FAU Football vs WKU Hilltoppers, October 29, 2016 3:30pm, FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic’s offense was never able to get going, the defense was unable to make stops, and that resulted in the Owls’ seventh straight loss of the year, 52-3 to Western Kentucky. The Owls (1-7, 0-4 Conference USA) had 202 yards of total offense for the day. WKU dominated offensively, racking up 662 yards of offense. WKU (6-3, 4-1 Conference USA) only needed three plays and 48 seconds to strike first, as a 75-yard touchdown pass from Mike White to Nicholas Norris put the Hilltoppers up 7-0. They extended their lead with one minute remaining in the first quarter, when White once again connected on a deep touchdown pass, this one to Lucky Jackson for 54 yards to go up 14-0. WKU continued with the deep ball attack, as White would connect with Taywan Taylor for a 65-yard bomb to put the Hilltoppers up 21-0. The three-play, 75-yard drive only lasted one minute and nine seconds. The Hilltoppers finished the half with 360 total yards. On the other hand, FAU’s offense was unable to get going at all throughout the first, mustering a total of 84 yards. “You have to give credit where credit is due,” said head coach Charlie Partridge. “The experience, the age, the development of the young guys. They’re very experienced, poised and explosive.” Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White finished the day completing 13-of-21 passes, including three touchdowns and no interceptions. White also did a great job of distributing the throws and the touchdown passes, as three of his receivers finished with at least 80 receiving yards. After WKU extended its lead 24-0 after a field goal, FAU caught a break on offense when Kylen Towner fumbled an FAU punt that set the Owls up at the Hilltoppers 9-yard line. However, the Owls were unable to get the touchdown they desired and had to settle for a field goal with just six seconds left in the half to trim the deficit to 24-3. “It was all the big plays,” sophomore linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said. “It was literally three plays away from the score being 0-0 [at the end of the first quarter]. All three of those were explosive plays that we could of stopped if we were doing our job.”