BOCA RATON, Fla. – The FIU football team jumped out to an early lead but were unable to overcome four turnovers in the opening 30 minutes in a 38-20 loss at Florida Atlantic on Saturday night in the 22nd edition of the Shula Bowl.
After scoring the game's first touchdown less than two minutes into the contest, the Panthers committed a total of four giveaways over four of their final five possessions in the first half – which resulted in 17 points for the Owls.
FIU (1-2) came out of the gates fast as it needed just three plays to get on the scoreboard with a 32-yard touchdown strike from Jenkins to a wide-open Eric Rivers down the sideline that put the Panthers up 7-0 just 1:15 into regulation.