The 24th annual Shula Bowl shifted to Flagler Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The Panthers of Florida International made the trip up I-95 to take on the Florida Atlantic Owls.
Just last season when both of these teams met at Pitbull Stadium, the home of FIU, it was the Panthers who came out on top 38-28. Turnovers were the main focus of the game a year ago and it was no different this season.
Florida Atlantic won the toss and elected to receive to start the game and it was a slow start for both teams. The Owls would score on a Leonard Farrow short yardage run with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
FAU would later add a field goal in the second quarter, a chip shot 14-yarder from Collin Rodgers to make it 10-0 early. FIU would close the first half with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback JJ Kohl to make it 10-7 at the half.
The big story of the first half was mistakes. Both teams had lots of penalties but Kohl would throw three interceptions to three different owls in Jonathan Bax, Chris Tooley lll and Bo Simpson-Nealey.
The Panthers started with the ball in the second half with a chance to take a lead for the first time on the night but the Florida Atlantic defense was able to get the stop and get the ball back, flipping the momentum that ended the first half in favor of the Panthers. Collin Rodgers would come on and hit his second field goal to make it 13-7.
It was a slow start to the second half for each side. Both teams traded possessions. But with 2:53 left in the third quarter, Rodgers made yet another field goal to make it 16-7 Owls. The bend don’t break Panthers defense continued to keep FIU in the game, however.
FIU kicker Robert Czeremcha would later hit a field goal from 36 yards with 13:28 left in the game. The Panthers cut the deficit to a one possession game at 16-10.
Defense was the story of the game and it was Florida Atlantic’s defense that would stand tall at the end as FIU threatened to score down to the final play but fell just short as JJ Kohl lofted a ball over the endzone and the Owls would win 16-10 and take the Shula Bowl trophy back after falling short last season in Miami.
The 10 points allowed were the fewest by an FAU defense versus an FBS team since 2022 when FAU beat FIU 52-7.
“For our guys to come out and play the way that they did and to totally carry the team all night, bend don’t break, take away the ball, man just what a week, so proud of this football team,” FAU coach Zach Kittley said.
FIU QB JJ Kohl finished 22/43 passing for 262 yards and no touchdowns. All three of his interceptions were thrown in the first quarter.
“The downside of playing quarterback is that the stats are going to say three interceptions,” FIU coach Willie Simmons said. “I’ll look at the film and see that every interception wasn’t on him.”
FIU will head back home with a 1-2 record to face Long Island on Sept. 26 while the Owls will hit the road with a 2-1 record to take on Louisiana-Monroe.