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BOCA RATON – If FAU coach Lane Kiffin had his way, safety Jalen Young wouldn’t have made the interception that likely sealed his winning of the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Trailing FAU 30-23 and facing a fourth-and-six at their own 23, Marshall quarterback Chase Litton hurled the ball downfield and into the waiting arms of Young.
FAU tried to kill the final 2:30 by taking a knee but didn’t realize until after the first kneel that they couldn’t eat all the time. The Owls eventually had punter Ryan Rickel run out of the back of the end zone for a safety, and survived a multi-lateral return on the ensuing free kick to win the game.
“If he’d have knocked the last ball down instead of intercepting it we shouldn’t have been in that situation, we would have gotten the ball way down on the 25,” said Kiffin, offering the mildest of criticism. “It’s hard to do in those situations. It’s fourth down. Kids are taught to intercept the ball.”
The interception was Young’s third of the evening, a total that prompted Conference USA media members to vote him the Defensive Player of the Week. The same group voted FAU running back Devin Singletary the Offensive Player of the week.
It’s the third consecutive week an Owl earned such honors. Quarterback Jason Driskel, then Singletary won the Offensive Player of the Week award the two previous weeks.
Young’s five interceptions ties for the second most nationally.
“He’s done that since we’ve gotten here in practice, ball skills, going after the ball,” Kiffin said.
FAU scored touchdowns on the drives that followed Young’s first two interceptions. The third pick all but sealed the victory.
A junior,Young’s 54 tackles are third most among Owls, with four of them coming in Friday’s victory over Marshall.
OwlAccess.com profiled Young and his desire to emulate LeBron James prior to last week’s game.
Singletary rushed for 203 yards and a touchdown in FAU’s win over Marshall. He also caught a 60-yard touchdown on a double-pass.
The win marked Singletary’s second-consecutive 200-yard game. His 1,256 yards are the fifth-most in the nation. Singletary’s 19 rushing touchdowns lead the nation.
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