The FAU Owls (3-4, 2-1 C-USA 2-1) snapped a three game losing streak with a 17-14 victory over the Rice Owls (3-3, 1-1 C-USA) last Saturday at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
In what was a disastrous start for FAU, after the offense was forced to punt after three plays on their first drive, the defense proceeded to allow two consecutive touchdowns to go down 14-0 in the first quarter—the first of the two being a 78-yard touchdown pass on a busted coverage by the FAU defense.
After being forced to punt on their first three drives, the FAU offense finally got on the scoreboard with 12:05 in the second quarter. Junior running back Larry McCammon III ended a 10-play, 78-yard drive by taking a handoff five yards for the touchdown to make the score 14-7.
McCammon saw a huge workload Saturday night, tallying 99 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, which is nine more touches than he has seen all season.
After missing an attempt as time expired in the first half, redshirt freshman kicker Morgan Suarez knocked a 34-yard field goal through the uprights, making him seven of 10 on the season and slimming Rice’s lead to four.
With 11:12 to play in the fourth quarter, FAU took their first lead of the night on a 18-yard touchdown catch by redshirt freshman wide receiver Jahmal Edrine. Graduate quarterback N’Kosi Perry beautifully placed the ball over a defender for Edrine on a streak route, making it 17 unanswered points scored by the FAU offense.
After the first quarter the FAU defense played lights out, allowing only 99 yards through the final three quarters. They played especially tough in the fourth quarter, recording two straight interceptions off the hands of defensive backs Dwight Toombs II and Armani-Eli Adams.
Following the two interceptions, the FAU defense forced a turnover on downs with 1:22 left in regulation to seal the three-point win.