Owls Fall in Road C-USA Matchup

Saturday, October 9

Birmingham, Ala.

3:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

UAB

10/9/2021 7:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Florida Atlantic University football team was topped on the road Saturday afternoon by UAB, in the two teams' Conference USA matchup at Protective Stadium.

Quotable
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart:
"Another disappointing road loss for our football team. You go back to the first couple of plays of the game, and you start there. We came out and threw a pick on the first play, and we come back to the second play and we fumble the ball. You talk about going on the road and winning, you can't go on the road and win games like that. And even though we made those two mistakes early, we were still there … you think about us driving down and had a chance to go up before the half and then get the ball back and get the momentum on our side and it totally flipped. It's hard to win on the road when you play that sloppy."

The Beginning

The Blazers (4-2, 2-0 C-USA) scored on their first drive, and forced two turnovers on FAU's (3-3, 1-1 C-USA) first two snaps. The first was not cashed in, as Zyon Gilbert blocked a field goal attempt after three plays and just five yards gained. But the next series, UAB did convert to make it 14-0.

The Owls (3-2, 1-0 C-USA) tied it with two sustained drives. The first – 11 plays, 90 yards – included a 35-yard completion from N'Kosi Perry to Je'Quan Burton; Perry to Larry McCammon III for 16 yards; and after a pass interference penalty on fourth down gave the Owls new life, Perry rushed for 14 and then took it in himself from one yard out to cut the deficit in half. The second was 16 plays, 71 yards, and ended on two completions to LaJohntay Wester, the last a two-yard score on 4th-and-goal.

The Turning Point

A 48-yard field goal gave the Blazers back the lead with 2:44 to go in the half, and the Owls threatened by driving to inside the UAB 10, but an interception in the end zone was returned 100 yards the other way for a 24-14 score at the half.

The Finish

After the break, a missed field goal and interception put the Owls further behind the eight ball, as did a UAB score late in the period. Neither team scored in a slowed-down fourth.

Gallery: (10-9-2021) FAU at UAB

Stats and Records

Besides Burton's 35-yarder, Wester hauled in a 33-yard catch. Wester led the way with 67 yards on five receptions, followed yards-wise by McCammon (43) and Burton (40)
Gilbert filled up the stat sheet in the return to his home state. Besides the blocked kick, he had six tackles, two TFL including a sack, and a pass breakup
He was one behind Akileis Leroy's seven for the team lead in stops
Also on the defensive side, Teja Young forced a fumble that was recovered by Jordan Helm
Matt Hayball averaged 54.0 yards on his four punts, including a season long boom of 68

What's Next

After a bye week is another game for the Owls on the road, Thursday, Oct. 21 at Charlotte. That contest will be televised on CBS Sports Network and broadcasted on Fox Sports 640AM South Florida.

FAU's return home is Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 30, hosting UTEP. Single game tickets for all 2021 home games are available; to experience "Football in Paradise," click HERE or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.