South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
TEs are a dynamic duo
NORFOLK, Va. — Florida Atlantic’s senior tight end duo of Harrison Bryant and John Raine had a major impact against ODU on Saturday.
The two combined for 11 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns by midway through the fourth quarter of FAU’s rout (eight catches, 114 yards and the scores in the first half ), adding to an already-impressive season resume.
Entering the contest, Bryant and Raine were leading all Football Bowl Subdivision tight end duos in combined receptions (53) and receiving yards (684).
Pass rush comes through: FAU’s pass rush was critical in getting ODU’s offense off the field early in the game. The Owls dropped Monarchs quarterback Messiah deWeaver three times in the first quarter.
Defensive ends Leighton McCarthy and Damian Horton and linebacker Rashad Smith all had sacks in the opening quarter. McCarthy’s sack tied defensive end Tim Bonner for the team lead, while Horton’s was his first of the season.
McCarthy added a second sack in the second quarter to force an ODU punt, and linebacker Akileis Leroy dropped deWeaver in the third for the Owls’ fifth sack. That matched FAU’s season high for sacks in a game.
Owls cut down on big plays yielded: FAU allowed only one play of 20 yards or more in the first three quarters, reversing a concerning recent trend.
In their previous three games, the Owls yielded 28 plays of 20 or more yards and 13 of 30 or more yards.
Last week against Marshall, FAU gave up three plays of 40 or more yards, including completions of 59 and 60 yards.
ODU’s deWeaver connected with receiver Eric Kuman on a 21-yard completion in the first quarter and followed that with a 17-yard completion to receiver Steven Williams. Those were the Monarchs’ longest plays of the first half.
More missed tackles: Missed tackles were an issue early, but good fortune bailed out the Owls.
ODU’s Darrell Brown was met by a horde of FAU tacklers on a first-quarter punt return, but he popped free and returned the kick for a touchdown. Fortunately for the Owls, the return was called back by a block-in-the-back penalty.
Flea-flicker pick: FAU quarterback Chris Robison attempted a flea-flicker pass late in the first quarter that was intercepted by ODU cornerback Kaleb Ford-Dement.
It was Robison’s fourth interception of the season.
Before Saturday’s contest, the Owls were 3-8 in Robison’s career when he threw an interception and 6-1 when he did not.
Robison entered the contest with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.