Graduate quarterback N’Kosi Perry threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns as the FAU Owls (4-5, 3-2 C-USA) took down the UAB Blazers (4-4, 2-3 C-USA) Saturday night at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
The 4.5-point upset moves the all-time record between the two programs to 6-3 in favor of FAU.
After redshirt freshman kicker Morgan Suarez made a 20-yard field goal, junior running back Johnny Ford extended the Owls lead with his first touchdown of the season. Perry found Ford wide-open on fourth and three for a 35-yard touchdown putting them ahead 10-0 with 0:50 in the first quarter.
The Blazers responded with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead heading into halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Owls’ offense went on a 4-play, 75 yard touchdown drive to retake the lead. Perry beautifully-placed a 50 yard pass, which redshirt junior wide receiver Je’Quan Burton caught in the endzone to make the score 17-14.
Perry threw his third touchdown of the night on the Owls’ following drive to extend their lead to 24-14. This time, he connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver in the corner of the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown with 5:56 in the third quarter.
A field goal late in the third quarter by the Blazers slimmed the lead to three, and left them an opportunity to tie the score with a fourth quarter touchdown. However, the Blazers turned the ball over on downs on both of their drives in the fourth, sealing the victory for FAU.