FAU Football Drops Inaugural C-USA Game

Thursday, September 5

Greenville, NC (Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium)

7:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

0-2 , 0-1

East Carolina

2-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

FAU

East Carolina

9/6/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Sep 5, 2013

Final Stats
Photo Gallery

Game Highlight

Greenville, N.C. (September 5, 2013) - The Florida Atlantic University football team fell to East Carolina 31-13 in its first game as a member of Conference USA. The Owls' defense allowed only 312 yards to the high-powered Pirate offense while forcing three fumbles and picking up three sacks.

The Owls' sacks came at the hands of Adarius Glanton, Trey Hendrickson and Cory Henry, who moved into third all-time in career sacks at FAU with 10.5. Junior D'Joun Smithkept FAU in the game with three pass breakups of would-be touchdowns.

Freshman quarterback Greg Hankerson threw 14-of-26 for 116 yards and a touchdown while giving up a fumble and an interception. Senior Jonathan Wallace led the backfield for the Owls, racking up 44 yards on the ground and 12 through the air. Junior wide receiver William Dukestallied 36 yards on six catches and grabbed FAU's first touchdown of the season.

After the Pirates pieced together an 81-yard drive to open the game with a touchdown, the FAU defense held ECU to a 3-and-out on its second possession. Robert Lohnes broke off a 20-yard return on the 40-yard punt to set up a 44-yard Mitch Andersonfield goal, cutting the ECU lead to four.

Another stunted drive by the Pirates gave FAU the ball near midfield. The Owls drove 32 yards in 4:43, concluding with another Anderson field goal from 46 yards out. ECU then rattled off a pair of 12-yard touchdown-scoring drives, thanks to the help of an 85-yard kick return and an interception, to go up 21-6 in the second quarter.

On its second possession of the third quarter, FAU quarterback Jaquez Johnsonthrew an interception in Owl territory that was returned to the FAU five yard line. The defense kept the Pirates from gaining a single yard, holding ECU to a 22-yard field goal.

The Owls dominated the fourth quarter, holding the ball for more than ten minutes and earning eight first downs. Their 64-yard final possession ended with Hankerson tossing a touchdown to Dukes in the back corner of the end zone from two yards out. Anderson's extra point ended the scoring at 31-13 in favor of ECU.

FAU returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14 in Tampa, Fla. against USF. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.