AAC: Florida Atlantic Falls to UTSA

SAN ANTONIO – On Saturday afternoon, the Florida Atlantic football team was defeated by UTSA, 38-24. 

In a game that ultimately ended up in the Roadrunners' favor, the Owls (2-5, 0-3 AAC) made several timely plays and saw multiple players etch themselves in the program record book. 

With the loss, FAU moves to 2-5 on the season with an 0-3 record against American Athletic Conference teams.

 The Owls' offense came to life late in the first quarter on a third-and-six when redshirt junior Cam Fancher fooled the defense on a quarterback draw and took it to the end zone for a 76-yard touchdown run. 

Complementary football was on display from all three units in the second quarter. Redshirt DB Jayden Williams leaped in the way of the UTSA to intercept the pass and take it to the opponent's three, which was turned into Fancher's second rushing score of the day on an athletic escape from the defense's grasp.

On the ensuing offensive drive, junior kicker Carter Davis drilled a 50-yard attempt, his second from that range on the season, to up the score to 17-10. Williams then added another INT to his collection, his second of the quarter, in a back-and-forth first half that ended with a 17-17 score.

 While the Roadrunners struck first with a touchdown in the third quarter, the Owls recorded their 14th takeaway of the season later on when graduate DB Wendol Philord scooped up a fumble by the UTSA QB and ran 49 yards to the end zone to tie the game at 24.

The final period saw Florida Atlantic hold UTSA to two field goals in the first 13 minutes to keep it a one-score game before conceding the game-clinching touchdown.

NOTES: Fancher's 76-yard touchdown was the fourth-longest run from scrimmage in program history and the longest recorded by an FAU QB, Junior WR Caleb Coombs made four catches for 61 yards, Redshirt junior RB Zuberi Mobley added 41 yards on the ground with just eight carries, The Owls notched a season-high four sacks, with redshirt senior DE Marlon Bradley registering his first two of the season, Philord's TD was the first Florida Atlantic defensive touchdown of the season, Williams is the 12th player in school history to record a multi-interception game, Redshirt junior DL Jacob Merrifield set career highs in sacks (1.5) and tackles for loss (2.5), Junior DB Phillip Dunnam led the way on defense with an Owl career-high nine tackles, also adding a TFL and pass breakup. For the second game of the season, the Owls had double-digit TFLs (11), Davis becomes the second player in program history to have multiple 50-yard field goals in his collegiate career.