By Scott Morganroth
FAU’s 24-17 loss to Navy on the road Saturday, Nov. 3, guaranteed them one thing.
There will no post-season for the Owls and new head coach Carl Pelini.
The Owls are 2-7 and 1-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. The only team behind them is Conference USA bound Florida International University (FIU), which is 2-8 and 1-5. These squads face each other on Friday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. at FAU Stadium in the Shula Bowl.
Why the Owls are in the position they’re in is defined by the numbers based on the 2012 Overall FBS Rankings.
• FAU is 91st overall in passing yards-per-game with 201.3.
• The Owls are ranked 102nd in the nation with 123.6 rushing yards-per-game.
• The team is 118th in scoring with 18.2 points-per-game.
• FAU is 86th allowing 30.3 points-per-game.
When you’re at the bottom echelon in the nation of all these major statistical categories, it’s a recipe for disaster. After nine games, it’s safe to say that Pelini has seen plenty of game film and knows where the weaknesses are with this program when he goes back on the recruiting trail.
The team leaders are QB Graham Wilbert, who is 185-280, 1775 yards, 12 touchdown passes and only three interceptions for a 131.3 rating.
Jonathan Wallace is the Owls’ top running back with 124 carries, 493 yards and four touchdowns.
The main targets include wide receivers Byron Hankerson and William Dukes. Hankerson has 23 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Dukes is the team leader with 39 catches, 555 yards and a pair of touchdowns. FAU’s 34-27 victory over Troy on Oct. 27 was the first time that they defeated the Trojans at home in the season series between these two schools. The last time that FAU defeated Troy was on Dec. 1, 2007, 38-32, and this earned the Owls a Sun Belt Conference Championship, which led to a New Orleans Bowl win over Memphis, 44-27, on Dec. 21, 2007.
Troy’s Will Scott did set a school record with a 52-yard field goal on Oct. 27.
The last time FAU defeated a Sun Belt Conference opponent at home was when the Owls defeated the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 13, 2010 at Lockhart Stadium, 24-23.
This same season, Troy whipped FAU, 44-7, on Dec. 4. FAU travels to Western Kentucky Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff, followed by the FIU contest. The Owls conclude their regular season at home on Dec. 1 as they face Louisiana-Lafayette at 3 p.m.
Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports33.com