Fort Lauderdale-Enrollment at FAU and Troy State University is a difference of only 1,000 students, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when the two Division I Sun-Belt Conference football teams played a close game last Saturday at Lockhart Stadium. Troy (enrollment of 27,000), and FAU (26,000), slugged it out early before either proved dominant. But Troy would take over momentum and win 24-17 in front of the largest FAU home crowd of the year, at 12,340. Owls Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger was proud of his young team’s effort against the first place Troy Trojans 5-4 (4-0 in Sun-Belt Conference).
“We did some things that really made me proud of them hanging in there,” Schnellenberger said.
“Offensively Rusty had a great first outing, he definitely took a few steps in the right direction.”
FAU kept pace with the Troy State Trojans early on in the fourth career contest between the two Division I football programs. Troy lit up the scoreboard first with a 70 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Omar Haugabook, a Belle Glade native, to Trojan wide receiver Toris Rutledge.
FAU struck back quickly with an eight yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Rusty Smith to senior Aaron Sanchez. Kicker Warley Leroy gave the Owls their first lead of the game with a second quarter field goal. With FAU leading 10-7, Troy’s quarterback shredded the Owls defense with his pinpoint passing and found wide receiver Mykeal Terry on a 67 yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Trojans. Troy added to the lead with a 41 yard field goal making the score 17-10.
The Owls would not give up, and countered with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Rusty Smith to tight end Jamari Grant. The touchdown evened the score at 17-17, and was the first career touchdown by the freshman tight end. Troy didn’t take long to counter as quarterback Omar Haugabook found wide receiver Mykeal Terry on a 50 yard touchdown reception, Haugabook’s third touchdown pass of the game over 50 yards, and Terry’s second touchdown reception over 50 yards in the game.
With the score now 24-17 in favor of the Trojans, Troy drove deep into Owls territory with eight minutes left before Haugabook fumbled and FAU defensive tackle Josh Savidge recovered. Former Haugabook teammate at Glades Central High School and FAU linebacker Cergile Sincere thought his high school team member played well
“We were just out there playing and competing, I thought he played really well,” Sincere said.
Quarterback Rusty Smith drove the Owls within a game tying touchdown after the Troy fumble, when he threw his second interception of the game to seal the win for Troy. Trojan Head Coach Larry Blakeney was still impressed with the FAU effort.
“FAU is a very good football team and they know what they want to do. Our kids knew they were in for a fight and they responded. We fought hard and were able to win one on the road,” Blakeney said.
Trojans-Owls Fact Box
? The highest statistical rank FAU has is their number 16 ranking in punt return average. Owls average 14.46 yards per punt return. The ranking is based on 119 Division I Football Teams.
? The FAU Marching Band played the Troy State fight song during pre-game entertainment.
? FAU has 10 career wins at Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium.
? Troy State had lost their previous 11 road games.
? The Troy State Show with Head Coach Larry Blakeney is shown in Palm Beach County on Thursday’s at 3:30 p.m. on the Sunshine Network. FAU does not have a coaches TV show.
