Owls Retain Shula Bowl Trophy with 49-14 Win over FIU

Saturday, November 3

Miami, Fla.

7:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

4-5 , 2-3

FIU (Shula Bowl)

6-3 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

FAU

FIU

11/3/2018 11:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Fla. – A dominant second half performance was the difference as the Florida Atlantic University football team defeated FIU 49-14 in Shula Bowl 17 on Saturday. The Owls improved their Shula Bowl record to 12-4 with the win, but it marks their first victory at FIU since 2009. FAU is 4-5 overall and 2-3 in Conference USA play for the season. The win is also the 50^th of Lane Kiffin's career as a collegiate head coach.

Following the night's work, that saw Devin Singletary rush for 184 yards and Kerrith Whyte rush for 165, the Owls accumulated a total of 439 yards on the ground. Third most in FAU history. While Whyte averaged 9.7 yards per carry, Singletary tallied three scores.

The 2018 Shula Bowl held to tradition with a player from each team being named as team MVPs. Singletary's name will be added to the trophy as FAU's MVP while Jame Morgan will be added as FIU's.

Quick Hits

Devin Singletary cracked the NCAA FBS top-10 list in career rushing touchdowns in unconventional fashion recovering his own fumble, then running into the endzone on the opening drive of the game.
It was his 16^thtouchdown of the year and 60^th of his career, tying Royce Freeman for 10th place all-time in FBS history.
On the ensuing drive, the Panthers drove to the doorstep of the endzone, but Rashad Smith recovered an FIU fumble, preserving the Owls' 7-0 lead.
FAU was able to drive the ball onto FIU's half of the field, before being turned away on downs, where the Panthers took over with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
After forcing a FIU punt, the Owls began their next possession on their one-yard line.
Ultimately, the drive ended with a missed a 40-yard field goal attempt for the Owls.
On their next drive, the Panthers went for a fake field goal on fourth down, but FAU was able to sniff it out the attempt.
However, just four plays later, FIU got the ball back in FAU territory after the Owls were unsuccessful on a fourth down attempt.
A 13-yard TD catch and successful PAT for the Panthers tied the game 7-7 with 7:21 to go in the second quarter.
De'Andre Johnson came in at QB on the ensuing FAU drive and took his first carry 29 yards to the FIU 46.
All eight plays on the drive were rushes, culminating in Singletary's 61st career rushing touchdown to regain the lead for FAU, 14-7 with 4:27 left in the first half.
FIU took the opening kickoff of the second half 78 yards to tie the score 14-14 just over six minutes into the third quarter.
On FAU's first drive of the half, the Owls faced a fourth-and-11 from the Panther 28 when Johnson found Jovon Durante along the back line of the end zone for a touchdown to regain the lead, 21-14.
After the defense forced an FIU punt, Singletary found the endzone for a third time, stretching the Owls' lead to 28-14 and tying him with Donnell Pumphrey for ninth place in FBS history with 62 career rushing touchdowns.
The FAU defense once again did its job, stopping the Panthers on fourth down and giving the offense the ball back on the FIU 31.
Kerrith Whyte scored on a six-yard rush to make the score 35-14 in the Owls' favor after the turnover.
Jalen Young ended the next FIU possession with his 13^th career interception.
It took the FAU offense just three plays to capitalize, as Jovon Durante scored on a jet sweep from 24 yards out.
Ocie Rose picked off a Panther pass, followed by Rafe Peavey scoring on an 11-yard rush to account for the final score.
FAU is the first road team to win in the series since 2012, when the Panthers won in Boca Raton.
Singletary ended the night with 185 rushing yards and three touchdowns to earn FAU MVP recognition.

Quotable
FAU Head Coach Lane Kiffin
"It was a really good win. That's how we ended the season last year, taking care of the ball, playing good defense and running the ball really well. It was good to see, especially in the second half, to end on a 35-0 run on the road against an undefeated (in conference) team."

Looking Ahead
Saturday, Nov. 10 is Homecoming for FAU and the Owls will host WKU. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on Stadium. Live stats will be available at FAUSports.com and live audio can be heard on ESPN 106.3 FM. For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit www.FAUSports.com.