Sealing the deal

FAU defensive back Keith Reaser's snare of a lateral and touchdown return brought an unusual end to the Owls' 37-28 victory vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday on a play FAU fans will remember for a long time.

Originally published on 11/12/2012

by Marcus Nelson

BOCA RATON - FAU defensive back Keith Reaser spent plenty of time watching film of Western Kentucky last week.

That's not what helped him make the biggest play in Saturday's 37-28 victory over the Hilltoppers.

Reaser sealed FAU's victory by grabbing WKU's lateral out of the air on a "hook-and-ladder" play and returning the ball nine yards for a touchdown with 5 seconds remaining in the game.

“It looked pretty obvious,” Reaser said. “I knew the receiver wasn't going to just run a curl with about 10 seconds left in the game. He caught it and I saw the man coming. I just stepped in between them, caught the pitch and jogged on in.”  

Reaser knew the lateral was coming, but not because he had seen Western Kentucky do it before.

“It was just football knowledge growing up,” Reaser said. “I had seen it just watching TV when teams try it all the time.”

Also, Troy tried a similar play on its last play of the game in FAU's 34-27 victory last month,.

“It was fresh in my mind,” Reaser said.

FAU coach Carl Pelini was impressed with Reaser's play.

“I've never seen a play like that before,” Pelini said. “It was a pretty head's-up play.”

Reaser, who also had an interception earlier in the game, knew the play meant the Owls would win the game, snapping a 15-game road losing streak.

“Everybody was kind of in shock,” Reader said. “We were just anxious to get the win and get home.”

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