Fort Lauderdale- Ricky Bethel started five games on the road for FAU as a senior cornerback but never started at home. This weeks game against Southern Utah, Bethel who is from Boynton Beach, looked forward to starting at home for the first time in his career.
Bethel’s third quarter interception stopped the opponent’s only threat to score in a 32-7 rout of the Division IA-A Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Bethel who played his high school football at Santaluces High School, and played two years at Pasadena City College in California before coming back to Florida to attend FAU.
“It was a really good win. It was nice to get a win in front of a home crowd,” Bethel said. “We wanted to show the fans this is a program that is rising and can compete with anyone in the country,” he added.
FAU ( 2-4, 1-0 in Sun Belt ) took control of the game early as kicker Warley Leroy booted two first half 40 yard field goals, the first coming with only three minutes passed in the first quarter of play.
Just over six minutes later running back Charles Pierre scored on a one yard touchdown run. Pierre finished with a career high of 103 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Soon after that with less than a minute into the second quarter, Sean Clayton connected on a 11yard pass to tight end Jason Harmon. Clayton ended 14-24 with two touchdowns and 208 yards passing.
The third score made it 15-0, with the only negative against FAU being the failure to convert back to back extra point attempts. At halftime FAU enjoyed a 25-0 lead.
“First half I think the offense and defense as a whole did an exceptional job,” Quarterback Sean Clayton said.
FAU’s defense set the tone of the game early with viscous hits on the defensive side of the ball. Led by defensive back Troy Pindell’s crowd pleasing hit on the Thunderbirds second kickoff return, the Owls held Southern Utah to only 17 yards in the first quarter.
With the defense shutting down the Thunderbirds rushing attack, Southern Utah was forced to throw the ball early and often. Besides Bethel’s interception, Gedel Merzius had an interception and return of 64 yards. FAU Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger felt his offense and defense both played extremely well, especially early on in the game.
“It was almost a perfect first half for the offense and defense,” Schnellenberger said.
Four Wide Recievers had total yards over 40. Frantz Simeon led all Wide Reciever’s with 5 catches for 77yards. Four FAU players scored touchdowns. Charles Pierre had a one yard touchdown run, Jason Harmon caught an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sean Clayton, Chad Wilkes had a one yard touchdown catch from quarterback Rusty Smith, and Avery Holley caught a 33 yard touchdown pass from Clayton.
Owls & Thunderbirds Facts
? Southern Utah’s away jerseys did not have last names printed on the back. Both FAU home and away feature the last names of players.
? Southern Utah is located in Cedar City, Utah. The Thunderbird’s came into the game losers of two out of the last three football games.
? The Owls had a season high 488 yards of total offense and a season high of 32 points.
? The FAU Wide Receivers racked up 21 catches for 295 yards and three touchdowns.
