Final: FAU 37, WKU 28
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. --Florida Atlantic quarterback Graham Wilbert threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, as the struggles at home continued for Western Kentucky (6-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) in a 37-28 loss to FAU (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt) on Saturday.
The Hilltoppers trailed 24-14 with 14:28 left in the 4th quarter, but scored on a 24 yard touchdown pass by quarterback Kawaun Jakes to runningback Antonio Andrews on a 4 play, 63-yard drive.
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The Topper defense then forced FAU's offense into a three-and-out, and Andrews returned FAU's punt to the WKU 47 yard line.
WKU drove 39 yards in 8 plays, but faced a 4th and 6 at the FAU 14, opting for a 32 yard field goal attempt from kicker Garrett Schwettman.
Schwettman, who was previously 0-for-2 on the season from 30+ yards, missed the potential game-tying kick wide right.
FAU followed the miss with a 10 play, 80-yard touchdown drive, putting the Owls ahead 31-21 with only 3:09 left to play.
Facing a 3rd-and-12 at the WKU 21 with only 2:16 left in the game, Jakes pass was intercepted by FAU's Freedom Whitfield and returned to the WKU 13-yard line.
The Owls' tried to run the clock out, but FAU runningback Jonathan Wallace fumbled at the WKU 25-yard line, returned 75 yards for a touchdown by WKU defensive end Quanterus Smith.
Now trailing only 31-28 with 1:55 to play, WKU successfully converted an onside kick, but was called for an offsides penalty, forcing a re-kick.
FAU recovered the second onside kick, but had to punt again, giving the Toppers one last chance to score with 16 seconds left from their own 2 yard line.
On 2nd and 10, Jakes completed a pass to wide receiver Willie Mcneal, who attempted a hook-and-ladder that was 'intercepted' by FAU's Keith Reaser for a touchdown.
The fumble recovery for a touchdown proved to be the game's final scoring play, and FAU emerged with the 37-28 win.
The players were unavailable to the media after the game, a decision WKU head coach Willie Taggart said he made himself.
Jakes two touchdown passes vs. FAU were good enough to earn him a spot in the Hilltopper record books, beating the previous single season passing touchdown record (19) with 20 on the year.
Jakes' 20 touchdown passes for the season also passed the Sun Belt conference's record previously held by Jerrel Jernigan.
Andrews also made it into the WKU record books, surpassing former All-American runningback Bobby Rainey's (2,101) single-season all-purpose yards record.
The Hilltoppers travel to Louisiana-Lafayette next Saturday, ULL's first game since a close 27-20 loss at No. 6 Florida.
Video of Taggart's postgame comments are embedded below.