FAU Football Loses to Defending National Champions 30-14

Saturday, September 24

Auburn, AL

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

0-3

Auburn

3-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Florida Atlantic

Auburn

9/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Sept. 25, 2011

Final Stats

Post Game Interview Videos

Coach Schnellenberger Press Conference

Wilbert Press Conference

Morris Press Conference

Cyrille Press Conference

AUBURN, AL -The Florida Atlantic University football team took on the Auburn University Tigers in Auburn, AL for their final non-conference game prior to conference competition next week. In front of 82,249 fans in the Jordan-Hare Stadium, the FAU Owls fell to the defending national champions 30-14.

After having a bye week, the Owls showcased their improvement. Right away the Tigers felt the Owl pressure when Cory Henry got an interception on the first play of the game which setup an FAU scoring drive. FAU was the first team to score after moving the chains 13 yards to set kicker Vinny Zaccarioup for a 39-yard field goal.

Auburn answered quickly scoring on its next drive. Wide receiver Emory Blake caught a pass in the end zone from quarterback Barrett Trotter to put the Tigers up 7-3.

The rest of the first half the Owls used momentous defensive plays to keep it close with Auburn. Kevin Cyrille and David Hinds each recorded a sack and Randell Johnsoncame up with major tackle for a big loss yards.

Coming out of halftime, Auburn had all the energy with 20 unanswered points. Only two minutes into the third quarter, Auburn's Jermaine Whitehead picked off a pass from Graham Wilbertto put the Tigers up 17-6. In Auburn's next possession the Tigers were able to move the chains down the field when Trotter completed a touchdown pass to Onterio McCalebb for 51 yards. Auburn picked up six more points before the end of the third off two field goals for a 30-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Behind center for the Owls, Graham Wilbert had a career night at quarterback ending the game with 20 completed passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. Wilbert was able to lead the Owls down Pat Dye Field and connected for FAU's first touchdown of the season. Running back Alfred Morris, Morris made the 12 yard catch flipping into the end zone for six points. Leading the offense in carries and catches, Morris ended the game with 15 carries for 85 yards and four receptions for 43 yards. Wilbert then completed a pass to Nexon Dorvilusfor the two point conversion bringing the score to 30-14. After the Owls TD, neither team was able to get back into the end zone. The Tigers had one last field goal attempt but kicker Cody Parkey missed, preserving the margin at 16.

Next week, FAU (0-3) heads to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to take on the Ragin Cajuns in the Owls fourth-consecutive road game, and first conference match up. The game on October 1 will kick-off at 7 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN760AM or at fausports.com.