‘Last Chance U’ star gets a shot

MIAMI — Midway through the second quarter of Florida Atlantic’s Shula Bowl rivalry game against Florida International, redshirt junior De’Andre Johnson, popular among fans for his role in Netflix reality series “Last Chance U,” replaced starter Chris Robison at quarterback.

It ignited an FAU offense that had come up empty on three consecutive drives since its opening possession on Saturday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium.

Johnson carried the ball 29 yards on his first snap and ended up adding

12 more on a drive that put FAU up, 14-7, at halftime and culminated in 4-yard touchdown run by junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary.

The 6-foot-2,

205-pound signal caller, who displayed his downhill running abilities, transferred to FAU from East Mississippi CC, a school featured on the Netflix series. He landed at the junior college after originally signing with Florida State out of high school but was dismissed from the university after punching a woman in the face at a bar.

Johnson had previously seen playing time in games against Oklahoma, Bethune-Cookman and Marshall — all of which had already been decided at the time of his entry. Against Marshall, he came in after Robison injured his ankle.

Robison was back in as the starter for the Owls after missing most of their last game against Louisiana Tech due to the ankle injury.

With grad student and Southern Methodist transfer Rafe Peavey starting in Robison’s place, Robison came in for FAU’s final drive when the team was down 8 points in the fourth quarter and turned it over on downs.

Much like with Peavey against La. Tech, the offense started fast under Robison with a quick score on the opening drive, which took 2:29 and was capped by a Singletary touchdown via recovery of his own fumble in the end zone.

While Singletary carried on six of the eight plays of the drive, Robison connected with Willie Wright on a key 35-yard pitch and catch.

The offense, over the ensuing three series, turned it over on downs twice and missed a fieldgoal attempt.

FIU player back after getting shot: FIU running back Anthony Jones saw his first playing time since he was shot in the face during a drive-by shooting in Opa-Locka on Sept. 6.

Jones took his first carry since the Panther’s opener against Indiana on the opening series, and was involved heavily in the offense throughout the first half, where he had 21 rushing yards on five carries.

Freshman offensive lineman Mershawn Miller was also shot in the incident, in the arm. Miller is out for the season.

Motor’s first score doesn’t move him up career list: Singletary scored his first touchdown by carrying the ball from the FIU 3-yard line, fumbling at the 1 and then falling on the fumble in the end zone.

It’s a meaningful difference because the score doesn’t add to Singletary’s career rushing total since it’s technically a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

His next touchdown, in the second quarter, would once again be of the rushing variety, punching it in from 4 yards out. It got him into the top 10 on the FBS career rushing touchdowns list to tie Oregon’s Royce Freeman (60).

Entering Saturday, Singletary was tied for 11th, along with Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and Nebraska’s Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, with 59.

Willie Wright down: Wright left Saturday night’s game in the first quarter after taking a crushing hit. He was reaching for a pass to the flat from Robison on FAU’s own 1-yard line and got leveled.

FIU’s Richard Dames broke up the pass and was called for targeting, which was upheld upon review. Dames was ejected, and FIU played the rest of the first half down two strong safeties. Olin Cushion was ejected in the second half of the Panthers’ previous game, so he was out until the second half.