Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
La. Tech big challenge to FAU’s 10-game home winning streak
BOCA RATON — The hash tag# Winning In Paradise is what Florida Atlantic began pushing through social media ahead of this season.
While FAU may be 3-4 with two conference losses and far from where the Owls were expected to be through seven games, they still win in paradise — better known as Boca Raton.
All four FAU losses have come on the road. The three wins: all at FAU Stadium. The Owls have won 10 straight home games overall, heading into Friday night’s 6:30 p.m. matchup against Conference USA-West foe Louisiana Tech (5-2, 3-1).
“I think it’s just a different edge when we’re playing at home, with the streak we have. It’s just a different feeling,” senior safety Jalen Young said.
Said junior linebacker Rashad Smith: “You’ve got to protect your house. Can’t let nobody come into your house and steal what you got.”
Although FAU may not be running through Conference USA like it did last year in its first season under coach Lane Kiffin, the mere fact that the expectation entering the season was raised to such a level is a testament to the strides the program has made. The home-field advantage is an extension of that. Team veterans feel the difference in the fanfare surrounding them.
“Back then it was just constant losing. But now, we actually have some pride, people are actually coming out to games,” said senior defensive tackle Ray Ellis, who has been more active in the rotation of interior linemen of late. “Ten straight. You just want to keep building on that. Keep people coming. Keep building upon that streak.”
Already knowing they’re down senior linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, the team’s overall leader and all-time leading tackler who suffered a seasonending knee injury ahead of last week’s loss to Marshall, the Owls are watching the status of their quarterback for the short week against the Bulldogs.
Redshirt freshman signal caller Chris Robison left the Marshall game early with a left ankle injury. He participated in practice this week.
“Chris may still play,” Kiffin said on Tuesday.
Should he not be ready, either De’Andre Johnson or Rafe Peavey will be called upon. The two have been battling for the lead backup role since Kiffin chose Robison as the starter.
Johnson, a Redshirt junior, comes from East Mississippi CC, of Netflix series “Last Chance U” fame, and FSU before that. Peavey was at SMU and Arkansas before transferring to FAU as a graduate student.
All three times the three have received playing time in the same game – at Oklahoma, vs. Bethune Cookman and at Marshall – Johnson entered ahead of Peavey.
“All our quarterbacks prepare the same,” said offensive guard Antonio Riles. “They come in, they do their jobs just like any other position. It’s going to be the same thing. I have faith in our quarterbacks.”
In addition to Robison, receivers Jovon Durante and Dante Cousart, defensive tackle Marcel Southall and Young all made early exits against Marshall. Aside from Cousart, who had surgery done in Huntington, W.V. for a broken leg and is out for season, Kiffin is hopeful the others will play against La. Tech.
Without Al-Shaair, fifth-year senior Andrew Soroh stepped in and led the team in tackles against Marshall. Smith, the normally quiet weak-side linebacker who leads the Owls in tackles this season, has increased his vocal leadership.
FAU’s offensive line will have to deal with Bulldogs’ pass rusher Jaylon Ferguson, who leads the Football Bowl Subdivision with 9.5 sacks. Louisiana Tech has had one loss come to Alabama-Birmingham, the only remaining unbeaten within Conference USA play, and the other to LSU in a contested 38-21 decision in Baton Rouge.
A loss to the Bulldogs could put the Owls up against the ropes for a bowl game berth, let alone Conference USA title hopes that are already looking bleak. But players still understand there’s a lot to play for.
“We’re well capable of just pulling through this whole season,” Ellis said. “[A 3-4 record] is not what we expected, but we can pull through and just have a great season still.”