Owls aiming for first C-USA title game berth

FAU coach warns not to discount challenge posed by La. Tech’s ‘really good defense.’

BOCA RATON — Nearly 10 years after producing their first bowl win in the New Orleans Bowl, Lane Kiffin and the Florida Atlantic Owls (6-3, 5-0 in Conference USA) return to the Bayou State for a matchup today with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-5, 2-3).

FAU enters the first meeting between these two teams riding a five-game winning streak — its longest since 2004 — and having clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013 with last week’s 30-25 win over Marshall. If the Owls win out, they will be guaranteed a berth in their first C-USA title game.

“This is a great opportunity,” Kiffin said. “We talk about winning the fourth quarter all the time, and this is when the fourth quarter of the season starts.”

Here are five ways the Owls can move their winning streak to six games and come closer to clinching Conference USA’s East Division.

1. Don’t underestimate La. Tech

While the Bulldogs’ record is unimpressive at first glance, Skip Holtz’s team has also suffered four one-score losses that include a last-minute loss to South Carolina and one-point losses to UAB and North Texas. Louisiana Tech also has the added incentive of needing two more wins to become bowl-eligible.

“I have always said that in coaching we get too much credit when we win and too much blame when we lose as coaches in close games,” Kiffin said. “Things happen. We have to go on the road and play a team that is playing really good defense.”

2. Jason Driskel needs to build off last week

Inconsistency has been the name of this season’s game for FAU’s quarterback, but the Owls will have a better chance to win if the redshirt junior can repeat last week’s performance (11-of-17 for 104 yards and no interceptions) against the Bulldogs. With the Owls’ strong run game, Driskel only needs to be consistent, not great. He has the opportunity to produce a big win against the team his brother, Jeff, started at quarterback for in 2015.

“Most of the guys that he played with aren’t there anymore,” Driskel said. “(Defensive coordinator Blake Baker) is still there, but I think they’re doing things a little differently schematically then they were when ( Jeff ) was there.”

3. Contain Jaylon Ferguson

Ferguson is to the Bulldogs what Trey Hendrickson (now with the New Orleans Saints) was to the Owls the past four seasons: a fierce defensive lineman who can get to the quarterback and take over a game. While Ferguson’s sack numbers are down from last year (four in eight games after 14.5 in 2016), the junior still has eight tackles for a loss and can create havoc for FAU’s offensive line.

4. Create holes for Singletary

At this point in the season, Kiffin and the Owls know so long as sophomore running back Devin Singletary (American Heritage) has holes to run through, there is a pretty good chance the team will have success. FAU is 6-1 since Kiffin and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles decided in September to give more carries to Singletary, the nation’s leader in rushing touchdowns with 19 entering play today.

“They look like they get to the ball, and I know they’re gonna play hard,” Singletary said of facing a Bulldogs defense allowing 186.9 rushing yards per game.

5. Players to watch

■ DeAndre McNeal, WR: After a strong September where he had 21 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns, McNeal has only two catches for negative yardage since a Sept. 30 win over Middle Tennessee.

■ Ernest Bagner, DE: A transfer from Riverside (Calif.) City College who was expected to compete for a starting role, Bagner has instead been a key reserve and is second on the team with 2.5 sacks. Bagner should be in line for more reps today after recent strong outings.

■ Shelton Lewis/Chris Tooley, CB: FAU’s defense has made a habit this year of rattling quarterbacks early and forcing bad throws, usually ones that land in the hands of either Lewis and Tooley. Both cornerbacks enter today with four interceptions.