BOCA RATON – FAU got its first victory of the season in emphatic fashion.
Rebounding from an 0-2 start, starting quarterback and Dwyer 2015 alum Daniel Parr looked sharp for most of the first half. He had an electrifying 9-yard touchdown run that gave the Owls an early lead (7-0 at 6:53 mark in first quarter; extra point by kicker Greg Joseph) and a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant (14-0 at 3:57 mark; extra point by Joseph).
Parr (15-of-26 passing, 1 TD, 1 INT) had another touchdown run in the second quarter, this one being a 2-yarder that extended FAU’s lead to 20-0. Joseph’s third extra point got the Owls a 21-0 lead over the Wildcats at the 9:06 mark.
This one turned out to be a tour de force for FAU before and after halftime. And by the time this game reached the end of three quarters, it was completely out of reach for Bethune-Cookman.
As FAU (1-2) went into the fourth with a 31-0 lead, running back Devin Singletary (Delray Beach American Heritage 2016 alum) had already racked up 11 carries for 109 yards and a 19-yard touchdown run that happened at the 11:15 mark. He helped the Owls notch a school-record 404 yards on the ground at that point, and 439 for the game.
“Without our offensive line, we wouldn’t have any of this,” Singletary said. “They created lines for us, and all we had to do was run. That’s it.”
This one turned out to be a tour de force for FAU on offense, defense, and special teams. In addition to its masterful running game against Bethune-Cookman (1-2), the defense didn’t give up any big plays from start to finish and the special teams was on point in stellar fashion as well.
Overall, Bethune-Cookman gained 117 total yards, most of which came from redshirt senior quarterback Larry Brihm (9-of-19 passing, 56 yards, 1 INT). The Village Academy 2013 alum reflected on how the game turned out for his team.
“It didn’t go as planned,” Brihm said. “We weren’t prepared and we weren’t focused. We have to get better as a team.”
On the special teams front, Joseph (Delray Beach American Heritage 2013 alum) connected on a 46-yard field goal with 7:42 left in the third quarter, which gave FAU a 31-0 lead at that point. He finished the game with the field goal, seven extra points, and seven kickoffs for 470 yards (67.1 yard average; 5 touchbacks).
Overall, Palm Beach County was represented very well, with the area’s players accounting for the game’s first 31 points and 33 in FAU’s 45-0 victory. They came from Parr (three total touchdowns; 18 points), Singletary (rushing touchdown; 6 points), and Joseph (field goal and six extra points; 9 points).
Other area standouts were running back and Seminole Ridge 2015 alum Kerrith Whyte (13 carrries, 48 yards; 56 all-purpose yards), running back and Dwyer 2014 alum Gerald Hearns (first game of action for FAU; four carries, 11 yards), defensive tackle and Glades Central 2015 alum Steven Leggett (three tackles), strong safety and Seminole Ridge 2015 alum Jalen Young (three tackles).
The starters for FAU were Parr (quarterback), Singletary (running back), Leggett (defensive tackle), Young (strong safety), Seminole Ridge alum Roman Fernandez (left guard) and Seminole Ridge 2013 alum Antonyo Woods (center). The starters for Bethune-Cookman were Brihm (quarterback), Palm Beach Gardens 2013 alum Frank Brown (wide receiver) and Delray Beach Atlantic 2013 alum Todney Evans (defensive end).
Other area players who got playing time in this game were defensive tackle and Glades Central 2015 alum Jacoby Blackmon, wide receiver and Dwyer 2015 alum Dante Cousart, and punt returner/Dwyer 2013 alum De’Andre Bozeman.
In all, 20 players from Palm Beach County suited up for the FAU-Bethune Cookman game (16 for FAU; four for Bethune-Cookman).
NOTES: FAU thoroughly outgained Bethune-Cookman in total yardage, 619-117. FAU had more first downs than BCU, with a whopping 32-7 margin (25 first-down difference between the two teams).
Next game for FAU: Road tilt at Buffalo (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 23 (7 p.m. kickoff)
Next game for Bethune-Cookman: Home conference game (MEAC opener) vs. Howard (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 23 (1 p.m. kickoff)
