South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
The FAU Owls dominate Bethune Cookman.
Star running back scores five times in easy win over BC
BOCA RATON – Devin “Motor” Singletary is back up and running for Florida Atlantic — scoringwise, at least.
After being held in check in FAU’s first two games, the junior running back out of American Heritage-Delray went off for a school-record five rushing touchdowns in the Owls’ 49-28 victory over Bethune-Cookman at FAU Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory against the Wildcats, FAU’s lone Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, former Division I-AA) opponent on the schedule, comes as the Owls (2-1) now face a short week to play at No. 18 UCF on Friday night. The Knights (2-0) hold the nation’s longest win streak (15) after going undefeated last season and topping Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
FAU started fast, up 29-0 after Singletary scored four touchdowns in the first quarter with the other coming in the second. The four scores in a quarter tied a Conference USA record.
For all the scoring production from Singletary, however, he only ran for 84 yards on 19 carries. His longest score was from 18 yards out and three of them were from the 1 or 2-yard line.
The win, overall, was not nearly as impressive as last year’s 45-0 decision over the Wildcats. The Owls allowed 332 total yards. Wildcats quarterback Akevious Williams was 18 of 26 for 201 yards and three touchdowns, running in another score.
“A tale of two games,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said. “We really played sloppy after [starting up 29-0].”
Getting the running game going was an emphasis this week for Kiffin and the Owls after Singletary, facing defenses stacking the box against him, was held under 100 yards for one touchdown in each of the first two games against Oklahoma and Air Force.
Kerrith Whyte carried 15 times for 100 yards. FAU, as a team, totaled 376 rushing yards.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Robison, after setting multiple FAU single-game passing marks in the Owls’ home opener against Air Force, was underwhelming in his third career start.
Robison did complete 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards, but threw two interceptions. In the third quarter, on his final drive, he capped it by throwing his lone touchdown pass — a 10-yarder to Jovon Durante, who athletically managed to get a foot down inbounds in the end zone as he dove to make the catch.
Durante had seven catches for 72 yards. Tight end Harrison Bryant hauled in five passes for 82.
Robison was relieved late in the third quarter by redshirt junior De’Andre Johnson. On the first play of the fourth quarter, he bulldozed a Bethune defender near the sideline, kept his feet inbounds and ran for a 21-yard touchdown. He also completed his one pass for 11 yards.
Following the one series for Johnson, graduate student Rafe Peavey came in. He and running back Silver Saunders led a nearly 10-minute drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a turnover on downs.
Another emphasis for Kiffin this week was to create more turnovers after only coming up with one takeaway in the Owls’ first two games. Linebacker Rashad Smith came away with an interception on Saturday for the second straight week. The Owls also had Ahman Ross force a fumble and Saunders recover it on a kickoff in the first quarter.
While FAU has a quick turnaround ahead of visiting UCF, the Knights come in rested after what essentially turned into a bye week as their game at North Carolina was canceled due to Hurricane Florence.