Upcoming Event: Football at No. 19 South Florida on October 18, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Football
at No. 19 South Florida
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Saturday, September 15
Miami, Fla.
1:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
2-1
42
vs
39
Minnesota
1-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Minnesota
14
0
10
15
39
Florida Atlantic
14
21
0
7
42
Owls Edge Gophers, 42-39
9/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 15, 2007
MIAMI (AP) - Rusty Smith threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns, and Florida Atlantic forced seven turnovers to beat Minnesota 42-39 Saturday.
It was the first victory for Florida Atlantic against a Big Ten Conference team. Minnesota fell to 10-1 against Sun Belt Conference teams.
Willie Rose caught two touchdown passes for the Owls (2-1), who gained 580 yards. Smith went 27-for-44.
Adam Weber threw four touchdown passes for Minnesota (1-2), but also was intercepted four times. He finished 31-for-47 for 335 yards.
Smith's final touchdown pass, a 16-yarder to Conshario Johnson, extended the Owls' lead to 42-24 in the fourth quarter before the Golden Gophers rallied. They scored twice on passes to Ernie Wheelwright, but an interception by Tavious Polo at the Florida Atlantic 35-yard line with three seconds left sealed the win.
The score was 14-all before the Owls took advantage of two Minnesota turnovers to score three touchdowns in the second quarter and lead 35-14.
Jay Thomas returned a kickoff 91 yards for Minnesota's first score.
Team Stats
MINN
FAU
Total Yards
470
580
Pass Yards
335
463
Rushing Yards
135
117
Penalty Yards
24
56
1st Downs
29
24
3rd Downs
10
13
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
25:55
34:05
1st Quarter
MINN 0, FAU 7
FAU - Rose, Willie 2 yd pass from Smith, Rusty (Leroy, Warley kick) 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:22
MINN 7, FAU 7
MINN - Thomas, Jay 91 yd kickoff return (Monroe, Joel kick)
MINN 7, FAU 14
FAU - Rose, Willie 9 yd pass from Smith, Rusty (Leroy, Warley kick) 7 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:30
MINN 14, FAU 14
MINN - Decker, Eric 23 yd pass from Weber, Adam (Monroe, Joel kick) 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:47
2nd Quarter
MINN 14, FAU 21
FAU - Pierre, Charles 2 yd run (Leroy, Warley kick), 13 plays, 99 yards, TOP 6:07
MINN 14, FAU 28
FAU - Jean, Lester 46 yd pass from Smith, Rusty (Leroy, Warley kick) 5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:15
MINN 14, FAU 35
FAU - Edgecomb, D. 43 yd pass from Smith, Rusty (Leroy, Warley kick) 1 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:09
3rd Quarter
MINN 17, FAU 35
MINN - Monroe, Joel 21 yd field goal 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:32
MINN 24, FAU 35
MINN - Herndon, Tray 6 yd pass from Weber, Adam (Monroe, Joel kick) 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:24
4th Quarter
MINN 24, FAU 42
FAU - Johnson, C. 16 yd pass from Smith, Rusty (Leroy, Warley kick) 8 plays, 88 yards, TOP 3:46
MINN 32, FAU 42
MINN - Wheelwright, E. 13 yd pass from Weber, Adam (Wheelwright, E. pass) 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:11
MINN 39, FAU 42
MINN - Wheelwright, E. 8 yd pass from Weber, Adam (Monroe, Joel kick) 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:17
Game Leaders
CMP
27
TD
5
YDS
463
INT
0
Players Mentioned
Inside the Owls' Burrow, S10, EP10
Monday, October 13
UAB at Florida Atlantic Video Recap
Saturday, October 11
Redshirt Sophomore RB Kaden Shields-Dutton vs UAB
Saturday, October 11
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley vs. UAB
Saturday, October 11