MIAMI — FIU's football program defeated Florida Atlantic 38-28 in the 23rd-edition of the Shula Bowl rivalry on Saturday evening, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Owls.
In a storied rivalry, of which the trophy is centered around legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, the Shula Bowl Trophy is finally back in the 305. The Panthers took down the Owls for the first time since 2016 with a resounding second-half performance, outscoring Florida Atlantic 21-7 in the final two quarters. FIU faced a 21-17 halftime deficit and exploded for 21 third quarter points to take full control of the contest. For
Willie Simmons, the victory marks his first win as head coach over an Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent.
Kejon Owens rushed for two touchdowns on the ground to lead the Panther offense, finishing with 173 yards rushing.
Keyone Jenkins made several crucial throws in the game, including his first passing touchdown of the season, and ended the night with 184 passing yards, adding a rushing touchdown.
Maguire Anderson led all FIU receivers with five catches for 81 yards, including a long of 46 yards.
Anthony Carrie found the end zone in the third quarter, his second rushing touchdown of the season. Jenkins also connected with
Alex Perry on a 26-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, his first score of the 2025 campaign.
Defensively,
Shamir Sterlin led the way with seven tackles and an interception on Florida Atlantic's first drive of the game.
Mister Clark also forced a turnover with a key interception in his own end zone to close out the first half.
Jessiah McGrew had a late interception in the fourth quarter to seal the FIU victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a lightning delay pushed the start time back over two and half hours, the Panthers and Owls kicked off the 23
rd-edition of the Shula Bowl slightly after 8:30 p.m. FIU set the tone early as Sterlin intercepted a Florida Atlantic pass with a diving effort on third down on the Owls' first drive of the game. The Panthers were stopped on offense on their first drive as well, but the defense delivered once again as Florida Atlantic failed to convert on fourth down on its second drive, setting FIU up with excellent field position.
The Panthers marched down the field with an eight-play drive that spanned 4:24 and ended with four-yard touchdown plunge from Owens to take a 7-0 lead. Perry had a 20-yard reception on the drive to get FIU into the redzone. The Owls responded with a quick drive of their own to tie the game up at 7-7. Following two three and outs from each offense,
C'Quan Jnopierre delivered a 34-yard return to set FIU up with advantageous field position, with the drive beginning at Florida Atlantic's 49-yard line.
Jenkins immediately took advantage as he aired out a deep ball and connected with Anderson, who made a diving 46-yard reception, to put FIU inside the five-yard line. Following the first quarter break, Owens found paydirt again, this time from one-yard out, to put the Panthers up 14-7.
FIU's defense stood tall on Florida Atlantic's next drive as
Johnny Chaney Jr. delivered a fourth down stop, however the Panthers first turnover of the game happened on the next play, due to a bad snap, setting up Florida Atlantic at the FIU 41. Six plays later, the Owls found the end zone and tied the again, 14-14.
The Panthers delivered a long 'response drive', taking 6:50 off the clock, but were held to a field goal, of which
Robert Czeremcha converted from 39 yards to put FIU back ahead, 17-14. Florida Atlantic continued to build offensive momentum in the second quarter, quickly answering FIU's field goal with a touchdown to go ahead 21-17. The Owls looked like they would strike for more points before halftime, but a timely interception from Clark in FIU's end zone kept the score at 21-17 at the half.
The Panthers came out of the halftime break rejuvenated and simply dominated the third quarter of the game. FIU made a statement with its opening drive of the second half, of which went eight plays and 75 yards over 3:29, ending with a four-yard rushing score from Jenkins. On that drive, the Panthers found chunk plays from both Owens (22-yard rush) and Jenkins (20-yard rush) on their way to the end zone.
Defensively, FIU was switched on and forced a three and out, which featured a sack for
Keegan Davis on third down. The Panthers went right down the field for the second time in the third quarter on their next drive as a big play to Anderson and an 18-yard rush from Jenkins pushed FIU close to the red zone. Jenkins then found a wide-open Perry for a 26-yard score to push the lead to 31-21. The defense then stopped the Owls on three plays, but a good punt pinned the Panthers deep in their own territory.
From there, the offense delivered its most impressive drive of the game thanks to two explosive runs from Owens of 47 and 21 yards. FIU went 85 yards in just five plays over 2:39, finding the end zone with a one-yard touchdown from Carrie to take a commanding 38-21 advantage.
Both sides traded possessions in the fourth quarter, but FIU continued to make stop-after-stop on the defensive side to keep Florida Atlantic from getting within striking distance. The defense pitched a shutout in the second half with the Owls' lone score coming on a late blocked punt touchdown. McGrew's pick sealed the deal officially and, upon the final whistle, pandemonium ensued as the Panthers grabbed the trophy from the Florida Atlantic sidelines and began their night/morning of celebration.
QUICK NOTES
⁃
Keyone Jenkins moved into third all-time in passing yardage, passing James Morgan (5,375) with a two-yard pass early in the second half.
⁃ Jenkins threw for one passing touchdown, FIU's first passing score of the season, moving him into fourth all-time in passing touchdowns at FIU.
⁃ Jenkins rushed for his third rushing touchdown of the season, eclipsing his season-total of two from 2024.
- Simmons not only gets his first FBS victory, but extends his home winning streak as a head coach to 22 consecutive games, dating back to 2018 during his time with Florida A&M.
⁃ FIU's defense allowed just seven points in the second half after allowing 21 points in the first two quarters.
⁃
Kejon Owens scored multiple rushing touchdowns for the second time this season.
⁃ FIU's second scoring drive spanned three plays and 49 yards over just 33 seconds, the quickest scoring drive of the season for the Panthers.
⁃ Davis had his first sack of the season.
⁃ Owens' 47-yard rush is the longest play of the year for the FIU Offense.
⁃ Owens' 173 rushing yards are a career high and the most for an FIU player since D'Vonte Price rushed for 178 yards against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 13, 2020.
⁃ Anderson's five catches and 81 yards are a career-high.
⁃ Czeremcha made his first field goal attempt of the season, a 39-yarder. He also was a perfect five-for-five on PAT attempts.
⁃ FIU's defense had three interceptions in a game for the first time since last season's matchup with Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 2024.
⁃ FIU now has won five Shula Bowls at home.
⁃ Kick-off, of which was scheduled for 6:02 p.m. before the delay, officially came at 8:33 p.m.
⁃ The Panthers have now experienced a weather delay in all three of their games so far this season.
- Owens was named FIU's Shula Bowl MVP while Florida Atlantic's MVP is Derrick Rogers.
BEST OF SOCIAL
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Willie Simmons
Kejon Owens
Shamir Sterlin
UP NEXT
FIU takes on Delaware at home for its first Conference USA (CUSA) contest on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. on South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
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