BOCA RATON – Momentum is inherently intangible, which may explain why it’s been so hard for FAU to harness.
Time and again over the past few seasons the Owls flashed potential only to see their positive energy dissipate like a drop of red dye squeezed into the Atlantic ocean.
FAU added another drop last week by defeating Rice 41-25. Now the Owls will attempt to turn the drop into a drip – an intermittent yet metronomicly steady stream – on Saturday against Texas El-Paso.
“(Beating Rice) gives you a lot of confidence, not that we didn’t have it before, but I’d say, like, momentum,” running back Devin Singletary said. “We like that feeling of what we did so let’s repeat, but even better.”
Repeat. Therein lies the problem.
FAU has yet to post back-to-back wins during the course of a season in the Charlie Partridge era – which is quickly nearing the close of its third season.
The Owls’ newly rediscovered running game would appear to be the exact tool FAU could employ to take advantage of a UTEP (3-7, 1-4) defense that’s allowing 35.1 points per game – No. 109 in the nation.
The Miners are allowing 215.3 yards per game – a total that is actually significantly less than 252 yards Singletary alone gained last week at Rice.
“He’s still a freshman,” FAU offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said of Singletary. “He still makes freshman mistakes. He’s just happens to have some physical abilities that allow that stuff to get overshadowed sometimes.”
Despite his record-breaking performance, Singletary remains the two in the one-two punch that is FAU’s rushing attack.
Junior Buddy Howell is the leader and enters Saturday’s game one touchdown shy of tying Alfred Morris’ FAU single-season rushing TD record of 11.
Howell is the better inside runner, possessing the ability to make one cut then power through would be tacklers. Singletary has patience, speed and can make defenders swing and miss.
“Both of those guys can make a play call look really good,” Trickett said.
Now the Owls have to decide which back will carry the load in any given week.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Partridge said.
Partridge preaches to players that it’s appropriate to enjoy a victory for 24 hours, then it’s time to focus on the next opponent.
He did, however, ask the Owls this week to look back to what it took to end their seven-game losing streak and apply it to this week as they prepared for the 6 p.m. kickoff against UTEP at Howard Schnellenberger Field.
“What I’m reminding them is how we got to Saturday through that preparation,” Partridge said. “Here’s how we got there, here’s how you prepared a little bit better than the weeks before. Let’s continue to build on that.”
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