Boca Raton, Fla. | The Florida Atlantic Owls (4-6, 3-3 AAC) return to Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium to take on a tough task in conference opponent #17 Tulane (9-1, 6-0 AAC). FAU is coming off a tough 22-7 loss against AAC rival East Carolina, while Tulane has won its last three conference matchups by no more than 3 points.
Despite FAU booting the opening kickoff out-of-bounds, Tulane committed a false start on 1st down. After an incomplete pass and a short rush, a 3rd & 12 dump-off in the flats to RB Shedro Louis went for 15 yards and a first down. On the ensuing 3rd & 5, Boca Raton HS alum QB Michael Pratt found his 6’5″-framed WR Chris Brazzell II for a 10-yard gain on a comeback. First down. Faced with another 3rd & 5, RB Makhi Hughes bullied inside with a chippy 2-yard gain to set up an early 4th & 2 “go for it” situation. And these situations paint the story of the game. On 4th down, Pratt tried to buy some time in the pocket but was LEVELED by LB Courtney McBride who forced the fumble, recovered by CB Fabian Scott. The sack alone would’ve caused the turnover on downs, but the Owls held their ground and showed they were here to fight the top-25 ranked Green Wave.
QB Daniel Richardson and the Owls offense started their opening drive from their own 40-yard line, and they came out firing with a quick hitter in the flats to the electric star WR La’Johntay Wester for a 15-yard gain. On 3rd & 7, Richardson checked down to RB Kobe Lewis for no gain, and an intentional delay of game gave K/P Logan Lupo some extra room to pin the Green Wave inside the 25. Pratt ripped a deep out to Brazzell II for a quick first down, launched a BLURRRR right back to Brazzell for a 38-yard gain, and completed to Brazzell II over the middle for 16 yards. Pratt then slung it to his senior TE Chris Carter, who made a terrific juggling catch at the back right pylon to start the scoring off. 7-0 Tulane.
Richardson answered back with a short strike to WR Tony Johnson who ran through a myriad of arm tackles to pick up a cool 30 yards. Met with a 3rd & 2 from the Tulane 40-yard line, Lewis was stuffed by DT Patrick Jenkins & DL Devean Deal. And on 4th down, Richardson sprinted out to his right but couldn’t find anyone open… LB Tyler Grubbs picked up the sack.
Hughes got the Wave rolling on their next drive, picking up 12 yards on an inside run. Pratt answered back with a beautiful throw on a deep crossing route to WR Bryce Bohanon off play action for a 22-yard gain. On 3rd & 8 on the edge of the redzone, Pratt found his favorite target, Brazzell II, again for a 6-yard gain to close out the 1st quarter. Faced with a pivotal 4th & 2 from the 12-yard line, Tulane opted to go for it… and BOY did it pay off. Pratt flipped it out to Bohanon who picked up 5 to convert the first down and extend the drive. And on 1st & Goal, Pratt went to guess who… Brazzell for a 9-yard TD. Tulane takes an early 14-0 lead.
FAU answered back with a clutch 3rd & 11 conversion. Richardson to Johnson for 12 yards and bell cow RB Larry McCammon rushed for 11- and 7-yard carries. Richardson went back to Wester for another 12-yard pickup. The Owls were in a groove on this drive. Now threatening in the redzone, QB Michael Johnson Jr. came in to convert a 4th & 1 off a QB Power. Lewis rushed for a tough 7 yards to set up 1st & Goal from the 3. After no gain on the following three plays, FAU opted to go for it again. Richardson bounced around in the pocket, but he couldn’t connect with Wester who trapped the ball as it hit the grass in the endzone. Turnover on downs.
Backed up on their own 3-yard line, Tulane’s Hughes burst thru the Owls’ front-seven to pick up a nice 12 yards and a first down, but the Owls held strong and forced a P Will Karoll punt.
With under 3 minutes remaining in the half, Richardson laced a slant route to Johnson for a 10-yard gain and a first down. After a few short gains, Richardson took an untimely DT Kameron Hamilton sack to force a Lupo punt with 40 seconds remaining in the half. And pinned inside their own 10-yard line, with a two-possession lead, Tulane opts to kneel and take us to halftime.
Fresh out the half, after an FAU three-and-out, Pratt and the Wave stormed down the field with ease and were faced with a crucial 3rd & 4. Pratt kept it on the zone read but fell a yard short, but picked up the 4th & 1 on a QB sneak. On 3rd & Goal, Pratt threw a strike to Carter for their 2nd TD connection of the game. 21-0 Tulane.
Richardson and the Owls offense couldn’t get much more going… another three-and-out. Riding the wave of momentum, Tulane’s Lewis immediately gained 7 yards. Pratt threw a hole shot bullet to TE Alex Bauman off a fake screen design for a first down. On 3rd & 11, Pratt checked down to Hughes who almost picked up the first, and Hughes cashed in with a hardnosed run on 4th & 1 to convert. Tulane kept their foot on the gas, and Pratt launched it deep to Miami native WR Yulkeith Brown for a 37-yard BLURRRRRR to set the offense up inside the 5-yard line. After three run stuffs, K Valentino Ambrosio notched a 29-yard FG to extend the lead to 24-0.
FAU finally found some life. After what appeared to be another three-and-out, Richardson connected with WR Je’Quan Burton on 4th & 3 to pick up a first. A false start set FAU back to a 2nd & 15, and Richardson couldn’t escape the big DL Darius Hodges who sacked him. On 3rd & 20, a tunnel screen to Wester mustered 10, and on 4th down, Richardson scrambled and found Lewis for a 20+-yard gain and another 4th down conversion. After a few more quick hitters placed the Owls inside the redzone, Richardson bootlegged and threw across his body to find TE Kahlil Brantley for a beautiful 3-yard TD. WR Devin Price added the two-point conversion to make it 24-8.
After a Tulane missed FG, Richardson airmailed a pass into triple coverage and a FS DJ Douglas interception iced the game for Tulane with under 4 minutes remaining. FAU got the ball back another time, but that’s all she wrote.
FINAL SCORE: Tulane beats FAU 24-8
GAME TAKEAWAYS:
Tulane’s Pratt was as surgical as it gets when evaluating the QB position, finishing 21-28 for 252 yards and 3 TDs. Brazzell led all receivers today with 103 yards off 7 catches and a TD.
This game was won in those tough situations. Tulane went 3-4 on 4th down conversions and averaged 12 yards per completion. Both teams limited turnovers and had fairly even times of possession, but Tulane was simply the better team today. This was what I would call a quiet blowout. Tulane simply marched down the field time and time again, and capitalized on its opportunities to convert. Note: The culture at Tulane Football is incredible. After each play, a Green Wave player would hand the ball to the referee with two hands.
Tulane returns home to New Orleans to take on UTSA next week to finish up the regular season.
For FAU, a lot is to be desired… Wester had 11 catches for 86 yards, so he’s still a focal point of this Owls offense, but McCammon only saw 10 carries and was limited to 32 yards. Richardson and his other receivers made plays here and there, but it wasn’t close to enough to beat a top-25 team. The Owls look forward to their trip down to Houston next week to take on Rice to close out their season. Not sure if a win in this “Owls Bowl” will make FAU bowl eligible, but regardless, this has been a season to build on as they navigate their unchartered waters of the American Athletic Conference. Hopefully FAU can recruit some more local high school and transfer portal guys. Until then, FAU looks to continue being little brother to Miami, Florida, Florida State, UCF, and even USF in the Florida college football ranks (at least they can still bully FIU).
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