The Florida Atlantic Owls defeated the Akron Zips in the Boca Raton Bowl, 50-3. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Owls’ bowl victory.
It wasn’t even close. The Florida Atlantic Owls beat the brakes off the Akron Zips in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl to the tune of 50-3. Technically, this was a home game for Lane Kiffin’s FAU program. It was at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. He ran up the score, but he knew what was doing.
Too bad the Zips could not enjoy their third-ever Division I bowl game. Terry Bowden was confused the whole time and Kiffin’s Owls beat the rubber off a just-happy-to-be-there Zips team. Florida Atlantic improved to 11-3 on the year in Kiffin’s first year in Boca Raton, while Bowden’s Akron team fell to .500 at 7-7 on the season
Here are the biggest takeaways from Florida Atlantic’s win over Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Jason Driskel had his way with the Zips all night. There is not one, but two quarterbacks with the surname Driskel in collegiate lore. Jeff Driskel massively disappointed with the Florida Gators, but his younger brother Jason Driskel lit it up against Akron on Wednesday. He could do no wrong.
Driskel completed 17 of 23 passes for 220 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He averaged 10.0 yards per attempt and beat the tar out of Akron with his legs as well. Driskel had 13 carries for 67 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Akron had no answer for him.
Because Kiffin wanted it, Driskel had no problem running up the score on Akron. It was an absolute collegiate, dual-threat playmaker clinic Driskel put on. He might have a popular surname, but the younger Driskel shined most magnificently in Florida Atlantic’s first bowl game in who knows how long.
Lane Kiffin might have himself a Group of 5 powerhouse … starting … now! This was a statement game for Kiffin. He might have blown it in his three previous head coaching opportunities with the Oakland Raiders, the Tennessee Volunteers and the USC Trojans, but he’s not going to screw this up in Boca Raton. Kiffin has turned Florida Atlantic into a Group of 5 powerhouse overnight. No wonder he got that huge 10-year extension from Florida Atlantic University.
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We don’t know who long Kiffin will stay in Boca Raton at this emerging Conference USA power, but he and his team look to be having boat loads of fun. The Owls went undefeated in Conference USA play and just annihilated a division champion from the credible MAC.
The reason behind this blowout was to send a message to early signees that this is the type of ball that Florida Atlantic will play. Maybe the Owls get a few guys to seriously consider FAU in this recruiting cycle. The strength of victory isn’t there, but 11 wins might have the Owls, dare I say it, ranked at the end of the year. What a job Kiffin has done in year one at Florida Atlantic.
Terry Bowden and the Zips were just happy to be there, even if it was a FAU home game. Though Akron was beyond outmatched in this ball game, it was a great year for Zips football all the way around. Normally, Akron is a perennial doormat in the MAC, as this is only their third-ever bowl game since making the leap to Division I.
Bowden is a long way away from being the promising up-and-coming head coach of the early 1990s Auburn Tigers, but he likes where he’s at with this Akron program. He’s been a great role model for these kids and the Zips were frankly just happy to be there.
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And that was the problem, as this was a home game for Florida Atlantic. Rarely do you see a team play its bowl game in its own home stadium. This was a program-defining moment for Florida Atlantic, but one that Akron can totally build on heading into next year. The Zips ran into a Kiffin-driven buzzsaw and there was nothing Akron could do but watch. The Lane Train chewed up the Zips and spit them out.