Football: FAU loses 41-7 to FIU in 10th annual Shula Bowl

Panthers wide receiver T.Y. Hilton returns a punt 97 yards for a touchdown in the final home game of his career. Photo by Abhi Sahni.

November 12, 2011

Panthers wide receiver T.Y. Hilton returns a punt 97 yards for a touchdown in the final home game of his career. Photo by Abhi Saini.

For one play things were all right. Alfred Morris took a hand off to the left and dashed his way for a 24 yard gain midway through the second quarter. The carry put him over Charles Perry’s school record for rushing yards which was 3,069. Morris began the night needing 22 yards to surpass Perry.

That was all that would go the Owl’s way for the remainder of the game as the Golden Panthers dominated every aspect beating FAU 41-7 in the 10th annual Shula Bowl.

The loss now takes FAU to an 0-9 record including an 0-6 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. It also brings their record losing streak to 12 games dating back to 2010. Of the Owls nine losses this season, eight have been by double-digits. The last time the Owls won a game was Nov. 13, 2010 when they defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 24-23.

FAU quarterback Graham Wilbert threw 3 interceptions in a game for the third time this season. Photo by Abhi Saini.

FIU dominated the game on both sides of the ball and also on special teams. The Golden Panthers managed 354 yards from scrimmage but the three Owls turnovers often put FIU in decent field position and another 14 FAU penalties for 142 yards consistently helped FIU move the chains.

Alfred Morris had his third consecutive game of rushing for over 100 yards and finished the night with 111 yards on only 21 carries.

At the half the Owls trailed 31-0 and had lost their composure. The team had two personal fouls, two roughing the passer penalties and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty all within the first 30 minutes of the game.

“We wanted to make plays, we wanted to get off the field,” said linebacker David Hinds. “You wanna let them know that we arrived, you wanna intimidate them some so we were trying to put some hits out there.”

Adding to the team’s frustrations were Graham Wilbert’s three interceptions which brought his season total to 13. The frustrations weren’t only on the field as offensive lineman Chris Newbold and running back Xavier Stinson got into a shouting match after Wilbert’s second interception.

FAU finally got on the board with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter. Marcus Cunningham caught a shoe string screen pass from Graham Wilbert and walked into the endzone to make the score 31-7, the only points the Owls would put up all game.

The Owls held the ball longer than the Golden Panthers and had just as many first downs but as the theme has been all season, they hurt themselves more than they helped themselves.

The special teams game was a disaster for FAU also.

Punter Mickey Groody had a punt blocked which gave FIU the ball at the Owls’ 9 yard line and set up a Willis Wright 9-yard touchdown reception to make the score 24-0 in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter another Groodey punt was boldy fielded by T.Y. Hilton at the three yard line and the FIU Heisman hopeful returned the punt 97 yards to put FIU ahead 31-0.

FIU called off the dogs in the second half, deciding to just run out the clock.

The Golden Panthers totalled 219 rushing yards, led by running back Kedrick Rhodes who had 122 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.

FAU will have three more chances to notch a victory under its belt for the 2011 season starting next week against Sun Belt Conference foe Troy.

If the Owls fail to win a game it will be the first time in the career of head coach Howard Schnellenberger that his team ends a season winless.