Lexington, KY – When Wildcats quarterback Andre Woodson found yet another wide open receiver for his fifth touchdown pass of the game, Owls linebacker Frantz Joseph angrily hopped up and down and swung his arms in frustration. The demonstrative action provided a synopsis of the game for the Owls defense: There was nothing they could do to stop Kentucky from scoring.
Woodson completed 26 of 33 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns.
“It appears he has worked an awfully long time with these receivers,” FAU Coach Howard Schnellenberger said. “Today he had an eon to throw the ball because we put absolutely no pressure on him.”
The Wildcats quarterback did prove to be mortal when he was intercepted by cornerback Tavious Polo in the third quarter. It was the first time Woodson had thrown an interception since the middle of last season. Last week against Arkansas he broke the all-time NCAA record for pass attempts without a pick, and the mark stood at 325 before Polo got to him. It was Polo’s seventh interception of the season, which leads the nation.
“It didn’t feel that good because we didn’t win,” Polo said.
The Wildcats (5-0) scored touchdowns on their first four drives of the first half to take a 28-10 lead into the locker room. FAU could not stop the vaunted Kentucky offense or pressure Woodson, who now has 16 TD passes in five games this season.
The Wildcats led 14-3 in the second quarter when Rusty Smith lobbed a fade pass Cortez Gent for a 20-yard TD to bring the Owls within four. Then the Wildcats came right back and scored twice to take an 18-point advantage. Smith was 15 of 25 for 184 yards and the TD to Gent.
Helping out Woodson was running back Rafael Little, who scorched the Owls (3-2) for 112 yards on the ground and 24 more receiving. The Wildcats offense was so potent that they didn’t have to punt until 5:18 was left in the game.
“It was really frustrating,” defensive lineman Jervonte Jackson said.
Schnellenberger HonoredBefore the game, the Commonwealth Stadium public address announcer recognized Schnellenberger, and the crowd of 65,927 responded with a standing ovation. Schnellenberger was an All-American and a four letter winner for the Wildcats between 1952 and 1955. He is a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame and his name is featured, along with other Wildcat football greats, on the faí_ade of the upper deck.
USF NextThe Owls will battle a ranked opponent again next week when they face the South Florida Bulls at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The Bulls (previously ranked No. 18) are coming off their upset of No. five West Virginia and should draw a large crowd from across the state to the intimate confines of Lockhart, which seats about 20,000.
FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos said tickets are still available for Saturday’s game, but they are going fast.
