Florida Atlantic University football improved to 3-1 Saturday, Sept. 26, with a 45-17 victory over ULM in Monroe, La. The win gave the Owls their third consecutive victory, their first three-game winning streak since 2020 and their first nonconference road win since 2019. ULM fell to 0-4.
Zach Kittley coached Florida Atlantic to the victory as the Owls combined 333 passing yards with 248 rushing yards. Florida Atlantic also did not commit a turnover for the third consecutive game, the first such streak in program history. The Owls led 35-17 at halftime and shut out ULM in the second half.
Florida Atlantic builds halftime lead
Florida Atlantic opened the scoring when AJ Johnson took a direct snap and ran 8 yards for a touchdown. After ULM tied the game, Caden Veltkamp connected with Dominique Henry on a 26-yard touchdown pass during a 93-yard drive in the second quarter. The score put the Owls ahead 14-7.
Easton Messer then gave Florida Atlantic another lift on special teams. The fifth-year wide receiver returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown, a return tied for the second-longest in Florida Atlantic program history and the Owls’ first punt-return touchdown since 2023.
Ethan Ervin and Leonard Farrow added rushing touchdowns before halftime. Ervin scored on a 2-yard run, while Farrow finished a goal-line opportunity as Florida Atlantic took a 35-17 lead into the break.
Veltkamp, Henry power passing game
Veltkamp completed 29 of 38 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, according to the game recap. Both touchdown passes went to Henry, who caught scoring throws of 26 and 36 yards. The performance marked Veltkamp’s seventh game as a Florida Atlantic player with at least 300 passing yards.
Henry finished with eight receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns, recording his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. Kelby Valsin set a collegiate career high with 123 receiving yards, including 121 in the first half. Ervin added 139 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, while Farrow rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries and scored in his second consecutive game.
Defense and special teams finish the win
Florida Atlantic held ULM scoreless after halftime and recorded six tackles for loss. Joseph Sipp Jr. led the Owls with seven tackles, marking his third consecutive game as the team’s leader in tackles. The second-half shutout completed a balanced performance for Florida Atlantic.
Reed Chandley punted twice, including a 54-yard punt that pinned ULM at its own 10-yard line. Collin Rogers made a 29-yard field goal during the fourth quarter. Messer’s punt return, along with the field-position work from Chandley, helped Florida Atlantic control the game in all three phases.
What comes next for Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic will host Texas Southern on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. The game will be played on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium and will be available on ESPN+.
The matchup follows Florida Atlantic’s first three-game winning streak since 2020. The Owls will enter the home game at 3-1 after earning their first nonconference road win since 2019.
FSB Take
Florida Atlantic’s victory over ULM combined a productive offense, a momentum-changing punt return and a second-half defensive shutout. The Owls’ 3-1 start also includes a program-first three-game streak without a turnover. Florida Atlantic now has an opportunity to extend its winning streak against Texas Southern on Oct. 3.
Source: Original report