by BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University’s football team opened the 2023 season, their first in the American Conference, and their first under Hagerty Family Football Head Coach Tom Herman, with a convincing 42-20 victory over Monmouth.
The Owls’ offense was on fire all night with new quarterback Casey Thompson (Kiowa) behind center throwing for a school record-tying five touchdown passes on an 80% completion rate.
After forcing a three-and-out on defense, the Owls picked up right where they left off last season: pounding the rock with senior RB Larry McCammon III. A 40-yard run with a 15-yard defensive penalty led to his six-yard touchdown for the team’s first score of the season.
The second offensive drive was Thompson’s time to shine in his first time wearing an Owls jersey. A 27-yard pass to junior WR LaJohntay Wester set up a nine-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore Tony Johnson.
Right at the start of the second quarter, Thompson found McCammon on a short pass on the right side of the field, who was able to slice and dice his way to the left for a 55-yard gain, leading to a two-yard touchdown pass to Wester.
Thompson continued to spread the ball, soon finding Je’Quan Burton on a score to make it 28-7, before Monmouth scored late to enter the locker room 28-14 at the half.
The second half was all Owls’ offense with plenty of highlight plays to go around.
Thanks to a crafty spin move, Burton turned a short catch into a 35-yard touchdown with 6:59 to go in the third quarter. On the next offensive drive, a play action pass to Johnson became a 72-yard big-time score. That was all Florida Atlantic needed the rest of the way for a 42-20 final.
Johnson led the way for Owls’ receivers with 91 yards, a career high, while both Johnson and Burton now each have their first multi-touchdown game.
Graduate QB Casey Thompson
“It was good just to come back from an injury, the long days of rehab and doing treatments, waking up and doing treatments three times a day for the last 10 months. Tonight was really good to get back into that game environment. When I took a few hits, that is when I knew that I felt good and comfortable and able to settle down and just play ball. I was really excited to be back out there and it was a good win…Our job was to spread out and distribute the football and be a point guard for the team and make good decisions. I felt for the most part, I did a good job of that. I didn’t realize and lost track toward the end of the game and they were each counting touchdowns they had apiece…I try to focus on one play at a time, but I am really happy for the guys. We have a really talented receiving core and a really good running back room as well. I’m happy to get the win, but I’m happy for the guys too.”
