Florida Atlantic Falls in Season Finale

Saturday, November 29

Boca Raton, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

4-8 , 3-5

East Carolina

8-4 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Carolina

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: JESSICA VERNOF

11/29/2025 4:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

BOCA RATON, FLA. – The Florida Atlantic football team was defeated by East Carolina by a score of 42-3 on Saturday afternoon at Flagler Credit Union Stadium to close the 2025 season.

With the clock winding down in the first quarter, redshirt junior WR Easton Messer nearly took a punt return to the house, stepping out of bounds at the Pirates' 10-yard line after cutting across the field for 60 yards. The Owls (4-8, 3-5) settled for a field goal by redshirt senior kicker Garrison Smith for their only points of the afternoon before holding ECU (8-4, 6-2) scoreless in the second half.

As part of a Senior Day ceremony, the following players were recognized pregame: DL Kiemar Brown-Richardson, WR Jett Coolman, DB Daniel Johnson, DB Chris Keys Jr., TE Michael Kirch, LS Jackson Lee, P Logan Lupo, WR Devarius Mitchell, DB Terez Reid, K Garrison Smith, OL Michael Unis, OL Scarlee Jean, DB Wendol Philord, DL Bryce Langston, and OL Alex Atcavage.

VIDEO RECAP

OFFENSE

With 10 receptions for 86 yards, redshirt junior WR Easton Messer finishes the season with 104 catches and 1,052 receiving yards. He is just the second Owl to record 100+ receptions in a season and finishes third all-time in single season receiving yards in program history.
Redshirt junior Caden Veltkamp and graduate QB Zach Gibson combined for 299 passing yards. They logged 275+ yards through the air in all 12 games of the 2025 season, the first Owl offense to accomplish this in program history.

DEFENSE

Redshirt junior LB Tyler Stolsky led the way with 12 tackles. It was his fifth game in 2025 to record 12+, putting him in elite company with Azeez Al-Shaair as the last Owl to do so in one season.
Following Stolsky's lead, redshirt junior LB Leon Hart Jr. added nine tackles to finish the year with 97. He and Stolsky are the first Florida Atlantic duo since Rashad Smith and Akileis Leroy in 2019 to each have 90+ tackles in a season.
With five on the afternoon, redshirt senior DB Dillion Williams reached 100 career tackles.
Freshman DE Josh Roberts notched a sack, his third of the season, and forced a fumble in the process.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Messer's 60-yard punt return was the fourth longest in school history. He set the single-season program record in average yards per punt return (minimum 10 attempts) at 20.8.
Redshirt senior kicker Garrison Smith finishes the season converting 84% (16-for-19) of his field goal attempts, the highest in one season in program history. He connected with all 36 of his extra point attempts, making him a perfect 108-for-108 in his collegiate career. The Owls have not missed a kicked point after touchdown since 2021.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley

Redshirt Junior WR Easton Messer

Redshirt Senior DB Terez Reid vs ECU

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (11-29-2025) ECU at Florida Atlantic

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