Owls win rivalry

Johnson, Singletary spark Shula Bowl victory over FIU

MIAMI — Florida Atlantic players said, entering this year’s installment of the Shula Bowl, that a win against their rival could be just what the Owls need to turn the season around and finish strong.

FAU made a quarterback change, ran all over Florida International — totaling 439 rushing yards — and held on to the Don Shula Award with a 49-14 win over FIU on Saturday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium.

The Owls (4-5, 2-3 Conference USA) staved off conference elimination with the win and dealt the Panthers (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) their first blemish in an upstart season. FAU leads the all-time series 12-4.

Redshirt junior quarterback De’Andre Johnson, who was featured in Netflix reality series “Last Chance U” during his time at East Mississippi CC between FAU and Florida State, ignited the Owls offense when he replaced starter Chris Robison midway through the second quarter. Johnson threw for two touchdowns and 67 yards on 4 of 6 passing and ran for 50 yards on seven carries.

Junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary went for 184 yards and three touchdown on 27 carries. Kerrith Whyte had 165 rushing yards on 17 attempts.

While a fourth-down decision to go for it in the first half didn’t go FAU’s way and led to FIU points, two such calls on the same drive in the third quarter did work and broke what was a 14-14 tie.

On fourth-and-11 from the FIU 28-yard line, Johnson, who had just taken quarterback keepers and thrown short passes to that point, tossed a deep ball to the back of the end zone and a waiting Jovon Durante, who stopped on a dime with two feet inbounds and just in front of the end line as his defender ran past him, unable to find the ball. Earlier in the series, FAU extended the drive in Panthers territory on a converted fourth-and-1 call for a Johnson run to the outside out of a bunch formation.

Singletary scored his third touchdown on the following FAU drive early in the fourth quarter to give the Owls a two-possession lead. Whyte, spelling Singletary, carried four times for 59 yards, including a 36-yarder to the FIU 21 earlier in the drive.

Whyte later scored the touchdown that put FAU up three touchdowns with 8:35 remaining that began to send the FIU fans to the exits. Durante scored again on a jet sweep for 24 yards that was technically a pass from Johnson and followed an interception from senior safety Jalen Young.

Ocie Rose also picked off a fourth-quarter pass, and quarterback Rafe Peavey scored one last time for FAU with 27 seconds remaining to have the Owls finishing on a run of 35 unanswered points.

FIU tied it at 14 after a lengthy drive to open the second half. Quarterback James Morgan hit Bryce Singleton, who made a onehanded catch in single coverage for the 19-yard score.

FAU struck first, with Robison at quarterback, marching down the field for a Singletary touchdown on its opening drive that covered 75 yards in eight plays and lasted 2:29. Singletary fumbled before crossing the goal line, but fell on the ball in the end zone.

FIU appeared primed to answer on its first series, but the Panthers also fumbled near the goal line – only they weren’t nearly as fortunate with it. In fact, it was nearly disastrous for FIU as FAU linebacker Rashad Smith ran 98 yards the other way for a touchdown before the return aspect of the play was overturned upon review because Smith’s knee was down as he picked up the fumble.

FAU started on its own 2-yard line, covered ground but didn’t get points. The Owls turned it over on downs, going for it from the FIU 31-yard line. After that, they missed a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing drive.

FIU’s second-quarter touchdown – from Morgan to Austin Maloney tied the game at 7 and immediately preceded FAU coach Lane Kiffin’s insertion of Johnson at quarterback. The Owls went for a fourth-and-1 from their own 29 there that gave FIU a short field for its scoring drive.

After picking up their first road win this season, the Owls return home to face Western Kentucky (1-8) next Saturday at 5 p.m.

dfurones@sunsentinel.com / @DavidFurones_