BOCA RATON – The Florida Atlantic Owls won in style Saturday night and were clicking on all cylinders offensively in their 52-33 win against Old Dominion.
Junior running back Devin Singletary had another historic night in Boca Raton as he surpassed Tim Tebow on the all-time rushing touchdown list with his 58th career scoring run.
The Owls got off to a great start on their first drive, capping it off with a 5-yard touchdown grab by Harrison Bryant to put them up 6-0 early in the first quarter. Bryant had himself a career night, hauling in six receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
Later in the half, redshirt junior running back Kerrith Whyte found the end zone on a short 3-yard run for an Owl touchdown that pushed their lead to 12 over the Monarchs. Whyte had an explosive night offensively as well as a special teamer, finding the end zone twice in the run game and once on a kickoff return.
The Owls led the whole second quarter at 12-0 until a 2-yard touchdown run by Old Dominion’s Kesean Strong, which brought the score to 12-7. The Monarchs running back looked as strong as his last name, carrying the ball 21 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns.
FAU’s Chris Robison had a stellar night through the air as he found Bryant for a second time right before half time. He placed a perfect pass to the back of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass to put the Owls up 19-7.
Robison then called his own number with less than a minute left to play in the first half. He scored on a 5-yard quarterback designed run to extend the Owls’ lead to 26-7.
Robinson finished the game completing 21 of his 32 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, with another score on the ground.
To begin the second half, Old Dominion marched right down the field for a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was capped off by another rushing touchdown by Strong.
On the Monarchs very next possession, quarterback Blake Larussa connected with wide receiver Travis Fulgham three times for gains of 16, 22, and 31 yards. His 31-yard catch was a beautiful touchdown grab over two defenders and one that brought the score to 26-21.
Fulgham finished the game with 10 catches for 151 yards and the touchdown grab.
But just when the Monarchs thought they had the momentum, Whyte sprinted 100 yards on the ensuing kickoff for another Owl touchdown. His kick return score, which extended FAU’s lead to 32-21, is the longest in program history and it is only the second kickoff return score in school history.
After another Strong touchdown, Old DOminion brought the score to 32-27. But SIngletary turned it up a notch, as he found his way into the end zone for his 57th career rushing touchdown, tying Tebow and bringing the score to 39-27 late in the half.
And after a Shelton Lewis interception, Whyte scored his second rushing touchdown to put the Owls up 45-27. Old Dominion’s final touchdown came late in the fourth quarter by Strong, but Singletary put the icing on the cake as he exploded through the defense for a 44-yard touchdown and surpassing Tebow on the career rushing touchdown list.
FAU went on to win 52-33 and is now 3-3 overall on the season and 1-1 in Conference USA play. Unfortunately, Old Dominion drops to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
The Owls will not have a contest next week due to its bye week. They’ll have two weeks to prepare for their conference matchup with Marshall, which is set for Oct. 20.
