Owls, Kiffin looking for a 2019 restart

Head coach: Losing to Top 25 team ‘doesn’t mean you can’t have a really good season’

BOCA RATON — Third time’s the charm?

Florida Atlantic (0-2) is hoping that’ll be the case as the Owls search for their first win when they match up against Ball State (1-1) Saturday in Muncie, Ind.

“It’s a kind of a bounce-back week — a restart week,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said. “It’s time to get it 1-0 for this week. These guys are a really good team — very good on offense, really good players, good scheme — we gotta go play really good to get the first win.” FAU’s position isn’t surprising. The Owls began the season facing off against Ohio State and UCF, both ranked in the Top 25.

“When you schedule like that, you don’t expect to win every game,” Kiffin said. “Oddsmakers make money for a reason. You’re heavy underdogs in both, so if you are, that means that you’re playing really good teams.

“Our guys have been around and understand that just because you lose to teams

like that doesn’t mean you can’t have a really good season. Our goal is to always win our conference. Obviously that’s still at stake.”

Going against tougher competition early in the year helped FAU address what it needed to fix this week in practice to give the Owls the best chance to beat Ball State.

That included needing to start games stronger offensively, become hungrier on defense and get the offensive line back to basics.

“It’s just preparation,” junior cornerback James Pierres said. “We’re going off our preparation and attacking the ball as a defense — getting to the ball and our offense moving faster. We’re just working on ourselves right now.”

The Owls last faced the Cardinals in 2016, a game Ball State won 31-27 in Boca Raton. Going against Ball State will allow the Owls to see how they fare against teams with similar talent levels.

Defensively, Kiffin said the Owls’ main focus will be slowing down the Cardinals’ run game.

Ball State running backs Caleb Huntley and Walter Fletcher combined for 100 rushing yards on 20 attempts (5.0 yards per attempt) in a win against Fordham on Saturday.

“These guys have two really good backs and the line play is really synched together,” Kiffin said. “Stop the run game, and gotta cover on third down.”

FAU will also need to hold quarterback Drew Plitt in check. Plitt has completed 58 of his 81 pass attempts (71.6%) with eight touchdowns (tied for fourth in the FBS) and 737 passing yards (sixthmost).

The Owls’ offensive line will have to open up holes for the running game and protect redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Robison against an experienced Ball State defense that ranks fifth in the FBS in tackles.

“They’re a big hustle team,” offensive lineman Junior Diaz said. “A lot of movement. A lot of pressure. They’re a good defense, so we gotta show up and play.”