FAU wins Shula Bowl

FAU extended FIU’s losing streak to 23 games in a 55-23 rout in the Orange Bowl Saturday

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

The Florida Atlantic University football team has now cleared its last hurdle and can finally prepare for its Sun Belt championship game.

The Owls disposed of Florida International University 55-23 Saturday night in the Orange Bowl in a game that saw FAU set several team and individual records.

The Shula Award also returned to FAU for the fifth time in six years, as the Owls (6-5, 5-1 Sun Belt) overwhelmed the defenseless Panthers (0-11, 0-6 Sun Belt).

“This win was as decisive of a win (as we’ve had),” FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said. “It certainly ensures that we will be playing in our championship game.”

The Owls set a school record with 55 points, surpassing the 51 they scored against Siena. FAU also totaled a record 425 yards of total offense in the first half.

Quarterback Rusty Smith threw four touchdown passes to tie Jared Allen for the single season record with 24, and he broke Allen’s mark of 3,003 passing yards – both set in 2003.

Smith finished 20-of-30 for 330 yards and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Shula Bowl for the second straight year.

“We did really well because we came into the game with confidence and worked together as a team,” Smith said.

Tight end Rob Housler scored the first touchdown of his career, and it set records for the longest run from scrimmage and longest TD run in FAU history.

Housler took a reverse 68 yards to paydirt to help open the floodgates to a 28-point second quarter that effectively finished the Panthers.

“I turned the corner and I saw Rusty; I knew he was going to get a block,” Housler said. “I didn’t know I was going to score until I was in that end zone.”

Cortez Gent added four catches for 145 yards and two TDs, including a 69-yard score.
FAU’s maligned defense also came through, holding FIU without a TD until the third quarter, when the game was already out of reach.

Frantz Joseph passed Quentin Swain’s total of 104 tackles in a season in the first half to establish a new record, and linebacker Serge Sincere also topped Swain’s mark.

“This game was in the way of us getting to the Sun Belt championship, we didn’t want anything to stop us from getting there,” Joseph said.

Troy has had FAU’s number over the years, going 4-0 all-time against the Owls, including a 24-17 victory last season. Saturday, FAU travels to Troy to take on a Trojans team that is 8-3 (6-0 in Sun Belt), and has a win against Oklahoma State under its belt this season. Troy routed Middle Tennessee State last week, 45-7.

“We’ve got to win,” Smith said. “If we want to win the championship and represent the Sun Belt in the New Orleans Bowl, we have to win – no questions about it.”