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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. Two of the Wildcat TD’s were caught by Dicky Lyons, Jr., the others by Steve Johnson, Keenan Burton and John Conner.

“He is the most careful quarterback I’ve been around,” said FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger. “It appears he has worked an awfully long time with these receivers. Today he had an eon to throw the ball because we put absolutely no pressure on him.”

“He has a pretty release, a quick three step and a strong arm,” said Owls cornerback Tavious Polo. “He is cool and calm in the pocket, very accurate.”

The Wildcats quarterback did prove to be mortal when he was intercepted by 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. “Every ball that goes in the air I believe is mine.”

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. Wildcat receivers had no problem finding open space against the Owls defense which was without injured defensive linemen Josh Pinnick and Josh Savidge. FAU could not stop the vaunted Kentucky offense or pressure Woodson, who now has 16 TD passes in five games this season.

“They out-executed us and took advantage of our weak points or our mistakes,” said Owl’s safety Kris Bartels. “They just outplayed us today.”

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. He threw his first interception since the Oklahoma State game when Lestar Jean bobbled a ball and it was stolen by a Wildcat defender.

The Owls (3-2) scored their second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter after DiIvory Edgecombe returned a kickoff 57 yards, deep into Wildcat territory. The run was aided by a 15-yard penalty for a vicious facemask tackle on Edgecombe, who left the game with a strained neck. Then, Charles Pierre ran three times for 20 yards for the score, including a one-yard TD run to make it 38-17. Pierre ran 14 times for 56 yards in the game.

Helping out Woodson was running back Rafael Little, who scorched the Owls 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 Honored

Before 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.

“I want to thank the University of Kentucky and all of its fans … for the honor they bestowed upon me several years ago and today gave me an opportunity to let me wave my thanks and respect for what they have done for the Schnellenberger family,” he said after the game.

USF Next

The 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 #18) are coming off their upset of #5 West Virginia and should draw a large crowd from across the state to the intimate confines of Lockhart, which seats about 20,000. The Bulls drew over 60,000 fans for their win over the Mountaineers at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos said tickets are still available for Saturday’s game, but they are going fast.