FAU (4-1, 4-1 C-USA) beat FIU (0-4, 0-2 C-USA), 38-19, Friday night in the 19th annual Shula Bowl. This was their first road win of the season.
Head coach Willie Taggart won his first Shula Bowl, as FIU’s Butch Davis continues to struggle against the Owls.
“I didn’t want to be that first coach to lose,” Taggart said. “I didn’t want to be that coach to lose this game.”
FAU’s defense played strong, allowing 348 yards and two touchdowns. The defense also sacked FIU’s quarterbacks a total of five times.
The Owls’ dominance on defense forced the Panthers to bench starting quarterback Stone Norton for Max Bortenschlager in the third quarter.