BOCA RATON – There is something about FAU running backs and their nicknames.

Just a year removed from Devin “Motor” Singletary’s run as FAU’s lead running back, it was Malcolm “The Stallion” Davidson who had a career day in today’s 28-13 win over Middle Tennessee.

Making his first career start for the Owls, Davidson finished with more rushing yards (149) than the whole Middle Tennessee State team (124) and scored on a 57-yard rush play. The 149 rushing yards was a career high for the sophomore running back, as was his 21 carries.

The touchdown came at a critical juncture, as it put FAU up three scores late in the third quarter, and thoroughly shifted momentum the Owls’ way.

“We kind of thought that [Davidson would be a lead running back] with Larry [McCammon] not being fully healthy, and it being kind of a Malcolm game,” FAU head coach Lane Kiffin said about Davidson becoming the lead running back. “Malcolm is special when healthy, you saw it against UCF, hit a couple of runs. He’s got special speed, kind of like Kerrith Whyte.”

The comparison to Whyte, who now plays for the Chicago Bears in the NFL, is good company for Davidson. Whyte was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft following a career at FAU where he was used both on the ground and through the air.

The beginning of the game did not go as planned for the Owls.

Following a bye week, the offense opened up sluggish, as Asher O’Hara and the Middle Tennessee offense were able to take advantage of it, scoring first on a CJ Windham 30-yard touchdown pass from O’Hara.

O’Hara, who has started at quarterback every game for the Blue Raiders this season, finished the game completing 24 of his 42 passes for 335 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. On the ground, O’Hara added 57 yards and another touchdown.

On the ensuing extra point, however, a blocked kick by Akileis Leroy that was returned 98-yards for a two-point conversion. It was the first blocked kick returned for a score since 2008, when the Owls accomplished similar against North Texas.

“Everyday this week in practice, we’ve been working on blocks, so coach was always telling me either side will come up,” Leroy said about the blocked kick. “I just prayed that my opportunity would come, and it came.”

Davidson’s first big introduction to FAU fans came on FAU’s first touchdown, when Davidson accounted for 21 yards rushing. The drive was capped off by a Chris Robison touchdown pass to John Mitchell.

Despite the promise shown by the Owls offense on the drive, the Blue Raiders went into halftime with a small lead, after a 9-yard run by O’Hara put them back out front.

While the touchdown gave the Blue Raiders a lead going into halftime, it was the Owls defense that came to play in the second half, holding the Middle Tennessee offense to no points in the second half.

In the third quarter, the Owls scored 13 points – two Vlaidi Rivas field goals and the Davidson touchdown – to put the Owls ahead by three scores going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Owls defense turned to a different gear, forcing two turnovers, and sacking O’Hara twice in the quarter.

“Combination of things I could say about our defense tonight,” Leroy said. “We just came together as one. There’s no better feeling. You know, working every day through practice. I always tell the guys, “the hard part was Monday through Friday, today is the easy part.'”

On the defense, it was defensive back Meiko Dotson who stole the show. Dotson, who has continued to earn more snaps on the defense, finished the game with two interceptions, bringing his season total to four.

“After the beginning of the game, when I first got out there, and they kind of got me with the double move, and I got bad eyes and they scored on me. I felt bad because we preached eye discipline this week, and I just really wanted to make a play,” Dotson said about his first interception. “Once they put [DJ England-Chisholm], he was a speedy guy, he likes to relieve vertical, I kind of knew what was coming. I just played through man, and the ball found me.”

The win is as important as a midseason win can get for FAU. Not only does the win push the Owls’ winning streak to four consecutive games, but it also allows the Owls to stay at second in the Conference USA East standings, where they sit a game behind Western Kentucky.

PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Forde