Aug. 20, 2008

The Florida Atlantic University defense greatly improved in the second scrimmage on Wednesday outside the Oxley Center. Under rainy conditions, the Owl defense pressured quarterbacks Rusty Smith, Jeff VanCamp and Graham Wilbert often en route to a first half shutout and a 29-14 win over the offense.

The defense held the offense to three and outs most of the first half. When they didn't, they came away with turnovers, as Jason Haynes and Tarvoris Hill picked off passes thrown by Wilbert. There was one possession in which the offense did move the ball. However, after being held to a fourth-down, Austin Jensen blocked a Warley Leroy field goal attempt to give the defense another stop.

The first team offense fared better in the second half. DiIvory Edgecomb, who led all running backs with 56 yards, broke free for a 21 yard TD up the middle to get the offense on the board. FAU then moved the ball on their second possession of the second half. The drive ended with Rusty Smith finding Cortez Gent on a 15 yard TD pass. That was all the offense could muster, as the defense came away with a pick off of VanCamp and a turnover to seal the victory.

"Everybody was hungry, we were embarrassed last week," said defensive back Tavious Polo. "We looked at the film from Fan Fest and wanted to perform better and we did today."

FAU opens the 2008 regular season on August 30 when they travel to face the University of Texas at 7 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on television by Fox Sports Southwest and will available on pay-per-view nationwide to satellite dish owners. The game was also be broadcast on the radio beginning at 6:45 p.m. on WFTL 640 AM, and on the internet at www.fausports.com.

Season and individual game tickets are on sale now. The Owls begin their home schedule against the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday, September 6 at 4 p.m. at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

Passing Rusty Smith: 6-13-0, 91 yards and 1 TD a 15 yard pass to Gent
Jeff VanCamp: 8-17-1, 36 yards
David Kooi: 0-1
Graham Wilbert: 2-5-2, 15 yards

Receiving
Rob Housler: 2-37 yards
William Rose: 1-4 yards
Jamari Grant: 3-27 yards
Cortez Gent: 2-28 yards and 1 TD a 15 yard pass from Smith
Jeff Blanchard: 1-7 yards
Conshario Johnson: 2-2 yards
DiIvory Edgecomb: 1-13 yards
Avery Holley: 1-9 yards
Alex Fick: 1-12 yards
David Muniz: 1-3 yards

Rushing
DiIvory Edgecomb: 5-56 yards and 1 TD a 21 yard score
Charles Pierre: 7-24 yards
Willie Rose: 3-13 yards
Jeff Blanchard: 7-47 yards
Alfred Morris: 4-16 yards
Willie Floyd: 6- -3 yards
Avionne Rolle: 3-8 yards and a fumble
Rusty Smith: 1-5 yards
Jeff VanCamp: 4- -22 yards
David Kooi: 1- -5
Graham Wilbert: 1- -5

Extra Points
Warley Leroy: 2-2

Field Goals
0-1