FAU matched up against Charlotte on the road in week nine and came out with a 38-16 victory over a tough 49ers team to move to 4-4 on the season (3-1 AAC). The victory also moved the Owls to 5-0 all-time at Jerry Richardson stadium and moved the all-time series between the two to 7-2 in favor of FAU.
Following the game, FAU Coach Tom Herman was really pleased with his team finding a way to win despite key injuries on the defensive front.
“That was a big one… the defense was held together by duct tape and bubble gum”, Herman said.
The game started off a bit uneasy for FAU fans as Jaylen Wester was ejected for targeting on the first possession of the game. The Owls were able to regroup following the loss of their productive linebacker and hold Charlotte to a field goal.
FAU had their first drive on offense on the following possession and was aided by 37 yards of personal foul penalties on the 49ers, to set them up first and goal from the four. Daniel Richardson found true freshman Zeke Moore in the endzone for his second score of the year to put the Owls up 7-3 early.
Following a lengthy Charlotte drive that ate up most of the first quarter and resulted in a punt, the Owls combined the air and pass game with big plays from Larry McCammon, LaJohntay Wester, and BJ Alexander. A few big plays set up the Owls for a 23 yard TD strike from Richardson to Wester to put the Owls up 14-6 early in the second quarter.
The next big strike in this game came late in the second quarter. After a three and out on the previous drive, the Owls offense went to work with four minutes to go in the half. Richardson marched this team down the field like a pro, finding four different receivers before connecting with his man Wester for his second score of the day on a 26 yard strike. This put the Owls up 21-6, which would be the score going into the half.
The second half for the Owls started fast, as the team had great field position following a Charlotte unsportsmanlike penalty to end the first half. They made quick work of that short field position, marching down 57 yards in three plays. Two long passes from Daniel Richardson to Wester set the Owls up for a 19 yard run from Michael Johnson Jr. into the endzone to put FAU up 28-6 with 13:46 to go in the third quarter.
The Owls had some special teams miscues on the ensuing possessions, failing to recover an onside kick which set up Charlotte with great field position for their first touchdown of the game to make it 28-13. The Owls failed to properly fair-catch on the following kickoff, which resulted in a short field and a three and out for the Owls offense. The 49ers capitalized once again, converting a field goal to make it 28-16 with 6:30 to go.
In past weeks, this is when FAU Coach Tom Herman would be concerned about “having nice things” aka a two score lead in the second half. This time, however, it would be a different story as following that stretch of miscues, the Owls shut the door.
The next drive for the Owls was make or break following two straight scores from the 49ers; FAU was not phased. The Owls went run heavy on this drive, with Michael Johnson Jr. converting a huge third down with his legs to set the Owls up for a 38 yard field goal from Carter Davis to put the Owls up 31-16 with 1:45 to go in the third.
That field goal shifted momentum back to the Owls. Evan Anderson stuffed a runner in the backfield and Latrell Jean had a huge sack on the ensuing drive to stymie the 49ers offense and force a punt to start the fourth quarter.
The following few drives by both teams were won by the defense. Each team traded a three and out, Daniel Richardson threw an interception, and the 49ers longest drive of the day resulted in a turnover on downs. This set up the Owls offense 1st and 10 from the Charlotte 35 with 5:15 to play.
The Owls offense was in no hurry on the ensuing drive, going with a methodical run based offense to chew some clock. The Owls marched down the field to set up a first and goal. FAU wasted no time as Larry McCammon punched it in from the four to make it 38-16 with 2:12 to go in the game.
That score would hold following one last drive for the 49ers. FAU was able to have nice things this time around holding on for a 38-16 win on the road.
Coach Herman was really pleased with the output of LaJohntay Wester, who finished with 10 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, calling on Biletnikoff award winners to watch for him.
The Owls, who have only lost once in conference play so far, are set to take on UAB on the road next week and Coach Herman’s biggest challenge is looking to build on road success.
“We didn’t handle success well after beating USF. We’ve had some success now again on the road and we gotta get back right and do it again,” Herman said.
Owls fans can watch their squad take on UAB next Saturday at 3:00 PM EST on ESPN+.
Final stats:
Pass- Daniel Richardson 19/26 218 Yards 3tds 1 int
Rush- Larry McCammon III 15 Carries 67 yards 1 TD
Rec- LaJohntay Wester 10 receptions 149 yards 2 TDs
Def-Jarron Morris 11 Total Tackles 1 TFL
Def-Evan Anderson 8 total Tackles 1 sack 2 TFL
ST- Carter Davis 1/1 FG (38) 5/5 PATs