FAU Football vs Tulsa Hurricanes, November 13, 2014, 7:00 PM, FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL (Score: FAU Win 50:21) (700+ images) (HDTV Video Clips, coming soon - click on the Triangle to start Video)

BOCA RATON — Everything changed. Leading up to their home opener, the FAU Owls said they were ready to show their true potential, especially in front of their fans. They emphasized how they were not themselves against Nebraska and Alabama. They promised they were better. The Owls proved it Saturday against Tulsa. FAU did not commit the mental mistakes that plagued them for two consecutive weeks. They instead executed with a precision that allowed them to make nearly every critical play against the Golden Hurricane. FAU did not just beat Tulsa, the Owls' impressive 50-21 victory illustrated why they were confident they would avoid a dreaded 0-3 start. The victory was also the first for first-time coach Charlie Partridge.

FAU was led by a stellar performance from quarterback Jaquez Johnson, who missed last week's game with a left shoulder injury. Johnson, who showed his was fully healthy, played with poise and was accurate with nearly every pass. He led the Owls on long scoring drives that included them converting on third downs. Johnson finished with 318 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters of play. Each of Johnson's three touchdown passes went to a different receiver in William Dukes, Alex Deleon and Jenson Stoshak. The Owls performance was a drastic difference from their first two games of the season when they had to suffer through humbling losses to Nebraska and Alabama. They struggled on offense to score and the defense found it hard to tackle some of the best athletes in the country. Instead of falling behind, as they did against the Cornhuskers and Crimson Tide, the Owls raced out to a commanding 17-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. Tulsa (1-2) never threatened FAU from that point on.

In the first quarter, everything worked for FAU. The Owls (2-1) began the game scoring a field goal, which ended a drought where they had gone 19 drives without a score. On their next possession, Johnson threw a perfect pass to Dukes for a 74-yard touchdown. It was the longest pass in Johnson's career. FAU's defense matched the offense's intensity early with a score of its own. Cornerback D'Joun Smith, who also missed last week's game with a left shoulder injury, caught a deflected pass and returned his interception 23 yards for a touchdown that brought a loud roar from the fans. Even linebacker Nate Ozdemir recovered an onside kick for FAU in the first quarter.

After surrendering 96 points the previous two weeks, the Owls' defense was aggressive in forcing three turnovers. FAU's defensive line was able to put pressure on Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans, who struggled throughout the game. Defensive lineman Robinson Eugene recorded a credited with a safety in the second quarter that extended FAU's lead to 26-7. The secondary showed a vast improvement in play, too. Tulsa's best receiver Keevan Lucas was held to just 5 catches for 55 yards and did not score a touchdown. In Tulsa's first two games, Lucas scored four touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 317 yards. The Owls remain consistent in the second half that was mostly played under heavy rain. Throughout the fourth quarter, several backup players were able to see the field. That allowed Partridge and his starters, along with Johnson, to smile and laugh. They could finally let go of the first two weeks of the season, when almost every aspect of the game left them disappointing. On Saturday, the Owls proved to themselves just how talented they can be in a dominating victory. by: nataylor@tribpub.com

FAU Football vs Tulsa Hurricanes, November 13, 2014, 7:00 PM, FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL (Score: FAU Win 50:21) (700+ images below in groups of 10) (HDTV Video Clips, coming soon - click on the Triangle to start Video). NOTE: The First 60 images have been selected from the total inventory of images for Electronic and Print Media for publication.

Check out this Video on YouTube of FAU Stadium dedication to Howard Schnellenberger:
http://youtu.be/yjCeGQTQiIU