FortæLauderdale – Afterælastæyear’s homecoming game thrilleræended in heartbreak,the Owls left nothing to chance this year as they routed North Texas 46-13 in front of 17,175 at Lockhart Stadium. The game earned the Owls their third straight victory and pulled them a game under .500 (4-5) after starting the season 1-5.
The Owls made plays in all three phases of the game and played their most complete game of the season.
“We played good football on all three fronts,” coach Howard Schnellenberger says. “That’s the recipe for success.”
On offense, the Owls’ big three all had good days. Charles Pierre accounted for 140 of FAU’s 256 rushing yards, including a 41-yard touchdown run. Rusty Smith was 15-of-23 for 237 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns were to Cortez Gent, who made seven receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
The Owls’ Austin Jensen blocked the point-after kick on the Mean Green’s first touchdown. It was picked up by reserve defensive back Darian Thomas who returned it 86 yards for a defensive two points. “That’s what you work for,” Thomas says.
“To make plays like that.” The Owls never looked back from that point as they built a 25-6 halftime lead. After two early third quarter touchdowns pushed the lead up to 39-6, the starters were pulled and the game was decidedly an Owls victory.
Key Play:
After capitalizing on a FAU turnover, North Texas cut the lead to 9-6. The Mean Greens’ PAT was blocked by Austin Jensen and returned 86 yards by reserve defensive back Darian Thomas for a defensive two point conversion. It resulted in a four-point swing, as the Owls extended their lead to five instead of only three.
Turning Point: After a slow first quarter, the Owls took control of the game in the second. They scored on three of their five drives in the quarter and were able to drive the lead up to 19 right before halftime. The blocked point-after attempt seemed to spark the Owls as they scored on six of their eight drives following the play.
Quotable: “When I saw the sand trap, I thought, ‘please don’t fall.'” Darian Thomas’ response to his thoughts as he stumbled towards the end zone, after hitting a pile of sand on his 86-yard defensive blocked point-after kick return.
Game BoxScore: FAU 49, North Texas 13 At: Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, FL Attendance: 17,175 Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees Records: FAU 4-5 (2-2 Sun Belt), North Texas 1-9 (0-5)
