Upcoming Event: Football versus East Carolina on November 29, 2025 at TBA
TBA
Football
vs. East Carolina
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Saturday, November 22
Boca Raton, Fla.
3 p.m.
Florida Atlantic
4-7 , 3-4
45
vs
48
Connecticut
9-3 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UConn
24
3
7
14
48
Fla. Atlantic
3
14
14
14
45
Photo by: JESSICA VERNOF
Owls Fall in Waning Seconds to UConn, 48-45
11/22/2025 8:03:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – In a game featuring nearly 1,300 yards of combined offense and four second half lead changes, the Florida Atlantic football team fell just short to UConn on Saturday evening at Flagler Credit Union Stadium, 48-45.
The Owls' (4-7) 300th game in program history came down to each team's final drive, but the Huskies (9-4) held on for the three-point win.
VIDEO RECAP
FIRST HALF
After trading field goals on each team's respective first possession, UConn scored touchdowns on its next three opening-quarter series to take a 24-3 lead.
To start the second, FAU redshirt junior QB Caden Veltkamp made good on two passes before giving it off to redshirt junior WR Easton Messer for a 39-yard rushing touchdown. After forcing a Huskies punt, Veltkamp capped off a drive by taking it in himself, going head over heels into the end zone for a 17-yard score to make it a one-possession game at 24-17. UConn would add a late field goal to take a 27-17 lead into the locker room.
SECOND HALF
The Owls' momentum carried over into the third quarter, with back-to-back touchdowns to pull ahead for the first time. The first was a rushing score from 11 yards out by sophomore RB Kaden Shields-Dutton; the second, on 4th-and-1 from their own 10, saw Veltkamp hit redshirt junior wideout Dominique Henry in stride on a quick slant, and he took it 90 yards to put FAU up 31-27.
UConn regained the advantage on two straight scores of its own, and led 41-31 with 10:11 to go in the game. But the Owls fought back once again. With 7:13 left, on 4th-and-11, Veltkamp found Messer over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown, and five minutes later, Veltkamp scampered into the end zone for his second rushing score of the game, from 11 yards out. With 2:11 left, FAU led 45-41.
On the ensuing possession, the Huskies put together a 15-play, 75-yard drive for the fourth lead change of the second half. The Owls got the ball back with 22 seconds left, and Veltkamp marched the Owls into field goal range with two quick first-down completions. But the game-tying field goal attempt from 36 yards at the horn was wide left, and UConn survived.
OFFENSE
- Veltkamp finished the game 42-for-55 for 494 yards. He set the single-game completion record for the second straight week and is now the new single-game record holder for passing yards in a game, previously set in 2019.
- He also now holds the new single-season record for completions (previously 291, he now sits at 326), and went over 3,000 yards, the fourth such instance in a season (3,458, now third in history).
- For the first time in school history, FAU had three receivers with 100 or more yards in a game. Henry (7 catches for 157 yards – both career highs and his first 100-yard game), Messer (11 for 119) and redshirt sophomore Asaad Wassem (12 for 109 – like Henry, new career best and also his first 100-yard game) all went over the century mark.
- Veltkamp and Henry's 90-yard connection is the third-longest pass in school history.
- Messer is the first non-QB in FAU history to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same season.
- Shields-Dutton led the backs with 77 yards on 14 carries, followed by redshirt sophomore Gemari Sands' 44 yards on 11 totes.
DEFENSE
- Leading the way in tackles was junior LB Leon Hart Jr. with nine stops. He now has 101 tackles in his career.
- Just behind him with seven apiece were two DBs, redshirt senior Terez Reid and redshirt junior Jayden Sweeney.
- Freshman DE Josh Roberts had a solo sack, and splitting the other was redshirt senior DT Bryce Langston and redshirt senior DL Naejaun Barber.
POSTGAME AUDIO
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
Redshirt junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Asaad Waseem
Redshirt junior linebacker Leon Hart Jr.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Josh Roberts
PHOTO GALLERY
UP NEXT
Florida Atlantic has its final game of the 2025 regular season next Saturday, Nov. 29, at Flagler Credit Union Stadium, hosting East Carolina. Kickoff is set for noon, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
Con
FAU
Total Yards
600
687
Pass Yards
446
494
Rushing Yards
154
193
Penalty Yards
105
63
1st Downs
31
37
3rd Downs
6
8
4th Downs
2
2
TOP
32:28
27:32
1st Quarter
Con 3, FAU 0
Con - Freeman,Chris 39 yd field goal 7 plays, 54 yards, TOP 02:52
Con 3, FAU 3
FAU - Smith,Garrison 49 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 03:21
Con 10, FAU 3
Con - Neider,John 24 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 02:20
Con 17, FAU 3
Con - Porter,Shamar 56 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 00:47
Con 24, FAU 3
Con - Honig,Alex 32 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:45
2nd Quarter
Con 24, FAU 10
FAU - Messer,Easton 39 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:03
Con 24, FAU 17
FAU - Veltkamp,Caden 17 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:08
Con 27, FAU 17
Con - Freeman,Chris 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 04:06
3rd Quarter
Con 27, FAU 24
FAU - Shields-Dutton,Kaden 11 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:59
Con 27, FAU 31
FAU - Henry,Dom 90 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Smith,Garrison kick) 4 plays, 99 yards, TOP 01:50
Con 34, FAU 31
Con - Edwards,Cam 1 yd run (Freeman,Chris kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:39
4th Quarter
Con 41, FAU 31
Con - Brown,Mel 44 yd run (Freeman,Chris kick), 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:32
Con 41, FAU 38
FAU - Messer,Easton 33 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Smith,Garrison kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:58
Con 41, FAU 45
FAU - Veltkamp,Caden 11 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:14
Con 48, FAU 45
Con - Edwards,Cam 1 yd run (Freeman,Chris kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:45
Game Leaders
CMP
42
TD
2
YDS
494
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DL
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LB
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WR
/ Football
DT
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WR
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DB
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EDGE
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RB
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RB
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S
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WR
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