The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State took advantage of a school-record six FAU turnovers to take out the Owls 38-14 Saturday night.The Owls have now lost 10 consecutive games dating back to the 2010 season and head coach Howard Schnellenberger doesn’t seem to know what is wrong.
“With all the experience I’ve had doing this I can’t figure out why we have the problems that we have,” said Schnellenberger.
Middle Tennessee took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on three consecutive scoring drives of 63, 68 and 80 yards, respectively. Blue Raiders quarterback Logan Kilgore was 18-for-18 on those drives and it wasn’t until his 20th pass attempt that one fell incomplete.
The Blue Raiders had Buster Faulkner calling the plays on offense for the first time as former offensive coordinator Willie Simmons resigned eight days ago. Faulkner used a formula that has helped MTSU beat FAU the last three meetings — the no huddle offense. Their longest drive in the first quarter was 3:02 and it was a 10 play 80 yard scoring drive.
“We weren’t ready for that,” said senior defensive back Marcus Bartels. “All the short passes and short screens — thought they were gonna go down the field a little more. They had a good gameplan.”
Trailing by 21 to start the second quarter, Alfred Morris jump-started the offense with a 48 yard run to set up FAU at the Blue Raiders 8 yard line.
Graham Wilbert, who started after sitting out last week due to an injury, went 3-for-3 on the drive. A 5-yard pass to Darian Williams made the score 21-7 but more importantly it was the first Owls touchdown in the new stadium.
“Having milestones like that always feels good,” said Williams. “At the same time we got the loss and it kinda evens itself out.”
Wilbert was 9-for-15 with 80 passing yards in the first half and Morris had 105 rushing yards but the turnovers plagued the Owls all night long
The Owls picked up momentum with defensive stops in the second quarter but the offense struggled. Morris fumbled on the next possession giving MTSU the ball at the Owls 48 yard line.
The defense made a stop on 4th-and-1 and the Owls got the ball back. Inside Blue Raiders territory however, Wilbert was sacked and fumbled the ball which was recovered by MTSU at their own 44 yard line.
The Owls struggled again in the third quarter, allowing the Blue Raiders to score 10 more points and make the score 31-7 going into the fourth quarter. The Owls have now been outscored this year 71-6 in the third quarter of games.
On the Blue Raiders’ first drive of the fourth quarter running back William Pratcher fumbled the ball and Marcus Bartels recovered for the Owls at the Raiders 27 yard line.
A Stephen Curtis 1 yard quarterback sneak made the score 31-14 but that was the closest the Owls comeback attempt came.
A three-and-out on the next possession and a Curtis fumble thwarted any shot the Owls had of making the game close.
The Owls finished the game with eight total fumbles and five lost fumbles, both team records. As well, FAU is ineligible for a bowl game and is now guaranteed its third consecutive losing season.
RefuseToGiveUp • Oct 31, 2011 at 5:15 am
I think a lot of people are judging them based on their record and not who they’ve played. You have to realize they have played even the national champions from last year this season. And they didn’t play badly against them. Not at all.
Our football team is made up of our student body. So they need our support. What amazes me is that our South Florida community is really standing behind us. All the local papers are saying positive things. So let’s as a student body stand with our team too.
The people who succeed in life are the ones that refuse to give up. Just keep coming out, cheering, yelling, and fighting for our team’s spirit. When they win it will be that much sweeter.
I hope you will be there with me in the stands when it happens.
jp21 • Oct 24, 2011 at 12:45 am
ughh… FAU football sucks, and they always will… what a waste of a new stadium
taryn • Oct 23, 2011 at 7:09 pm
good story!
Courtney • Oct 23, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Who really cares?
Rob • Oct 23, 2011 at 1:17 pm
It’s a building process. They will get it right. We are in South Florida. The talent and possibilities are right around the corner.
Christopher Gros • Oct 23, 2011 at 11:24 am
Was it not 4 or 5 years ago we were talking about FAU’s possible entry into the Big East with the arrival of a brand new home stadium? It truly is funny how fast things change.