BOCA RATON – After a thrilling victory over FIU in the annual Shula Bowl match-up, the Owls looked to move closer to bowl eligibility with a win over Western Kentucky.
In order to finish with the win, the Owls turned to the combo of Devin Singletary and Kerrith Whyte, who combined for 300 yards on the ground in a 34-15 win for FAU.
The combo of Singletary and Whyte would start the scoring for FAU on the first drive of the game when Whyte walked into the end zone from 8 yards out. The touchdown was preceded by a 31-yard run by Singletary, pushing the Owls into Western Kentucky territory.
Later in the first quarter, the Owls would score on a Vladmir Rivas 30-yard field goal that was set up primarily by Chris Robison, who connected with Tavaris Harrison for a 35-yard catch and run.
On the very next drive, the Hilltoppers would travel 75 yards down the field on just five plays, which included a 65-yard run by Joshua Samuel that put the Hilltoppers in FAU territory. The drive would finish with a Steven Duncan touchdown pass to Mik’Quan Deane.
Later in the quarter, the Owls looked poised to score again. But a penalty on a De’Andre Johnson touchdown run and interception by Ta’Corian Darden stifled the drive and kept the score at 10-6.
Following a fumble recovery by Evan Sayer inside FAU territory, the Hilltoppers’ Alex Rinella would cut the Owls lead to 10-9 on the final play of the first half.
With about eight minutes left in the third quarter, Singletary’s 19th rushing touchdown from 40 yards would extend the Owls lead to 17-9.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, a 22-yard field goal by Rivas would complete a 75-yard drive and give the Owls a 20-9 lead.
Singletary’s second touchdown of the game would give the Owls a 27-9 lead and move him up to seventh on the all-time FBS rushing touchdown list with 64 career rushing touchdowns.
“It feels great [to be seventh on the all-time FBS rushing touchdown list],” Singletary said.
Late in fourth quarter, a D’Andre Ferby rushing touchdown from 7 yards out would put the Hilltoppers within two scores and make the score 27-15.
After a defensive stand inside their own territory, Whyte would take a hand-off 77 yards for a touchdown, making the score 34-15 and securing a win for FAU. The run was the longest one of the season for FAU.
“The guys in front of me did a great job,” Whyte said about the touchdown run “I had the easy part, just run into the end zone.”
Among the key contributors for FAU was the secondary, which allowed just 182 yards through the air for Western Kentucky and forced an interception.
“They played well,” Lane Kiffin said about the secondary “They made big plays and made some plays on the ball.”
Next game for FAU: Away at North Texas (7-3, 3-3 Conference USA), Thursday, Nov. 15, 9:30 ET kickoff time; broadcast on CBS Sports Network
