Owls’ Mitchell credited for a decent Randy Moss imitation

MUNCIE, Ind. — Before John Mitchell could get a word out, Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin spoke up.

“It’s Randy Moss,” Kiffin joked as he walked past Mitchell before the redshirt junior wideout addressed the media.

For a fraction of a second on Saturday, Mitchell looked the part, pulling down his third touchdown reception with flair and intent in the corner of the end zone during FAU’s 41-31 win over Ball State at Scheumann Stadium.

Already the recipient of two touchdown passes from quarterback Chris Robison, Mitchell’s third in the third quarter raised some eyebrows.

Robison, keeping a third-and-9 play alive, scrambled right and found Mitchell covered, but not really. Not according to Mitchell’s standards.

“The cornerback fell off a little bit, but he was still there, and then when Chris threw it, it was up there and looked like a good ball,” Mitchell said. “One, I was excited he threw it in the first place. He trusted me, and then, two, I just have to go get this … because it’s time for something big. So I went up to get it.”

With BSU cornerback Markice Hurt, Jr. in front of him, the

6-foot-4 receiver elevated, reached over and snatched the ball with authority.

One foot down in the end zone. FAU ahead 34-17 and rolling.

“We needed it more than anything,” Kiffin said. “We been talking about it, begging for it. We ain’t going anywhere unless our receivers start making some plays.

“As good as our running backs were last year, at the end of the year we weren’t making enough plays outside and it cost us.”

After a 0-2 start to the season, the Owls (1-2) needed a sign, and it came through the air in a backand-forth meeting with BSU through the first half.

Robison had been limited the past two weeks in facing No. 6 Ohio State and No. 17 UCF, never surpassing 200 yards passing. Against the Buckeyes, he completed 22 of 34 passes for 178 yards. UCF held him to 177 on 18 of

40 completions.

Then the Owls decided to restart, and so did Robison, completing 33 of 41 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns, including 10 of 11 for 149 yards in the third quarter. His completions tied a career high and his yardage total was his second-highest ever.

“It’s incredible,” Mitchell said. “We trust him, he trusts us. There’s chemistry.

“We’re just having fun. He’s slippery. When the first reads are over, it’s like don’t die. He’s still coming, so make something happen.”

The defense stands up: After getting torched by a combined 58 points against both No. 6 Ohio State and No. 17 UCF, the Owls defense had something to prove.

Even without senior defensive tackle Noah Jefferson, they found a way, led by senior linebacker Rashad Smith.

Smith finished Saturday with six total tackles, one of FAU’s five sacks, 2 1⁄2 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Both fumble recoveries were critical. The first set up the offense’s first scoring drive, providing a short field at BSU’s 31 in the first quarter and a 7-0 lead. The second kept BSU out of the end zone in the third quarter as FAU clung to a 21-17 lead.

Smith’s fumble recovery in the end zone resulted in a touchback and an ensuing 80-yard scoring drive, which propelled FAU toward its first win since Nov. 10, 2018.

“Our defense did their job like they always do,” Smith said. “They made stops and they made plays. Like you saw, the offense made some plays happen. That’s all you need to get a game going.”