A week after getting stymied by an improved Texas defense, FAU’s offense rebounded to score 49 points and rack up 554 yards of total offense against UAB on Saturday. The Owls moved the ball nearly at will as they scored on seven of their nine offensive possessions.
“Our job is to score every time we have the ball,” receiver Cortez Gent says.
One of the biggest differences on offense this week was FAU’s ability to run the ball. The Owls churned out 196 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns against UAB, compared to just 37 yards rushing against Texas.
Charles Pierre set an FAU record for longest run from scrimmage with a 73-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter. Pierre also finished with a career high 138 yards rushing and the Owls finished averaging an impressive 7.8 yards a carry.
Quarterback Rusty Smith looked sharp, going 21-34 for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
“The offense was very successful today,” Smith says.
Smith spread the ball around nicely to his receivers, including Lester Jean, who had two touchdown catches, but still preferred to find his favorite target: Cortez Gent. Gent had eight catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Gent’s biggest play of the day came on the opening drive of the game. Gent took a handoff on an end around and lobbed a 33-yard touchdown pass to an open Chris Bonner.
“I knew it was a touchdown right at the beginning of the play when I saw the defense bite,” Bonner says. “I was just hoping it came down inbounds.”
The play gave the Owls a lead they would never relinquish and set the tone for the offense for the rest of the game.
Another reason for the Owls offensive success on Saturday was their ability to convert on third down. Against the Longhorns the Owls converted on just 6 of 16 third down plays. Against the Blazers a much improved to seven of 10, including a couple of long conversions of more then 20 yards which led to touchdowns.
“If we have to score 49 points a game, I think we have the manpower to do it,” Smith says.
With the defense still struggling, FAU will need another dominant offensive performance next week. The Owls head up to East Lansing, Michigan on Saturday for a showdown with Big Ten power Michigan State.
“We will score a lot against them,” kick returner Jeff Blanchard says. “Trust me.”
