For 2 minutes and 18 seconds FAU fans knew what it was like to have a lead at home.
With 10:24 remaining in the third quarter, Derek Moise plucked a Graham Wilbert pass out of the air and the scoreboard read: FAU 21 Arkansas State 18 — the Owls first lead this season at FAU Stadium.
“I don’t know what happened after that,” said junior linebacker David Hinds.Arkansas State would outscore FAU the rest of the way 21-0 and go on to win their sixth game in a row, 39-21.
Alfred Morris’s season high 163 rushing yards, on only 19 carries, weren’t enough for the Owls who once again relied on the arm of Graham Wilbert instead of the feet of Morris.
“I do my part, whether it’s running the ball or whether it’s blocking,” said Morris when asked if his lack of touches is frustrating. “ If I’m not getting the ball in my arms, I’m trying to do my best to help somebody else make a play.”
The problem is nobody else can make a play.
The Owls are about to embark on their ninth game next week against rival FIU. There is no secret weapon that Howard Schnellenberger has in his back pocket. There are no trick plays, no new looks and nobody that scares opponents on the FAU offense — except Alfred Morris.
Even the Little Giants had “The Annexation of Puerto Rico” ready to go at any time. The Owls, well, they have Graham Wilbert.
Approaching the last third of the season the Owls seem content on using the same ol’ plays and quotes that they have used and said all year. Wouldn’t now, at 0-8 and 0-5 in the Sun Belt Conference, be the time to switch things up and try a new approach?
“This was a different game than we’ve played up to this juncture,” said head coach Howard Schnellenberger.
The four turnovers, nine penalties and countless mental mistakes on the field say otherwise.
“We had a lead in the third quarter which was quite an accomplishment,” said Schnellenberger. “We stayed within four points until 10 minutes left in the game where they scored two more touchdowns.”
That’s what this season has come to, taking moral victories in three point leads with over 24 minutes of game still to be played.
“I wouldn’t say desperate but we’re definitely hungry for a win,” said Morris. “We’ve got four more opportunities to go out there and get us a win. It’ll send us seniors out on a good note and also coach Schnellenberger.”
It’s time to look at it as one opportunity, not four. The Owls need to play as if their lives depend on it next Saturday against FIU.
What began as a team with promise, the debut of a new stadium and the chance to send Howard Schnellenberger off in the spotlight now gives way to a sham of what Schnellenberger has stood for his entire career: a winner.
The balances tilt both ways this year. The old coach gets both a new stadium — something he’d never done before — and a winless season up to this point. And if the Owls continue and end 0-12?
It’ll also be something Schenellenberger had never done before.
