Defense Dominates as FAU Knocks Off Rice

Saturday, October 15

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

3-4 , 2-1

Rice

3-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rice

Fla. Atlantic

10/15/2022 10:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team edged out Rice University 17-14 on Saturday night. After falling behind early, the FAU defense buckled down and stifled the visiting Owls to earn win number three on the season.

HOW IT STARTED

Rice got off to the quicker start with touchdown drives on two of their first three possessions. FAU responded early in the second quarter. Johnny Ford broke off a 34-yard run to get the home side into Rice territory. Later in the drive, Larry McCammon punched in a five-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 10-play, 78-yard drive.

The remainder of the first half was dominated by the FAU defense with sacks to end three separate Rice drives, plus an interception late in the half by Romain Mungin. The home Owls held the visitors to a 1-for-5 clip on third down. The defensive dominance would continue in the second half.

TURNING POINT

With the defense in control of their side of the ball, the offense did just enough in the second half to sneak by. Morgan Suarez nailed a 34-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half to make it a 14-10 score.

The defense forced a three-and-out to start the fourth quarter and the offense took over from its own 37. On 3rd-and-8 from the Rice 18-yard line, N'Kosi Perry connected with Jahmal Edrine in the back right corner of the end zone, giving FAU its first lead of the night.

HOW IT FINISHED

Rice had three drives in the final 11 minutes of the fourth quarter but came up empty each time. First, they drove to the FAU 7, where Dwight Toombs II intercepted TJ McMahon in the end zone. On the next drive, it took just two plays for Armani-Eli Adams to pick McMahon off, this time with an over-the-shoulder catch on an attempted 40-yard pass. Finally, on a 4th-and-4 play with just over a minute remaining, Mungin came up with a clutch pass breakup to seal the victory.

QUOTABLE

Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart

"That was a great win against a good football team. It probably wasn't pretty, but it was good and it felt good. It was good to see our guys improve on the various things that we needed to and we got the results that we're looking for. Great win for the Owls; we're going to celebrate for 24 hours and onto the next one."

THE OFFENSE

The offense outgained Rice 311-261, with 185 of those yards coming on the ground
McCammon led the way coming up just one yard shy of the century mark on 24 carries
Ford rushed for 55 on nine carries – his longest tote of the night was the 34-yard burst to end the first quarter
Edrine finished with a team-high 50 receiving yards on three catches

THE DEFENSE

The Owls racked up three sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble, and held Rice without a point for the final 48 minutes
Jamie Pettway and Courtney McBride each recorded a solo sack, while Marlon Bradley and Marlon Krakue combined for a QB takedown in the second quarter
Pettway finished with seven tackles – one behind Eddie Williams' team-high eight
Teja Young had three pass breakups and five tackles (three solo)