FACTS & STATS: Site: FAU Stadium (29,419) — Boca Raton, Florida.
Television: Sinclair. Home Record: WKU 1-1, FAU 2-0. Away Record: WKU 1-2, FAU
0-4. Neutral Record: WKU 0-0, FAU 0-0. Conference Record: WKU 0-2, FAU 1-1.
Series Record: Florida Atlantic leads, 4-1.
GAME NOTES: After each team enjoyed a bye last week, the Western Kentucky
Hilltoppers and the Florida Atlantic Owls will return to action on Saturday
afternoon in a Conference-USA clash at FAU Stadium.
WKU has yet to win a C-USA contest this season, having dropped a triple-
overtime thriller at Middle Tennessee on Sept. 13 (50-47) and most recently
losing another close bout with UAB on Oct. 4 (42-39). The Hilltoppers are 2-3
overall in their first season as a member of C-USA, falling well short of
their eight-win pace set a season ago in the Sun Belt Conference.
FAU has come out victorious in both of its home matchups this season, which
bodes well for the squad in this matchup, but thanks to a winless road record
it is just 2-4. The Owls suffered a 38-10 loss to their south Florida rival
FIU on Oct. 2, 38-10.
The teams met in every season from 2008-2012 as members of the Sun Belt
Conference, with FAU coming away victorious four times.
The Hilltoppers’ offensive attack has been prolific, as they rank ninth in the
nation in scoring (43.0 ppg) and third in yardage (576.0 ypg). They are one of
two teams in the nation to have scored 34 points or more in seven straight
games, joining only No. 1 Mississippi State.
The high-flying unit is led by Brandon Doughty under center. As one of the
nation’s most efficient signal callers, Doughty ranks fifth in the FBS in
yards (2,165) and 10th in completion percentage (.690) while tossing 16
touchdowns to just three interceptions. He’s also stayed upright, being sacked
just six times in five games.
Doughty has done a great job distributing the ball to several different
receivers, as five players have at least 25 receptions and seven have at
least 180 yards. Jared Dangerfield (310 yards) is the team-leader in both
receptions (28) and touchdowns (four).
Leon Allen is a valuable multi-purpose tailback, registering 476 rushing yards
and three touchdowns in addition to 184 receiving yards on 23 catches.
While the WKU offense has shined, the defense has not played up to par,
allowing opposing teams to join in on shootout affairs in yielding 38.4 ppg
and 516.8 ypg.
Nick Holt has racked up a team-high 51 tackles and 5.0 TFL. Bryan Shorter (4.0
sacks) and Tanner Reeves (3.0 sacks) have generated a solid pass-rush.
As for FAU, it has struggled to get anything going on offense this season. It
puts up only 21.2 ppg and 325.2 ypg, while scoring on just 68 percent of its
red-zone drives.
Despite the inconsistent nature of the offense, Jaquez Johnson has pieced
together a solid campaign under center. Although he’s completing just 57.4
percent of his passes, he’s thrown for 998 yards with seven touchdowns and
just once interception while adding solid rushing totals (182 yards, three
TDs).
Jay Warren is the featured tailback and has turned 83 carries into 435 yards
and a touchdown.
Luck Whitehead and Jenson Stoshak both have 311 receiving yards and two
touchdowns, with Whitehead acting as the possession target with 36 receptions
and Stoshak the big-play threat with only 17 grabs.
The Owls’ disappointing defense is equally to blame for their lackluster
season, as the unit allows 35.3 ppg and 476.3 ypg.
Damian Parms is an active tackler at safety with a team-best 55 stops. Andrae
Kirk is also in the midst of a strong season with 48 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0
sacks and eight passes defended, while Trey Hendrickson has registered 3.0
sacks.
WKU’s porous defense will more than likely allow FAU to generate more offense
than it is used to, but the Hilltoppers are clearly more equipped to handle a
shootout, especially going up against a vulnerable Owls’ defense.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Western Kentucky 38, Florida Atlantic 35
