming back that it doesn’t. There have been instances where we got out-talented, but today wasn’t one of them. That was a really good Rice team, really well coached, and they played a little bit more disciplined than we did.”

Summarizing the season
“A lot of fight, just didn’t make as many big plays as our opposition. But I am excited about the fight, I am excited about the guys that are coming back. I know they are talented enough that with another year of development, that fight is going to matter, especially when we get some new pieces around that core nucleus of guys.”

OFFENSE

Junior LaJohntay Wester concluded the greatest season by a wide receiver in Florida Atlantic history. The watch list member for both the Biletnikoff and Paul Hornung awards finishes the year with 108 catches (nation-leading) for 1,168 yards (FAU single-season record) and 10 total touchdowns. In addition to the many program records set throughout the season, Wester moved up to number two in FAU’s all-purpose yards list (3,841) in the final game
Senior offensive lineman Marquise Robinson played his 60th game for the Owls, tying the program record
Michael Johnson Jr. wraps up his memorable season with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns on 23 carries
Lewis’ 75-yard run was the longest rush for Florida Atlantic on the season and second longest play from scrimmage

DEFENSE

With four tackles for loss on the afternoon, the Owls finished the season with 87 TFLs, second all-time in school history and one away from their all-time best mark of 88
Linebacker Jackson Ambush logged 13 tackles, adding him to the list of Florida Atlantic defenders who recorded double digit tackles in a game along with graduate safety Jarron Morris, who joins the list for the fourth time of the season with 10 tackles
Hill became the second Owl on the season to snag multiple interceptions, joining Morris (3).
Decarius Hawthorne registered a sack to give him the team-leading 4.5 on the year

SPECIAL TEAMS