Big gains on ground can’t save home streak
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic’s hopes of repeating as Conference USA champs were already dimming, with two conference losses. Now, the Owls dropped what may turn out to be a key game in determining bowl eligibility.
With backup quarterback Rafe Peavey getting the start over injured Chris Robison, FAU lost 21-13 against Louisiana Tech at FAU Stadium on Friday night.
The Owls (3-5, 1-3 CUSA), who snapped their 10-game home win streak, dominated in the running game, outgaining the Bulldogs 227-113 on the ground. Junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary went for 171 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. They allowed chunk plays via the pass and surrendered two touchdown drives and had two turnovers in a matter of three minutes at the end of the first half that proved costly.
Peavey, a grad student, went 15 of 26 for 115 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Robison, a redshirt freshman, came in to play midway through the fourth quarter after La. Tech scored a touchdown that put the Bulldogs up eight.
He turned the ball over on downs in Louisiana Tech territory on the ensuing drive, and the Bulldogs ran the clock the rest of the way, but only because FAU was called for leaping the shield on a fourth-down punt that kept La. Tech’s offense on the field.
Louisiana Tech (6-2, 4-1) extended a one-point lead to 21-13 when quarterback J’Mar Smith hit Teddy Veal for a diving touchdown on a corner route 15 yards to the back of the end zone with 8:27 remaining. The Bulldogs extended that drive with a 28-yard pass on third-and-3 that went deep down the right sideline to Adrian Hardy, was juggled between he and the FAU defender and ended up in Hardy’s hands to get La. Tech deep into Owls territory.
Trailing 14-10 at halftime, FAU got a quick three-and-out stop on La. Tech’s opening secondhalf drive and then drove 54 yards in 11 plays to tack on a second short field goal from Vladimir Rivas. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs missed on a 35-yard field goal that could’ve gotten them those three points back.
The missed field goal saved FAU from having a special teams error cost the team. After getting a defensive stop, the Owls received a Bulldogs punt that was fielded by Singletary. The only problem was Singletary, who isn’t usually on special teams, wears No. 5, like Ahman Ross, who usually is. FAU was flagged for an equipment violation that gave La. Tech a first down.
With Peavey starting, the Owls came out energized after receiving the opening kickoff. He was 4 for 4 on his first drive for 51 yards as Singletary capped it with a 7-yard touchdown run to give FAU a 7-0 lead 1:49 into the game.
Late in the first quarter, Rivas extended the Owls’ advantage to 10 when he connected on a 29-yard field goal. It was the culmination of a 13-play, 84-yard drive that spanned four minutes and 25 seconds.
FAU was shutting out the Bulldogs for the first 27 minutes Friday. With 2:46 remaining in the first half, La. Tech’s Jaqwis Dancy rushed to the outside and 20 yards into the end zone to cut the Owls lead to 10-7.
After a Peavey fumble that was recovered by the Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech went up 14-10, scoring on a Kam McKnight 5-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds remaining before half. A blown coverage allowed George Scott to get free down the left sideline for a 45-yard pitch and catch from Smith to set the Bulldogs up at the 5-yard line before the score.
Trying to drive one last time before the half, a Peavey interception that deflected off his intended receiver on a deep corner route was intercepted by safety Darryl Lewis.
New streak: Singletary had his 19-game streak with a touchdown snapped in the 31-7 loss at Marshall.
It didn’t take him long to start up a new one.
The former American Heritage-Delray standout’s 7-yard score to cap the Owls’ opening drive was the 59th of his career.
It tied him with Nebraska’s Eric Crouch and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick for 11th on the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision list.
Friday Night Lights: FAU played a Friday night game for the second time this season and first at home.
“That feeling of playing Friday night under the lights, for me, it brings back memories of playing in high school playing on Friday and going out there and showcasing your talent,” Durante said this week.
“I feel like it’s going to be a lot of energy out there. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”
The Owls also played at UCF in Week 4 on a Friday night. Last year, they had two Friday games – the first being the opener against Navy that they lost and later when they beat Marshall in early November in the program’s first win over the Thundering Herd.