Florida Atlantic Owls vs Miami (FL) Hurricanes Match Player Stats On Sep 10, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 10, 2016

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Junior quarterback Brad Kaaya threw two interceptions in a game for the first time since the first half of his freshman year but sophomore running back Mark Walton more than made up for those mistakes with a career night to lead host Miami to a 38-10 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

Walton rushed for 155 yards on 17 carries -- both career highs -- and scored four touchdowns as the 25th-ranked Hurricanes (2-0) overcame a lethargic first half to outscore the Owls (1-1) by a 24-7 margin in the second.

After going 9-of-20 passing for 191 yards with the two picks in the first two quarters, Kaaya finished the game completing 17 of 31 attempts for 191 yards. The two-interception game was his first since Oct. 14, 2014, against Georgia Tech and the fifth such contest of his career.

Miami's running game and defense made up for Kaaya's off night.

In addition to Walton, junior running back Joe Yearby rushed for 121 yards for the Hurricanes, who finished with 279 yards rushing as a team.

The defense, meanwhile, held the Owls to 218 yards of total offense with just 51 of that rushing.

The Owls got their only touchdown on running back Greg Howell's 38-yard burst in the third quarter after Miami had pulled in front 24-3. The Hurricanes, however, got their lead back up to three touchdowns on Walton's fourth touchdown, a 30-yard run around right end early in the fourth quarter.

Both teams had their struggles in the first half. They each had a kick blocked -- Miami a field goal, FAU a punt -- and combined for only 98 yards of total offense in the first quarter.

The Hurricanes finally broke the ice midway through the second period with Walton capping a five-play drive with a 7-yard run. He scored again on a 3-yard run later in the second quarter.

The Owls got their first points by picking off a Kaaya pass for the second time to set up Greg Joseph's 38-yard field goal.

NOTES: Miami freshman Sam Bruce likely will miss the season after suffering a broken leg to a "non-football-related" injury the week before the game against Florida Atlantic. Considered one of the prizes in the Hurricanes' recruiting class, he was suspended for the first three games. .... Miami senior CB Adrian Colbert, a starter, and junior DT Courtel Jenkins both missed the game against Florida Atlantic because of "lower extremity" injuries. ... Senior DE Trey Hendrickson's block of Miami PK Michael Badgley's 24-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was his second blocked kick of the season. He also blocked a PAT attempt in Florida Atlantic's opening 38-30 win over Southern Illinois.