Owls Held in Check in Showdown with UCF

Saturday, September 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

2-2 , 1-0

UCF

2-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UCF

Fla. Atlantic

9/17/2022 11:27:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team fell by a score of 40-14 to UCF at home on Saturday night.

HOW IT STARTED

The Owls drove straight down the field in two minutes on the game's opening drive. Zuberi Mobley cashed in on a 15-yard rush to put the Owls on top 7-0. UCF responded later in the quarter to tie it, but the Owls would go into the second quarter back on top. N'Kosi Perry and LaJohntay Wester combined on a four-yard shovel pass and the latter walked into the end zone untouched to make it 14-10.

UCF tacked on a field goal and a touchdown in the second quarter to take a 16-14 advantage into halftime.

TURNING POINT

UCF marched 73 yards on the first drive of the second half to make it 23-14. After the Owls went three and out, a pivotal sequence of events set the tone for the rest of the night.

Dwight Toombs picked off Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee and ran it back to the UCF one-yard line. FAU would be turned away on three straight plays though and forced to settle for a 19-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked, and the Owls were held off the board.

HOW IT FINISHED

With all the momentum now in tow, UCF pulled away in the final 21 minutes. A touchdown on the ensuing drive made it a two-possession game. The Knights added a field goal and one more touchdown in the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final.

QUOTABLE

Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart
"It was a ballgame where we let a lot of opportunities slip by. Plenty of opportunities to get back in the game or take the lead in the game. We didn't do a good job of taking advantage of those opportunities. When you're playing a team like Central Florida, a good football team, and when you're playing in the game that can be program changing for you, you've got to make those plays when they come your way. We didn't do a good job of playing complimentary football and helping each other out, offense, defense, and special teams. That's on us. We have to find a way to do better in the second half, especially offensively. We didn't do anything in the second half. In the first half, we did a good job of running the football. In the second half, we didn't do anything. That can't happen, and defensively we have to get off of the field on third down. (There is) A lot of work for us to do to get better and I'm looking forward to our guys working to fix those issues."

THE OFFENSE

The Owls' rushing attack was a bright spot with Larry McCammon III and Mobley combining for 174 yards on the ground

THE DEFENSE

Linebacker Eddie Williams led the way with 13 tackles (four solo)
Armani-Eli Adams also reached double digits with 11 tackles (seven solo)

WHAT'S NEXT

The Owls will now head out on the road for the next two games. A matchup with Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. awaits next Saturday followed by a trip to North Texas on October 1. After a bye week, FAU returns to Paradise on October 15 against Rice for a 6 p.m. kickoff.