CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Florida Atlantic University football team (4-4, 3-1 AAC) took down Charlotte (2-6, 1-3 AAC), 38-16, in a rare Friday night game.
The Owls put forth strong performances on both sides of the ball with yet another career performance from junior wide receiver and NCAA DI receptions leader LaJohntay Wester, adding onto his already elite season, and a sack parade on defense.
FIRST HALF
From the start, the Owls defense knew what they were in for against the 49ers: a ball-control offense built on the ground game.
When the offense took over, a familiar scene was set: a score on the opening drive for the fourth game in a row. For the second time in three games, it was quarterback Daniel Richardson finding the freshman tight end Zeke Moore for the score to take the 7-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The defense made a key stop on fourth down and the offense capitalized on their second possession that culminated in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Wester. The always reliable Richardson-Wester combo linked up once again for a 26-yarder late in the second quarter to give the Owls a 21-6 advantage at halftime.
SECOND HALF
Once again, FAU’s offense found a score on the first possession of the half. The team used wildcard QB Michael Johnson who sliced and diced his way to a 19-yard touchdown run.
Carter Davis added a 31-yard field goal and it was all Owls the rest of the way. Defensive linemen Evan Anderson and Latrell Jean as well as linebacker Morven Joseph each recorded a huge sack to keep Charlotte from scoring a touchdown.
RB Larry McCammon rushed it in from four yards with a little over two minutes left to seal the win.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman
“This was a big one. We are being held together by bubble gum and duct tape on defense right now and we lost a couple more tonight. But these guys never cease to amaze me the way they respond to adversity and really embrace being the next man up and, if you are a backup, preparing as if you are a starter. Although it didn’t look pretty at times, hats off to the defense…I thought the offense, in the first half we had four possessions in the first half and put the ball in the paint in three of them and really set the tempo and gave us some confidence there. We hit a lull in the third quarter and then we responded again. My biggest challenge, I think our biggest challenge as coaches this week is going to be that we didn’t handle success well after beating USF. We had some success again on the road and we have to get right back and do it again…We went 1-0 tonight and are 0-0 against UAB, but we also know big picture we have four games left and we are going to have something to say if we take care of business in who plays for that conference championship.”
OFFENSE
- Wester continues to outdo himself. Not only did he add to his lead as the nation’s leader in receptions, catching the ball 10 times for the fifth time this season and had his first multi-touchdown game of the year, he added a career-high 149 yards
- Richardson put forth an efficient 216 yards on 18-25 passing and three touchdowns
- Whenever Michael Johnson Jr. touched the ball, good things happened. His five carries went for 45 yards, including his 19-yard touchdown, his fourth of the season
- In addition to his touchdown, McCammon ran for a total of 67 yards
DEFENSE
- Two additions arrived to the double-digit tackle club: Jarron Morris (11) for the second time this season and Darius McClendon (10) for the third time
- Evan Anderson logged eight tackles and a sack
- Junior defensive lineman Jaden Wheeler, and junior outside linebacker Joseph both notched their first sack of the year
- Jean made a season high five tackles in addition to his first sack of the season
- Decarius Hawthorne added a sack to bring his season total to 3.5
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Davis took over field goal and extra point duties for the evening, adding five points after in addition to 38-yarder
- Sophomore wide receiver Jayshon Platt added a much-needed spark to the Owls’ kick return game, taking one back for 29 yards
UP NEXT
Another road game awaits the Owls, this time at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST. on Saturday, Nov. 4
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