FAU Owls vs. UAB Blazers – Game Takeaways

Here are three takeaways from FAU’s win over the UAB Blazers:

This is FAU’s potential 

Last Saturday’s win felt like one of the first times all season that the Owls have played a complete game. 

It seems like when they play well on one side of the ball, the other side struggles. Their victory over Rice on Oct. 15 was the perfect example—despite the FAU defense pitching a shutout in the final three quarters, struggles on offense only allowed them to escape with a three-point win. 

This was not the case against UAB. 

The Owls’ offense was efficient on the ground and through the air, finishing the night with 172 rushing yards and 187 passing yards. This came against the best defense they have faced all season—the Blazers’ defense entered the matchup ranked 18th in nation in scoring defense. 

Meanwhile, the Owls’ defense managed to limit the Blazers, who were averaging 32 points per game heading into the matchup, to only two touchdowns. 

Preferably, these displays of potential would have come earlier, and much more often. However, in season that has been racked with disappointment. A victory over a quality opponent is very refreshing. 

Give Perry his credit 

Perry’s outstanding performance on Saturday was his best of the 2022 season, and maybe of his FAU career. 

His 187 passing yards and three touchdowns earned him an adjusted QBR of 88.4, which is the highest grade he’s earned all year. However, the box score does not do justice to his most impressive moments. 

His 50-yard touchdown pass to Burton in the third quarter, at the time, was arguably the best throw Perry has made all season. From past the midfield marker, Perry hit Burton perfectly in stride in the endzone against solid coverage from the UAB defender. 

That pass had an argument for the best he’s thrown all year until he followed that with another touchdown pass that should’ve made you fall out of your seat. 

On their next drive, he followed that with another touchdown, even more impressive than the last. 

Facing a third down in the redzone, Perry perfectly placed the ball in the corner of the end zone for Johnson who was blanketed in coverage by the Blazers’ defensive back. 

If that pass came out even a couple inches off-path, or a half-second later, it would’ve been batted down.

There are NFL quarterbacks who wouldn’t be able to make that throw. So, Perry deserves his credit for this, and several other moments that aided in the victory. 

The season isn’t over

Despite sitting at 4-5 with only three games left, the Owls’ still have plenty left to play for. 

Saturday’s victory not only keeps them in contention for a bowl game, it also places them fourth in the conference standings and keeps their hopes of a conference championship appearance alive. 

To remain bowl-eligible, FAU would need to take down at least two of their remaining three opponents: FIU, Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky. 

The path to the C-USA Championship is not as simple. Even if the Owls win out in their remaining three games, they’ll also need teams ahead of them to lose multiple conference matchups in the remaining four weeks of the regular season. 

It will be difficult, but certainly not impossible in the C-USA which has been closely contested all season. However, every game from here forward becomes a must-win for FAU.