FAU Finds A Way To Not Finish Another Close Game; Loses 27-21 to Marshall

Ever since Charlie Partridge has taken over as the head coach of FAU the Owls have found new ways to lose football games.

Two years ago against Wyoming with just about a minute left it was the fumble by Jaquez Johnson. Last year against Buffalo it was allowing the Bulls to score 3 defensive touchdowns. A week ago it was a failed Hail Mary versus Charlotte that Kamrin Solomon appeared to catch for the game-winning touchdown, only to have it overturned as an incomplete pass.

This week FAU can add another gut wrenching loss to the file. With just over a minute left FAU drove to Marshall’s 10-yard line for the potential game-tying touchdown but on fourth down Jason Driskel’s pass to Kalib Woods went through his arms and fell to the turf. Ballgame.

Woods has been FAU’s most consistent receiver all season and last night he was great again as he finished with 5 catches and 100 yards. As reliable as he has been it was hard to see him not make that play.

FAU was up 21-19 on the previous drive but the Thundering Herd marched down the field via a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by Keion Davis scoring from 1-yard out to give Marshall the lead.

FAU led 21-13 at halftime but failed to score any points in the second half. Devin Singletary and Greg Howell were great again as they both rushed for over 100 yards and added a touchdown each.

The defense had their best game of the season as they held Marshall to 106 rushing yards, a season best for the Owls.

But once again with the game on the line the defense just can’t seem to prevent a team from getting the go-ahead score.

I really feel for the players because they have been extremely close too many times to not come away the victor and to lose their fourth-straight game in final minutes has to be taking a toll on the team’s psyche.

FAU is now 4-12 in one-posession games in 3 plus years under Partridge and are 1-4 this season. One can make the argument that FAU is on the verge of a breakthrough but the fact of the matter is that the Owls have not been finishing games since he’s been the head coach.

This season has been a major disappointment but it would have been nice to beat Marshall for the first time since joining Conference USA. Instead at 1-6 and winless in conference play, FAU will head into the bye week on a 6-game losing streak searching for answers in what has been another frustrating season under Partridge.