Week 9: Florida Atlantic at Louisiana-Monroe

Louisiana-Monroe should feel right at home trying to revive its season with a late surge. It’s been in the same situation several consecutive seasons, and most of them have taken an upturn. Florida Atlantic, the preseason favorite to repeat as Sun Belt champion, won’t cure its disappointment with a brief winning streak. Both these teams are out of the league race, but salvaging the season is still an attainable goal.

ULM has five games remaining, and history bodes well for it. The Warhawks have posted winning records in their last five games during the last four seasons. Last year, ULM went 4-1 in its last five games, with its only loss coming by three points. A repeat of that performance will be difficult. The Warhawks have games against Sun Belt front-runner Troy and SEC foe Ole Miss. Their next two, including this one against FAU, are at home.

Drowned out by other good Sun Belt quarterbacks still in the league title hunt, ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster is quietly having a standout season. The senior has nine TD passes and only two interceptions. He has also assumed more of the running load, rushing for 95 yards and two TDs last week.

Lancaster’s decision-making is on par with FAU quarterback Rusty Smith’s season last year, when he helped the Owls rank among the nation’s best in turnover margin. But this season, FAU ranks 116th in turnover margin and giveaways have been the major source of its losses. The Owls have committed 16 turnovers in their five losses and only one in their two wins.

Notes:

ULM linebacker Cardia Jackson ranks ninth in total tackles in the nation, and defensive back Josh Thompson is 12th. They are the only teammates among the nation’s top-12 tacklers.

ULM has a quick-strike offense. It has 10 touchdown drives of two minutes or less, 18th most in the nation.

FAU senior running backs Charles Pierre and DiIvory Edgecomb have been long-standing weapons for the Owls. The pair has a combined 5,597 all-purpose yards as runners, receivers and returners.

Key Player (Owls) — Tavious Polo, CB

Polo was among the nation’s leaders with seven interceptions as a freshman last season. He has only one pick this season, while FAU desperately needs takeaways to jump-start its season.

Key Player (Warhawks) — Josh Thompson, LB

He had a career-high 20 tackles last week versus North Texas, the most tackles in coach Charlie Weatherbie’s tenure. Thompson will have the dual role of stuffing FAU’s ground game and dropping into coverage when Smith passes.

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