BOCA RATON, Fla. – 1-0 AAC. The Florida Atlantic University football team took down the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 20-17, in the Owls’ inaugural American Athletic Conference play matchup on Saturday evening.
The Owls struck first and were able to brave the storm, relying on an elite rushing attack and playmaking defenders in a battle that came down to the last possessions.
With the win, Hagerty Family Football Head Coach Tom Herman records his first AAC victory with FAU while improving his AAC record to 14-4.
FIRST HALFFlorida Atlantic’s defense continued their strong start from the first drive of the game when redshirt sophomore defensive back Jayden Williams, fresh off two fumble recoveries in the previous game, picked off a pass for the first time in his collegiate career.
The Owls’ offense then capitalized on what the defense gave them, scoring two touchdowns on their first two drives thanks to hard-nosed running by senior RB Larry McCammon III. His two scores, both in the opening frame, tied his career high.
A 32-yard punt return by junior wide receiver LaJohntay Wester set up a field goal to give the Owls a 17-7 lead at halftime.
SECOND HALF
The tone of the second half was set the same way as the first: a key takeaway for the Owls with graduate DB Jarron Morris recording the interception.
And then the rain came down.
The second half became a battle in torrential downpour. Thanks to graduate RB Kobe Lewis’ 58-yard run, the longest by an Owl this season, redshirt junior kicker Logan Lupo was able to knock in a chip shot 27-yard field goal to put FAU up by double digits, 20-10.
A drive by Tulsa brought the score within three, but the Owls’ defense came through with one last stand, thanks to a big-time sack from big-time playmaker LB Jackson Ambush on 4th-and-eight, sealing the victory.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman
“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, 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.”
Senior LB Desmond Tisdol
“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.”
Senior RB Larry McCammon
“Our o-line wants to run the ball, they kept saying let’s run the ball, so why not?..Today was a statement game for us to prove to everybody that we can run the ball.”
OFFENSE
- Florida Atlantic’s ground game was a force to be reckoned with all evening, rushing for a total of 241 yards. McCammon (130 yards) and Lewis (87 yards) both recorded career-highs
- Already leading the NCAA in receptions before the bye week, Wester added nine more for 98 yards, including the longest passing play of the day with a 40-yard grab
DEFENSE
- Tied for number two in the nation with two fumble recoveries, Williams now adds an interception to his multiple takeaways in the ’23 season
- Morris snagged his second interception of the year
- Ambush, senior LB Desmond Tisdol, and sophomore LB Jaylen Wester tied for the team high with eight tackles
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Wester’s 32-yard punt return was a season long
- Lupo averaged 51.8 yards per punt, a season best for the redshirt junior, and that included a career-long key 71-yarder in the fourth
UP NEXT
The Owls will get to travel within the state for the first time this season, heading to Tampa to take on USF next Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST.
