After soundly defeating Florida Atlantic, 52-6, in last year's Shula Bowl at FIU Stadium, the Owls returned the favor this year with a decisive 31-0 victory, Saturday night at Dolphin Stadium.

FAU quarterback Rusty Smith and the Owls offense controlled the clock for 34:08 in a dominating performance. Four different players scored touchdowns?two on the ground and two in the air?and, playing without its top tackler Keyonvis Bouie who sat out the night with a sprained left knee, the FIU defense allowed 361 yards of total offense.

Antwan Barnes stepped up in Bouie's place and led all tacklers with 11 stops (six solo), three-and-a-half tackles for losses of minus-17 yards and a sack.

FIU's Josh Padrick completed 11-of-23 passes for 92 yards, to push him over 9,000 career passing yards and Chandler Williams, FIU's Shula Bowl MVP, was on the receiving end of six passes, good for 60 yards, but there was little else positive that occurred for the Golden Panthers as the team lost its 11th straight game.

“I told our team every day this week that FAU would come in here tonight ready to play, and they must not have listened,” said FIU head coach Don Strock. “FAU came in ready to play and we thought we came in ready to play, but there was a difference. That group came out and had something to prove”

FAU (5-7, 4-3 Sun Belt) took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards for a 7-0 lead when Smith found Frantz Simeon with a 13-yard touchdown pass, the first of Simeon's career. And the Owls made it 14-0 at the start of the second quarter on a one-yard TD toss from Smith to Aaron Sanchez.

FIU looked to put together a drive and got into Florida Atlantic territory with a fourth-and-one at the Owls 47. FAU held, took over near midfield and moved ahead 21-0, with a seven-play, 52-yard drive that was helped with a little razzle-dazzle. On a third-and-five from the 12, Smith handed off to Simeon who then found Smith in the left flat with a seven-yard pass and a first down. Two plays later, it was Charles Pierre from four yards out for the score.

The Golden Panthers moved the ball midway through the third quarter, down to the FAU 25-yard line when the drive stalled. On a fourth-and-nine play Padrick's pass was dropped, which ended any scoring chance.

Again, FAU took advantage. The Owls went 63 yards over the next 4:19, and with 12:57 remaining, grabbed a 24-0 lead on a 29-yard field goal by Warley Leroy.

Florida Atlantic changed quarterbacks for the final 10 minutes of the game but the Owls didn't skip a beat. Sean Clayton kept the ball on the ground except for one pass-and-run to tight end Jason Harmon that went for 34 yards, down to the FIU two-yard line. That's when running back B.J. Manley punched the ball in the end zone, giving FAU an insurmountable 31-0 lead with 6:28 to play.

Playing in a mop-up role, FIU heir-apparent quarterback Paul McCall moved FIU on its final drive to the FAU 14 as the game ended. McCall was credited with a 4-of-8 effort for 61 yards and ran three times for eight yards.

“We played better in the second half and made some plays, but the same thing hurt us tonight that's been hurting us all season?protecting the quarterback, mis-run routes, missed tackles?all the same things,” Strock said.

The Golden Panthers will have one last chance to salvage a win this season when they take on Troy next Saturday, Dec. 2, on Senior Day at FIU Stadium. On top of that, FIU can play Sun Belt Conference spoiler.

With Troy's win over Middle Tennessee today, the Trojans need to beat FIU to claim the league championship and represent the Sun Belt at the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 22. An FIU win would knock Troy out of the Bowl and award the title and bowl bid to Middle Tennessee.

For tickets and information, call the FIU Ticket Office toll free at (866) FIU-GAME or (305) 348-4263 in Miami-Dade County.