Two kickoff returns for touchdowns help FAU crush Texas Southern

BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic won its fourth straight game, routing Texas Southern 66-10 on Saturday night.

The Owls (4-1) got off to a very fast start against the Tigers (1-4), leading 28-3 after the first quarter and 49-10 at halftime. FAU also broke the program record for most points scored in a half and the 66 points were the second most in team history.

Leonard Farrow returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the first quarter, one on the opening play of the game. FAU scored on special teams, offense and defense in the same game for the first time in its history.

The Owls averaged 10.1 yards per play, had 362 total yards and forced two turnovers.

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“I told the offensive guys I thought we'd score on special teams. I really did think we’d score one on defense this week because we practiced really well,” FAU coach Zach Kittley said. “We had it schemed up on the kickoff returns. Super proud of Leonard, and those guys blocking for him, too. It's a group effort.”

The Owls, who have a bye week, are 4-1 for the first time since 2020.

Here are three takeaways from their latest victory:

QB Caden Veltkamp maintains his no-turnover streak

Caden Veltkamp has now tallied four games in a row without a turnover, throwing 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Veltkamp was confident, poised and efficient Saturday night, throwing four touchdown passes in the first half, three to wide receiver Kalby Valsin, who had seven catches for 126 yards. He threw another TD pass to Easton Messer, who had four catches for 88 yards.

The offense didn’t take the field until there were a few minutes left in the first quarter and FAU already held a 21-3 lead.

Going into the bye, Veltkamp says he feels fresh and ready to play again, a contrast from his injury riddled 2025 season.

In the second half, the Owls pulled their starters, and all three backup QB’s - Drew Devillier, Jeremiah Daoud and Jordan Magwood - all saw action. Kittley spoke about what went into giving them playing time.

“Just getting those guys some snaps, you know, it's tough sometimes, right? You go through a season, those guys might not get in much,” Kittley said. “Good to see all those quarterbacks get in. Some ups and downs in that room, you know, from my standpoint, got to get better in some areas.”

Veltkamp spoke about the importance of getting the backups in, as well.

“Anytime that you can get all your backups in a game, it means you did your job and then just for those guys to get reps, that means a lot for their career,” Veltkamp said.

Leonard Farrow postshistoric special-teams performance

On the game’s opening play, Farrow returned the kickoff 98 yards to score and give the Owls a quick 7-0 lead.

“I was telling (a teammate), on the sideline, I was like, I feel it today, bro. I feel like I'm gonna get a kickoff return and it happened and it was just great. It was a blessing for sure,” Farrow said of the opening play.

After the Tigers responded with a field goal, Farrow took another kickoff back for his second score of the game - running right through the middle of Texas Southern's defenders.

“I honestly don’t know what I was thinking," he said. "I mean, we were just, jumbled up and there was no way really out there except through them, so, that's what I had to do.”

Coming into Saturday night’s game, the Owls had two kick return touchdowns in program history.

Wilky Denaud returns fumble for touchdown

After an up-and-down 2025, the FAU defense has reinvented itself. After recording three interceptions in 2025, the Owls already have six in 2026.

FAU extended its lead to 21-3 when linebacker Joseph Sipp forced QB Cam'ron McCoy to fumble, which was recovered by defensive lineman Wilky Denaud and returned 31 yards for a touchdown.

“Our message has been pretty much the same since the beginning of the year. We gotta be able to attack. You gotta dominate,” Denaud said regarding the defense's improvement.

“You can't just have our offense be the reason that we're in games, but we need to be the reason that teams are offering up points and we're winning more games.”

Late in the first quarter, cornerback Wallace Foster IV intercepted McCoy’s pass in the red zone. FAU shut out TSU in the second half for another stout defensive performance.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Two kickoff returns for touchdowns help FAU crush Texas Southern