Football: Owls drop final non-conference game to Buffalo 34-31
Quarterback Jason Driskel starts first game of season, but inconsistency grounds offense
FAU cheerleaders wave their flags after the Owls scored a touchdown during their game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 16. Lauren Sopourn | Contributing Photographer
September 23, 2017
Florida Atlantic football’s night came down to a game of inches against the University of Buffalo Bulls Saturday.
On fourth and three during his final drive, Owls head coach Lane Kiffin decided to go for it. His team would not get the first down, leading to the game deciding touchdown by wide receiver Anthony Johnson 2:38 left in the game as Florida Atlantic lost 34-31.
Both teams coming into this game were desperate for a win. The loser would drop to 1-3 on the year and would be two games below .500 coming into their respective conference games.
Redshirt junior quarterback Jason Driskel, who started the game in place of redshirt sophomore Daniel Parr, threw for 150 yards and an interception in his first start of the season. Driskel was inconsistent throughout the night, going 17-for-29 while missing multiple opportunities.
On the ground, FAU was much better. Sophomore running back Devin Singletary had 22 carries for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Kerrith Whyte also had some success, rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
For Buffalo, quarterback Tyree Jackson had 145 passing yards, 38 rushing yards and two touchdowns while serving as a major playmaker for the Bulls. His play was limited though, as he would go down with an knee injury late in the first half and would not return.
Jackson’s backup Drew Anderson came in and took over the game. He threw for 109 yards and a touchdown and was able to close out the victory for his team.
What started out as a poor defensive outing got only slightly better for FAU as the game went on. The defense allowed 458 yards of total offense on the day as they struggled to stop Buffalo’s run game.
FAU is now 0-2 versus Buffalo all-time, with its last loss coming in 2015 in a 33-15 defeat at home. They will next play the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who they have not beat since 2007, at FAU Stadium on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
Zach Evans is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @zachevanstweets.
