South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Milestone performance
Singletary passes Tebow, Faulk on career rushing TD list with 58 as Owls get much-needed win over Monarchs
BOCA RATON – If seven consecutive must-win Conference USA games is what it’ll be for Florida Atlantic, the Owls scratched the first one off the list.
Quarterback Chris Robison provided an early spark, running back Kerrith Whyte scored three touchdowns and Devin “Motor” Singletary secured the game in the fourth quarter as FAU bounced back from a crushing loss in its conference opener at Middle Tennessee State to take down Old Dominion, 52-33, on Saturday night at FAU Stadium.
The Owls (3-3, 1-1 CUSA), essentially needing to win out and get help elsewhere within the conference to achieve their goals of repeating as Conference USA champions, extended their home win streak to 10.
With the Monarchs (1-5, 0-3) sneaking to within one possession for a second time in the second half, Singletary gave the Owls a cushion with a 30-yard rushing touchdown up the middle. Singletary scored again from 44 yards out with 2:17 remaining.
Single tar y’ s scores moved him past Tim Tebow and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk on the NCAA’s FBS career rushing touchdowns list. Now with 58, Singletary is tied for 13th with Boise State’s Ian Johnson on the list.
Singletary, who is the nation’s rushing touchdowns leader, ran in his 13th and 14th of the season and extended his streak of games with a touchdown to 19. He finished with 168 rushing yards on 19 carries.
As meaningful as Singletary’s touchdown was, the man that spells him in the Owls backfield, Whyte, was just as impactful. Whyte scored three touchdowns — two on the ground and one on a 100-yard kick return. His second rushing touchdown followed Singletary’s and extended the FAU lead to, 46-27, in the fourth.
Robison started fast, completing all four of his passes on the Owls’ opening drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant where Bryant athletically dove to the pylon on thirdand-goal. Robison and Bryant also hooked up on a post that went for 44 yards on the first play from scrimmage.
A second first-half scoring strike from Robison to Bryant came with 2:41 remaining in the first half as the redshirt freshman hit the tight end over the middle from 22 yards out.
Robison was 21 of 32 for 339 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Bryant finished with six catches for 133 yards. Receiver Jovon Durante had seven catches for 111 yards.
Chris To ole y intercepted a pass on ODU’s ensuing drive, giving the Owls enough time to score again going into the half. In just 29 seconds, FAU went 55 yards down the field in six plays as Robison rushed in a touchdown from 5 yards out.
After leading 26-7 at halftime, Old Dominion scored twice in the third quarter to pull within one score for the first time. That was when Whyte returning the ensuing kickoff for the 100-yard touchdown.
ODU had Kesean Strong go for three touchdowns and 99 yards on 21 carries, while adding a receiving touchdown. Quarterback Blake LaRussa was 39 for 51 for 390 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
FAU heads into its bye week at .500 and plays at Marshall on Oct. 20. The Owls have never beaten the Thundering Herd on the road.