Owls’ Home Streak Reaches a Dozen

Saturday, October 30

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

5-3 , 3-1

UTEP

6-2 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UTEP

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Florida Atlantic

10/30/2021 10:51:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – For the second straight week, Florida Atlantic University football knocked off a team that came in undefeated in Conference USA play, holding off UTEP on Saturday night at FAU Stadium, 28-25. The win marked the Owls' 12th in a row at FAU Stadium.

Every team that could extended their home winning streak Saturday. The Owls have now moved into a tie for fifth longest in FBS:

Team	Streak	This Week's Result
1. Clemson	32	Win/Florida State, 30-20
2. Cincinnati	24	Played at Tulane
3. Oregon	17	Win/Colorado, 52-29
4. Liberty	13	Win/UMass, 62-17
5. Coastal Carolina	12	Win/Troy, 35-28
*Florida Atlantic*	12	*Win/UTEP, 28-25*
Miami (Ohio)	12	Bye Week
8. Alabama	10	Bye Week
Georgia	10	Played at Florida

Quotable

Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart:
"We got a win. That's a good start there. Happy with the win. Happy our guys found a will to win. One of the signs of a good football team is you find a way to win ballgames even when you don't play well. I didn't think we played well tonight. I thought we played undisciplined. Just very disappointed in our football team. Discipline caused a lot of things that happened that could have very well put us in control of that game, and we got out-disciplined."

The Beginning

Each team traded scores in the first quarter, the difference being, UTEP (6-2, 3-1 C-USA) were held to a field goal, while FAU (5-3, 3-1 C-USA) took the lead on a Johnny Ford 27-yard scamper at the 2:25 mark. Then, in the second, each team's last drive was successful: The Miners went up on a 23-yard pass with just 1:42 left; the Owls answered by driving and converting on 4th-and-1 with seconds remaining, as somehow, LaJohntay Wester got behind the defense for a wide-open 39-yard completion from N'Kosi Perry for a 14-10 halftime edge.

The Turning Point

FAU took advantage of the first turnover of the night to add some cushion. Jordan Helm picked off a pass with about 5:30 to go in the frame, and along with a 25-yard return, gave his offense the ball in the UTEP red zone. Seven plays later, the Owls were in the end zone, on a fumble recovery by Zaire Mitchell-Paden. That was the only points of the third quarter.

The Finish

The final period began with FAU scoring as well, on a James Charles run from a yard out. The big play of the drive was a 45-pass to TJ Chase, who outjumped his defender and came down inbounds along the near sideline. The third play of the next UTEP series was a Romain Mungin interception, the first of his career; the next ended on a combined sack by Chase Lasater and Decarius Hawthorne all the way back at the Miners' two-yard line.

The visitors would make the game very interesting in the final minutes, scoring with 2:50 remaining and converting the two-point play to cut it to 10. After an onside kick recovery, on 4th-and-13, a 49-yard touchdown reception made it a one-possession game (and took just 48 seconds off the clock in the process).

A second onside kick was covered up by the Owls. Though the Miners did get it back once more with 36 seconds left, they were unable to get a first down, and with four seconds remaining, FAU kneeled to ice the victory.

Gallery: (10-30-2021) UTEP at FAU 10-30-21

Stats and Records

Ford gained 93 yards on 13 carries, for an average of 7.2. He added three receptions for 13 more yards through the air
Wester was the leading receiver with 50 yards on three catches, five more than Chase on his key catch
Eddie Williams led the defense in tackles with a career-high nine, one more than the duo of Antarrius Moultrie and Mungin. Moultrie's total was also a new personal best, while Mungin's was one off his
The Owls had six tackles for loss and 10 pass breakups. Zyon Gilbert had four PBU, the most in a game in his five-year career
Matt Hayball boomed a 62-yard punt among his nine, and averaged 51.7 yards per kick on the night. Four of the nine were inside the 20, and just one went for a touchback

Highlights

What's Next

The Owls' second of back-to-back home matchups will be against the last team to win a game against them at FAU Stadium, Marshall, next Saturday. The kickoff on Nov. 6 will be 6 p.m., in a game broadcasted on CBS Sports Network and Fox Sports 640AM South Florida. For tickets, and to experience "Football in Paradise," click HERE or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.