BOCA RATON – While FAU coach Charlie Partridge insists that Owls’ one and only focus in a given week that week’s opponent, he’s only human.
Sometimes, when breaking down an opponent’s game film, even the most focused mind can’t help but notice the guys on the other side of the ball.
Throughout the season Partridge and his staff have made mental notes about Old Dominion, FAU’s opponent this week.
This week those notes were committed to paper.
“Very active defensive line with athletic defensive ends – guys that we’ve seen on film all year when we’re getting ready for another offense and we see them going against Old Dominion’s defense we’ve noticed these guys,” Partridge said.
The Monarchs enter Saturday’s game senior night game at Howard Schnellenberger Field ranked second in Conference USA in total defense (392.2 ypg) and scoring defense (28.2 ppg).
They are coming off a 51-35 thrashing of Southern Miss in which the Monarchs forced five turnovers, sacked the quarterback six times and made 11 tackles for loss. The Monarchs enter Saturday tied for the top spot nationally in turnover margin at plus-15.
“They are very good at disrupting,” FAU offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said. “They try to play up field, penetrating.”
Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff will launch only the third meeting between FAU and ODU. What the series lacks in longevity, it makes up for with excitement.
Two seasons ago Old Dominion came to Boca Raton and ended the Owls’ frustrating first season under Partridge by kicking a game-winning 27-yard field goal that clanked off an upright and through on the final play of the game.
Last year Old Dominion needed a victory in the season’s final game to become bowl eligible. So confident were the Monarchs that they printed an advertisement for bowl tickets in their game-day program – a magazine delivered to the FAU locker room.
The Owls, motivated by the program, spoiled those bowl hopes with a 33-31 victory, giving FAU confidence heading into the offseason.
For the third consecutive season the Monarchs are also experiencing their finest season at the FBS level. Old Dominion comes to Boca Raton with a 7-3 record in second place in the C-USA East Division and could move into a first place tie with a win over FAU.
With a victory on Saturday, FAU would surpass its win total of three from each of the past two seasons.
“We’re focusing on winning of course, but not really in that aspect of kind of comparing it to last year,” Owls wide receiver Nate Terry said.
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