Recap: Fla Atlantic vs. North Texas
Sports Network | November 08, 2008
Boca Raton, FL (Sports Network) - Rusty Smith threw four touchdown passes as the Florida Atlantic Owls posted a commanding 46-13 win over the North Texas Mean Green in Sun Belt Conference play at Lockhart Stadium.
Smith converted 15-of-23 passing for the Owls (4-5, 2-2 SBC) for 237 yards in the team's third consecutive win. Cortez Gent reeled in seven passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mean Green (1-9, 0-5), who were coming off their only win of the season versus Western Kentucky, were led by Cam Montgomery on the ground with his 80 yards and a score on 20 carries, while Giovanni Vizza hit on 13-of-23 passing for 125 yards, but two interceptions.
FAU moved out to a 9-0 lead in the first half as Smith combined with Gent on a 13-yard TD pass and then picked up a 31-yard field goal by Warley Leroy.
North Texas responded midway through the second quarter on a one-yard TD run by Montgomery, cutting the deficit to 9-6, but with the ensuing PAT blocked, FAU's Darian Thomas returned it for two points in the other direction.
Charles Pierre extended the lead to 18-6 on a 41-yard scamper and a 16-yard connection between Smith and Gent left the home team with a 25-6 edge at the break.
Smith tallied a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, measuring three and 57 yards to Willie Rose and DiIvory Edgecomb, respectively, to make the score 39-6.
Jeff Blanchard tacked on a 10-yard touchdown run to push the advantage to 40 points before James Hamilton scored the first touchdown of his career for the Mean Green with a one-yard run.
Florida Atlantic registered 507 yards of total offense, nearly doubling the effort of North Texas which ended with a mere 255 yards.
