Matchup: FAU (2-8, 0-6 AAC) vs Charlotte (3-7, 2-4 AAC)
When: Friday, November 23rd, 3:00 PM
Where: FAU Stadium
TV: ESPN+
Radio: FoxSports 640
Opening Line: CLT-3
Weather Forecast: Here
The Series: FAU leads 7-2
FAU Notes
Change has occurred for FAU football, but the season continues on with the home finale this Saturday against Charlotte. FAU will enter the game with an interim head coach in Chad Lunsford following the firing of Tom Herman, while Roc Bellantoni returns as DC after a 1 game departure and lastly, Tyriq Starks will be taking over at QB following the injury to Kasen Weisman.
Charlotte will be an interesting opponent, as the 49ers also have an interim head coach in Tim Brewster after Biff Poggi was let go following a 3-7 start to the year and were walloped by USF at home 59-24 last week. With both sides having similar motivation this week, this game will be a battle of 2 squads who will be looking to find something to hang their hat on with only 2 games remaining on the year.
Tyriq Starks takes command of the offense in full form after entering the game early in the 3rd quarter last week against Temple, almost leading a ferocious comeback effort, just barely falling short. Starks completed 8 of 13 passes for 71 yards on the day, leading a last minute drive 80 yards down the field, forcing overtime with a philly special-esque play on the goal line which he was on the receiving end of. Although the Owls fell short in the end, Starks showed what he is capable of under pressure, showing an ability to connect with multiple receivers and stretch the field through the air, while also making plays with his legs.
CJ Campbell remained a bright spot in this offense last game, recording 70 yards and 2 TDs on the ground, while also recording 6 catches for 57 yards through the air, recording his 5th game of the year with 100 scrimmage yards or more and his 4th with multiple TDs. With FAU potentially running a dialed back passing game, Campbell could see his role increase even more in this one, which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for this FAU offense.
Last week was an up and down week for the offensive line, as captain Federico Maranges missed the game with an injury suffered during practice last week and it was the first game all season where the unit was without their leader. At times the O-Line performed strongly, leading to multiple big runs for CJ Campbell, however they allowed 14 QB Pressures on the day which helped Temple limit the FAU offense.
On the defensive side of things, last week was a return to form for an FAU defense which had given up 35 points or more in their previous 4 games, as they only allowed 18 to Temple and forced multiple defensive stands. The front 7 performed strongly, recording 8 tackles for loss and 7 QB pressures on the day, with veterans Chris Jones and Marlon Bradley leading the way.
Daedae Hill seems to have fully recovered from his ankle Injury, as the Owls CB allowed only 21 yards receiving on 5 targets, finishing as FAU’s highest rated corner on the day. With Hill back healthy the DBs returned to form, as outside of Dante Wright, Temple was limited through the air which helped FAU stay in the game.
It’s unknown what to expect in this game, as FAU comes in with a litany of changes, however the defense is coming off of a solid performance and will be rejuvenated following the rehiring of Roc Bellantoni. With the defense potentially having a chance to play at a high level, the offense under Tyriq Starks can win this game for FAU by playing complimentary football, limiting turnovers and utilizing the run game when necessary, however Starks has shown he can hit big throws and if called upon in this one, he will need to exactly that.
Player to watch for
All eyes will be on Tyriq Starks this week, as the redshirt junior makes his first start of the season and will look to lead the Owls to their first win in 5 tries during the home finale. Starks was in a competitive QB battle with Cam Fancher during spring ball, however a shoulder injury limited his opportunities, but now he will have his chance.
Against Temple, Starks showed an ability to hit the big throws when needed, while also knowing when to use his legs and lean on his running backs when the pass wasn’t there. Starks is a confident passer, which will sometimes get him into trouble as he looks to fit balls into tight windows, however he also throws with a lot of zip on the ball, which will help him hit those throws.
FAU doesn’t need Starks to break the passing records in this one, however if he can manage the offense while also making big throws and the right reads in the run game, the Owls will have a fairly solid chance in this one as Charlotte has been up-and-down defensively so far this season.
Final Note
FAU will look to snap their 5 game losing streak with an abundance of change around the team, however to some that could potentially spark momentum for a team that desperately needs it. Defense has a real chance to flourish in this one, bouncing back last week and now with their leader back in the booth, if the offense can find success under Starks, this is a winnable home finale which could give the Owls something to hang their hat on to end the season.
Charlotte Notes
Charlotte checks into this matchup at 3-7, also with an interim coach in Tim Brewster following the firing of Biff Poggi and they will look to rally the troops and find a way to win on the road in Boca Raton. It has been an up-and-down season for the 49ers, as they have had to shuffle QBs between Max Brown, Deshawn Purdie and Trexler Ivey, while defensively they have struggled having allowed 30 points or more in 7 out of 10 games so far this season.
One of the biggest bright spots on this Charlotte offense has been running bak Hahsaun Wilson, as the Junior back has carried it 71 times for 457 yards and 6 TDs, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He has helped them in situations when the pass game has struggled, grinding out yardage to keep this unit moving.
Deshawn Purdie will most likely get the nod at QB in this one and the freshman has had a relatively solid first year, completing 52% of his passes for 1191 yards, 6 TDs and 5 interceptions. His leading target will be O’Mega Blake as the junior receiver has hauled in 25 balls for 517 yards and 5 TDs, showing solid speed and contested catch abilities both on the outside and in the slot for Charlotte.
The biggest question will be defensively for Charlotte, as they have struggled both in coverage, generating pressure and stopping the run this season and if they are unable to step up against FAU that could potentially put them in a rough position. DT Chantz Williams has recorded 3 sacks on the year for the 49ers and could potentially be a force on the interior for them if he gets going, which would also be helpful for the 49ers in stopping the FAU run game.
It has been an up-and-down year on both sides of the ball for the 49ers, however this game is against a team that finds themselves in a very similar boat and so this game is winnable, but Charlotte’s defense will need to bounce back and their offense will need to play clean football.
Player to Watch
Hahsaun Wilson is the player that will make or break this Charlotte offense, as he has averaged over 6 yards per carry on the year and can either set this offense up in manageable situations, or grind out 1st downs on his own. FAU’s run-defense has been porous at times this season, so if he is able to find space watch out for a potential big game as the 49ers could look to lean on him through the ground game.
Final Thoughts
Charlotte has been through the ringer this season, but so has FAU, so this game will be a battle of will power to see who can battle harder when there is nothing on the line but your pride. FAU fought to the end last week against Temple and if they get that same type of effort again, Charlotte will need to make sure they need the energy to match.