MIAMI (AP) -Calvin Dawson rushed for 129 yards and scored twice as Louisiana-Monroe defeated Florida International 35-0 Saturday.

Lousiana-Monroe (2-7, 1-4) turned FIU turnovers into scoring opportunities, running an interception back for a touchdown and recovering two fumbles that led to two TD drives.

The Warhawks defense held Florida International (0-9, 0-4 Sun Belt) to 10 yards rushing.

The Golden Panthers running attack had expected to get a boost from Julian Reams and John Ellis. Both players, along with Mannie Wellington, returned to action after serving suspensions for their involvement in a brawl Oct. 14 against Miami.

FIU suffered its first shutout loss at its home stadium, and Louisiana-Monroe notched its first shutout victory since 1999.

Chaz Williams' 26-yard interception return gave Louisiana-Monroe a 14-0 lead with 5:19 left in the first quarter.

A fumble recovery by Greg James at the Warhawks 21 helped set up a 13-play, 79-yard drive that ended with Chance Payne's 3-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Doyle with 5:43 remaining in the second quarter to make the score 21-0.

James caused another FIU fumble by knocking the ball out of Jeremy Dickens' hands. Williams recovered the ball at the Warhawks 48, sparking a 10-play, 52-yard drive that ended with Dawson's 2-yard TD with 4:23 left in the third quarter.

Head Coach Don Strock Quotes:

“We didn't do very well blocking people offensively or tackling defensively. That's what I told them at the beginning of the game, halftime and after the game. That's where it all starts offensively; it starts upfront with blocking. You read in the paper where the quarterback and running back had great games because they got blocking. We didn't really do that today.”

"It's disappointing, obviously, we had some opportunities to score towards the end and we did not cash in on them. We tried a lot of different ways to establish the run and we didn't get it done. We will take a hard look at the film and make the changes that need to be made."

FIU Postgame Notes:

Louisiana-Monroe's 35-0 shutout over FIU marked the first time ever that the Golden Panthers had been shut out at home, a string of 26 games...
Chris Patullo and Chris Cook flipped kicking chores with Patullo punting against ULM and responding with five kicks averaging 41.4 yards with a long of 47...
The FIU offense continued its scoring drought of not having scored a touchdown since the third quarter against North Texas on Oct. 7, a string of 13 quarters and seven overtime periods...
FIU's ninth consecutive loss established a new school record. The previous long of eight losses occurred when the Golden Panthers dropped their last game of the 2002 season and first seven games of 2003, while playing I-AA football...
Senior linebacker James Black had his best statistical day as a Golden Panther with 11 tackles (nine solo), two tackles for losses of minus-10 yards, a sack and two forced fumbles...
With 13 players still suspended from the team altercation against the University of Miami, true freshmen receivers were the main targets of FIU quarterbacks Josh Padrick and Paul McCall. Jeremy Dickens and John Houston Whiddon each caught five passes and Ashlyn Parker had three grabs to lead the receiving corps.