FAU coach Carl Pelini on the sidelines earlier this season vs. Lousiana-Monroe. (Photo Courtesy of Ralph Notaro/Owl Pix)
Faltering in the 4th
FAU coach Carl Pelini not happy after 14-point lead in fourth quarter evaporates in 37-34 loss to South Alabama.
Originally published on
10/22/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
Florida Atlantic coach Carl Pelini liked what he saw from the Owls for the first three quarters of their game Saturday against South Alabama.
The fourth quarter was quite a different story as FAU saw a 14-point lead evaporate against the Jaguars. The two overtime periods were more like the fourth quarter than the first three and the Owls lost in two overtimes 37-34.
“I thought we played some of our best football of the year in the first three quarters,” Pelini said Monday on a the weekly Sun Belt Conference coach's teleconference. “For whatever the reason, that wasn't case for the fourth quarter.
The defeat was a bitter one for FAU because it was a game it seemed to have well in hand. The Owls (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) had a 31-17 lead until six minutes remained in the game but in that span had two field goals blocked (another attempt was also blocked earlier in the game) and had five pass interference penalties in the fourth quarter, including two on fourth down.
“You look and you say the difference in he ball game was a few plays and a few calls, and we'd have a few more wins under our belt,” Pelini said.
Robinson returns to practice: Troy quarterback Corey Robinson returned to practice Sunday after missing the Trojans' victory over FIU on Saturday with a concussion.
Robinson, a three-year starter for the Trojans, was knocked out of Troy's game vs. Western Kentucky on Nov. 11 but could play Saturday against FAU if continues to make progress.
“He worked part of practice, throwing one-on-one stuff and did all right,” said Troy coach Larry Blakeney. “There's a good chance he'll be ready to go...He looked like his old self.”