Singletary runs for record 5 TDs
BOCA RATON — Aided by a program-record five rushing touchdowns from running back Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic scored the game’s first 29 points en route to a 49-28 win over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday night.
After running for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the Owls’ first two games, Singletary showed off the skills that allowed him to run for 1,920 yards and an FBS-best 32 scores last season.
The junior scored on FAU’s first four drives, tying his single-game school record. A 2-yard score early in the second quarter gave Singletary his fifth touchdown and FAU (2-1) a 36-7 lead.
FAU beat Bethune-Cookman (1-2) 45-0 last season in Lane Kif-
fin’s first win as the Owls coach. The Owls have now won nine straight home games dating to last season, a streak that includes wins in December’s Conference USA Championship game and the Boca Raton Bowl.
FAU is 2-1 to start a season for the first time since 2007. The Owls won the Sun Belt and the New Orleans Bowl that season.
Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s win:
Singletary’s record career continues. Aside from the touchdowns, Singletary’s final numbers — 19 carries for 89 yards — don’t immediately jump off the page. Singletary did pass Charles Pierre for second on FAU’s all-time rushing list and currently sits at 3,156 yards. He is only 374 yards shy of passing Alfred Morris for the most in school history and also became the third Owl to record 50 all-purpose touchdowns. Quarterbacks Rusty Smith (76) and Jared Allen (50) are the other two. Now with seven touchdowns through three games, Singletary also became the first C-USA running back since Louisville’s Frank Moreau in 1997 (Louisville was in C-USA from 1996 to 2004) to score four touchdowns in a quarter.
Chris Robison is good enough to win. There was no legendary follow-up to Robison’s 471-yard, three-touchdown game in last week’s 33-27 win over Air Force. The redshirt freshman was average at best, completing 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions before being pulled for De’Andre Johnson late in the third quarter. Robison completed all five pass attempts on FAU’s first drive and showed flashes throughout the game, but he was mostly underwhelming.
Not all of the blame is on Robison, who had several passes dropped by his wide receivers. Robison likely isn’t in danger of losing his starting job when the Owls travel to Central Florida (2-0) on Friday, though Kiffin did change quarterbacks after the Owls routed the Wildcats 45-0 last year. Dwyer graduate Daniel Parr, who started FAU’s first three games, was replaced by Jason Driskel before FAU’s Sept. 23 loss to Buffalo.
Rashad Smith has truly become a star. Kiffin likely raised some eyebrows earlier this week when he said Smith, a junior linebacker from Homestead, was FAU’s best defensive player so far this season. The reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week proved his coach right Saturday, picking off a pass and playing strong in pass coverage before the second-string defense entered. Smith only had three tackles after posting 25 in the first two games..
Harrison Bryant finally breaks out. The Preseason All-CUSA tight end had been patiently waiting for more plays and took advantage of increased opportunities against the Wildcats. Bryant finished with five catches for 82 yards. The five receptions marked his most since grabbing seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in a 69-31 win over North Texas on Oct. 21, 2017. Bryant was vital on fourth down, catching two passes that continued FAU drives.
FAU defense underwhelms again. Given the experience (10 of 11 starters returned from last year’s defense) and Smith’s emergence, the defensive struggles have come as an early surprise. The secondary allowed several big passing plays to Wildcats quarterback Akevious Williams, who was 18 of 27 for 201 yards and three touchdowns off the bench. All-CUSA safety Jalen Young( Seminole Ridge) missed the game with a knee injury, pressing junior reserve Da’Von Brown (Royal Palm Beach) into increased snaps.
FAU’s defense needs to get back to what worked last season, especially with UCF quarterback and Heisman contender McKenzie Milton next on the schedule. The Knights had their Saturday game at North Carolina postponed because of Hurricane Florence.