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.
 
A miscue by the Panthers' offense led to Florida Atlantic's first score of the contest.  Jenkins, while attempting to scramble lost the ball and it was recovered by the Owls' Eric Brantley Jr. at the FIU 12.  Three plays later Zuberi Mobley punched it in from one yard out to tie the score at 7-7 with 1:37 remaining in the opening quarter. 
 
Prior to the turnover and score, the FIU defense had forced four punts on each of Florida Atlantic's opening four possessions.
 
Florida Atlantic (1-2) took the lead on its next possession on a 72-yard touchdown burst by Mobley, on a fourth and one attempt, to make the score 14-7 at 10:17 of the second. 
 
An interception by Jenkins set up the Owls at the FIU 37 on the next possession which resulted in a 28-yard field goal from FAU's Nick Salmon to extend their lead to 17-7 with 6:40 left before the break.
 
FAU's Phillip Dunham intercepted another pass for the Owls late in the opening half and returned it 82 yards to the FIU 11.  Fortunately, the Panthers' defense stiffened deep in their own end and forced a 39-yard field goal attempt – which was blocked by Eddie Walls II.
 
The Panthers committed a fourth turnover in the final moments of the first half when Dean Patterson fumbled and it was recovered by FAU's CJ Heard at the FAU 37.   Florida Atlantic capitalized with a nine-play, 63-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard scoring plunge by Mobley, his third touchdown of the game which extended the margin to 24-7.
 
Florida Atlantic made the score 31-7 with a 12-yard scoring scramble by quarterback Cam Francher, which capped a 14-play, 75-yard push on the opening drive of the second half.
 
CJ Campbell Jr. added a two-yard touchdown later in the third for Florida Atlantic, before the Panthers got back in the scoring column on a 26-yard catch for a score by Patterson from Jenkins to close out the scoring in the third quarter.
 
FIU trimmed the lead to 38-20 on a 16-yard touchdown reception by JuJu Lewis with 9:42 left in regulation.  The Panthers failed on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.
 
Jenkins finished 21-of-35 for 281 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.  Patterson led all receivers with a team-high eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.  Rivers posted a career-best 101 receiving yards on six catches along with a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Travion Barnes paced the unit with a season-best 15 tackles.
 
Mobley led the Owls' offense with 134 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21 hen they host Monmouth in the annual Homecoming game in a 6 p.m. ET kickoff.
 
The game will air live on ESPN+.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Saturday's game was delayed by one hour and 42 minutes due to lightning and storms in the area.
• Saturday's contest marked the 22nd all-time meeting between FIU and Florida Atlantic in the Shula Bowl.
• Senior C'Quan Jnopierre opened the game with a 31-yard kickoff return – his longest of the season.
• Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins was a perfect 3-for-3 on the opening drive of the game for 64 yards and a 32-yard TD pass to junior Eric Rivers.
• Redshirt freshman Luby Maurice Jr. blocked a punt at the 10:48 mark of the first quarter, it marked the first blocked punt for FIU since Sept. 25, 2021 at Central Michigan (Rishard Dames).
• FIU kicker Alejandro Prado missed a 41-yard field goal (wide right) with 8:59 left in the first quarter.
• The FIU defense forced Florida Atlantic to punt on each of its first four possessions.
• Junior Eddie Walls III blocked a 39-yard field goal attempt by Florida Atlantic with 1:49 left in first half.
• FIU had a blocked punt and a blocked field goal in the same game for the first time in program history.
• FIU had four turnovers in the first half – two fumbles lost and two interceptions.  The miscues resulted in a total of 17 of Florida Atlantic's 24 points in the first half.
• FIU's JoJo Evans was penalized for targeting with 25 seconds left in the first half and was ejected for the remainder of the contest.
• Junior linebacker Travion Barnes finished with a season-high 15 tackles to lead the FIU defense.
• FIU wide receiver Eric Rivers finished with six catches for 101 yards – his first career 100-yard receiving performance.
• FIU sophomore JuJu Lewis scored his first career touchdown on a 16-yard catch with 9:42 left in regulation.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
 
2024 FIU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 31	at Indiana (Saturday)	Big Ten Network	L, 7-31
Sept. 7	CENTRAL MICHIGAN (Saturday)	ESPN+	W, 52-16
Sept. 14	at Florida Atlantic (Saturday)	ESPN+	L, 20-38
Sept. 21	MONMOUTH (Saturday) (Homecoming)	ESPN+	6 p.m.
Sept. 28	LOUISIANA TECH* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	6 p.m.
Oct. 8	at Liberty* (Tuesday)	CBSSN	7 p.m.
Oct. 16	at UTEP* (Wednesday)	CBSSN	9 p.m.
Oct. 22	SAM HOUSTON* (Tuesday)	ESPNU	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29	NEW MEXICO STATE* (Tuesday)	CBSSN	7 p.m.
Nov. 16	at Jacksonville State* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	2 p.m.
Nov. 23	at Kennesaw State* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	3 p.m.
Nov. 30	MIDDLE TENNESSEE* (Saturday)	ESPN Platforms	2 p.m.

 
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS                                          
ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN (ET)
* CONFERENCE USA GAME