FAU running back Jonathan Wallace after scoring his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter.
Admiral effort
Florida Atlantic takes an early lead vs. Navy, but can't hold on as the Midshipmen roar back to win 24-17 on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.
Originally published on
11/3/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
After taking an early lead against Navy, Florida Atlantic's upset bid was torpedoed by the Midshipmen, who rallied from an early 10-point deficit to defeat the Owls 24-17 in Annapolis, Md. on Saturday.
FAU (2-7) jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 8:57 remaining in the second quarter when Owls running back Jonathan Wallace, who had 111 rushing yards, scored on a 1-yard touchdown run followed by a field goal by Mitch Anderson from 53 yards out, tying a school record.
However, after the Owls defense had held Navy's triple-option offense in check, the Midshipmen (6-3) began to move the ball and scored a touchdown on three consecutive possessions to take control of the game with a 21-10 lead early in the third quarter.
Trailing 24-10, FAU cut the margin to a touchdown on Wallace's second score of the game on a 3-yard run with 9:07 remaining.
After Navy missed a long field goal, the Owls nearly tied the game by driving to the Midshipmen 22-yard line before turning it over on downs with Graham Wilbert's incomplete pass on 4th and 11 with 4:11 remaining.
Wilbert was 25-of-35 for 205 yards.
The Midshipmen, gained 147 of their 393 yards on offense through the air, won their fifth consecutive game and clinched a berth in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 29.
GameBrowser: Navy 24, FAU 17
GameChanger
With a 14-10 lead, Navy faced a 4th-and-8 play from the FAU 31-yard line early in the 3rd quarter. Instead of trying a long field-goal, the Midshipmen went for it and threw to the end zone where Navy QB Keenan Reynolds hit Brandon Turner, who was covered by FAU defensive backs Keith Reaser and Damian Parms, for the score.
Trending Topics
- FAU's defensive gameplan was solid, forcing Navy to do things it probably didn't want to do (like throw the ball) and it almost worked.
- The Owls executed poorly on some key offensive plays, but these mistakes will begin to be eliminated as the team matures.
- Against a team heading to a bowl game, the Owls held their own and took a step forward despite the loss.
Key Stats
24
Consecutive points scored by Navy
30:22
Time of possession for FAU, a considerable feat vs. the Midshipmen, who try and chew up time on the clock.
53
Distance of Mitch Anderson's field goal, tying an FAU school record held by Mark Myers set vs. Northern Arizona during the 2003 I-AA playoffs.
15
Consecutive road losses for the Owls.
Up Next
FAU faces Western Kentucky (6-3, 3-2, Sun Belt) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky., the site of the Owls' last road victory. FAU defeated WKU 17-16 on Nov. 6, 2010.