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BOCA RATON – FAU’s three -game winning streak, the first for the Owls since 2013, has the Owls rocketing up the national and conference statistical rankings.
The 447-rushing yard outburst in Saturday’s 69-31 mashing of North Texas raised FAU into the Top 10 nationally in rushing offense. The 285.6 rushing yards the Owls average per game lands them one spot behind Alabama. And that total includes an opening-week total of 40 yards against Navy in which the Owls only attempted 24 rushes.
FAU’s 485.4 yards of total offense, a statistic boosted by the 804 yards the Owls posted against North Texas, ranks No. 17 nationally. That’s also where their 39.1 points per game ranks.
Defensively, the Owls rank fourth in interceptions with 12. FAU is also tied for sixth nationally in turnover margin at plus nine, forcing 16 turnovers while only giving the ball away seven times in seven games.
Individually, running back Devin Singletary continues to motor his way up that charts. The sophomore’s 14 rushing touchdowns are tied for the most nationally. Only 12 players nationally have accumulated more than Singletary’s 809 rushing yards. And his 123 rushing yards against North Texas gives him an average of 115.6 yards per game, which allowed him to pass Mean Green running back Jeffery Wilson for the top spot among Conference USA backs.
Cornerback Chris Tooley’s four interceptions are tied for the fifth most nationally. Tooley stands to see increased playing time moving forward because of the injury to starting corner Raekwon Williams, who coach Lane Kiffin said isn’t expected to play this week.
The 60 tackles by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair would certainly be higher had he not missed the Buffalo game because of injury, but that game doesn’t count against his tackles-per-game average. With 10.0 tackles per game Al-Shaair leads Conference USA and is tied for No. 12 nationally. Al-Shaair’s 14 tackles against North Texas were nine more than any other Owl.
Within Conference USA, FAU has the top scoring offense, best rushing offense and the most first downs – 174. Their average of 485.4 yards per game of total offense is less than two yards behind C-USA leader North Texas.
Running back Buddy Howell joins Singletary among Conference USA’s Top 10 rushers. His 78.8 rushing yards per game ranks seventh.
And freshman wide receiver Willie Wright jumped into the Top 10 in receiving yards per game with his 141-yard performance against North Texas. Wright currently ranks ninth with 54.8 yards per game.
FAU travels to Western Kentucky on Saturday. The Hilltoppers rank second in the conference, trailing North Texas, in passing offense and third in passing defense.
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