Florida Atlantic Comes Up Short in Shula Bowl

Saturday, September 13

Miami, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

1-2 , 0-0

FIU

2-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Fla. Atlantic

FIU

9/14/2025 12:45:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

MIAMI – The Florida Atlantic football team fell to FIU in Shula Bowl XXIII on Saturday night by a score of 38-28.

Following a two-hour weather delay, both teams came out aggressively with 38 combined points in the first half. The Owls (1-2) recorded over 300 yards of offense in the opening 30 minutes to build a four-point lead before conceding to the Panthers (2-1) in the second half.

VIDEO RECAP

THE BEGINNING
While the Panthers struck first in the opening quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run, the Owls responded on the backs of redshirt junior QB Caden Veltkamp and redshirt junior WR Jayshon Platt. On the first two plays of the ensuing drive, Veltkamp hit Platt who first turned up the field for 41 yards and then caught a 38-yard pass over the shoulder down the right sideline.

Two plays later, Veltkamp eluded multiple defenders on a rushing attempt and took it into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.

THE TURNING POINT
FIU scored to open the second quarter. Later on in the period, the Owls' next opportunity to reach the end zone began with redshirt sophomore DB Chris Tooley III recovering the fumble in Panther territory on an errant snap. The Owls scored on a third-and-five, with Veltkamp hitting redshirt junior WR Easton Messer in stride on the way to a 23-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14 apiece.

The Panthers knocked in a field goal late in the half, but the Owls once again marched right down the field. The drive culminated in Veltkamp finding wide open redshirt sophomore RB Xavier Terrell, who turned it up from the flat for a 32-yard score and a 21-17 lead entering halftime.

THE FINISH
Florida Atlantic allowed three scores in the third quarter, trailing by double digits heading into the fourth. With seven minutes remaining, special teams made a special play for the second week in a row, with redshirt sophomore DB Derrick Rogers blocking a punt that was recovered in the end zone by redshirt freshman LB Jarvis Johnson to bridge the gap to 38-28.

The Owls forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back with four minutes to go but could not capitalize with another score before the game came to an end.

OFFENSE

Veltkamp finished with 300+ passing yards for the second week in a row, tallying a season-high 343.
Redshirt sophomore RB Gemari Sands recorded the first 100+ yard 2025 game for the Owls, rushing for 105 on just 14 carries.
Platt's 90 yards on five catches are both career highs.

DEFENSE

Rogers was named Florida Atlantic's game MVP.
Redshirt senior DB Dillion Williams registered a game-best eight tackles.
Junior LB Khmari Johnson and redshirt junior DL CJ Doggette Jr. each recorded two tackles for loss.
Tooley's fumble recovery was the first of his collegiate career and the Owls' first takeaway of the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Owls have scored blocked punt touchdowns in back-to-back games after entering the season not recording one since 2019.

POSTGAME AUDIO

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (9-13-2025) Florida Atlantic at FIU

UP NEXT
The Owls will enjoy a bye weekend before hosting Memphis at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27 to begin American Conference play.

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