Owls Rout TSU for Largest Margin of Victory in Program History

Saturday, October 3

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

4-1 , 1-0

Texas Southern

1-4 , 0-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Texas Southern	3	7	0	0	10
Fla. Atlantic	28	21	10	7	66

Game Notes #5 Game Program

Photo by: JC Ridley

Owls Rout TSU for Largest Margin of Victory in Program History

10/3/2026 10:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ben Paul

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A new standard continues to be set for the Florida Atlantic football team, with a program-best 49 points in the first half on the way to a 66-10 win over Texas Southern on Saturday night, the largest margin of victory and second-highest scoring game in FAU history.

Playing in front of a crowd of 23,736, the highest attendance at Flagler Credit Union Stadium since 2024, the Owls (4-1) played a complementary football game not previously seen in the 26 years of Florida Atlantic football. Touchdowns were scored on offense, defense and special teams, the first time all three phases recorded such a score in program history.

With the win over the Tigers (1-4), the Owls extended their winning streak to four games, with a 4-1 start their best since 2020, and solidified their best non-conference record in program history at 3-1.

Before the offense even touched the field with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, fifth-year RB Leonard Farrow tied the FBS single-game record for kick return touchdowns in a game with two and the defense forced two takeaways, one for to a score.

The offense then took over and delivered five consecutive scoring drives on the way to the most points recorded under Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley.

VIDEO RECAP

THE BEGINNING
After taking the opening kickoff 98 yards for the score, Farrow picked up a squib kick and evaded multiple tackles on the way to his second one.

On the Owls' ensuing defensive possession, fifth-year LB Joseph Sipp Jr. sacked the Tigers' quarterback, with senior DL Wilky Denaud scooping up the loose ball and returning it 31 yards for the touchdown to go up 21-3.

THE TURNING POINT
Junior DB Wallace Foster IV intercepted a pass in the end zone to give the Owls their first offensive possession. Graduate QB Caden Veltkamp wasted no time, driving the team 80 yards in six plays and just 1:52, finding fifth-year WR Easton Messer for the 19-yard score.

The offense continued to flourish in the second quarter, with senior WR Kelby Valsin hauling in a hat trick of touchdowns to put the Owls up 49-10 entering the locker room.

THE FINISH
Following a slight halftime weather delay, Florida Atlantic returned to the field and quickly put more points on the board with a 47-yard field goal by graduate K Collin Rogers.

With the offense's second unit in the game, senior RB Brady Tillman III went 22 yards untouched into the end zone late in the third quarter, his first touchdown as an Owl. Senior Almari Brown then logged his first score early in the fourth to go over 60 points for the third time in program history, the first time since the '24 season finale.

CINEMATIC RECAP

Opportunity V: Statement Game #WIP🏝️ https://t.co/7aLse5uuF0
— Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) October 5, 2026

OFFENSE

The offense was mistake-free for the fourth consecutive game, extending the all-time program streak without a turnover.
For the second game in a row, Valsin reached a new career high in receiving yards, this time with 126. He has totaled 249 in the last two games.
Veltkamp completed 13 of his 16 passes for 247 yards with four touchdowns. It is his second game this year with a completion percentage over 80%.

DEFENSE

Denaud's 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown was the first takeaway in his collegiate career.
Foster's interception was his first as an Owl. The defensive unit has doubled its 2025 total, now with six on the season.
The defense has not allowed points in the second half in two straight weeks and has conceded less than 20 points in three consecutive games, last occurring in 2020.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Farrow joins 26 other players in FBS history with the remarkable feat of two kickoff returns in a game. He is the first player since Richard Reese for Baylor on Nov. 25, 2023.
His 98-yard return is tied with Kerrith Whyte for the second longest in program history, with the NFL pro Whyte owning the longest one at 100 yards. The duo are the only Owls to take a kick back and have both done so twice.
This marks the first time in program history the Owls have recorded both a kick return and punt return touchdown in the same season, with these occurring in back-to-back weeks.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley

Graduate QB Caden Veltkamp

Senior WR Kelby Valsin

Fifth-Year WR Easton Messer

Senior DL Wilky Denaud

Fifth-Year RB Leonard Farrow

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (10-24-2026) Texas Southern at Florida Atlantic

UP NEXT
Officially armed with their best non-conference record and on a four-game winning streak, the Owls will resume American play following a bye week, traveling to face Army on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is set for noon on CBS Sports Network.

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