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The Florida Atlantic Owls dominantly opened the season at their home stadium with a 43-13 win over the listing Charlotte 49ers
The game opened with a bang; Charlotte would open the scoring with QB Chris Reynolds 52 yd TD pass to Grant DuBose. Because of an offside penalty called it was a free play that the 49ers would take advantage of. As for offense, that would be it for the 49ers in the first half. The Owls responded in a huge way on the very next drive. QB N’Kosi Perry would hand the ball off to RB Larry McCammon, who breaks a couple of tackles and races to the end zone for a 52 yd TD, with 11:25 left in the 1st qtr. The Owls would tie the game 7-7.
After settling into the game, kicker Morgan Suarez would make two field goals and N’Kosi would finish off an 11- play – 75 yd drive going untouched for a 2 yd TD run with 3:31 left in the 2nd qtr. Taking the Owls 29-7 over the 49ers. As well as the offense was moving, it was the defense that would eventually put the nail in the coffin. After giving up that first TD pass, the Owls defense would go on to cause the 49ers to punt 5 consecutive drives. On that 5th drive, the Owls defense left no debate about the way the game was going and how it would continue to go. After pressure from the defensive line causes backup James Foster to throw a wild pass, it would be tipped and intercepted for a 63 yd pick six by Justin McKithen to end the 1st half: making the score 7-36 with the owls leading big going into half time.
The Owls would get the ball to begin the second half and would pick up right where they left off, with a 9-play 75 yd drive, capped off with a 30 yd TD pass from Perry to Je’Quan Burton. Kicker Morgan Suarez would continue to impress with 2 FGs in the second half. And RB Zuberi Mobley would get into the end zone with a 1 yd run. The Owls would close out the game 43-13.
After the game there were celebrations for multiple reasons; it was head coach Willie Taggart birthday. When asked what this victory meant to him, especially on his birthday, the coach said “This is the best birthday present I have had”. Coach Taggart also spoke about how pleased he was with the team and how they handled adversity. “We have this saying when things go wrong, “So what – Now what.” “Instead of sitting around crying about what happened but get back up and make a play”. That’s exactly what you saw from the owls in the first game back.
Notable stats
QB N’Kosi Perry 16-22 256 passing yds; 2 TDs
RB Larry McCammon 14 rushing attempts 118 yds. Career High (Previous 99 yds)
Morgan Suarez went 3- for -3 in FG attempts (Fau long 44 yds)
Eddie Williams led the team in tackles with 8
QB Chris Reynolds suffers injury in 2nd qtr
The Owls will look to continue the winning when it faces Athens, Ohio on the road on September 3rd, 2022.
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