FIU snaps seven-game Shula Bowl losing streak to FAU

Willie Simmons is a streak-buster.

Simmons, in his first season as FIU’s football coach, led his Panthers to a 38-28 win against visiting Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.

That ended FAU’s seven-game win streak over FIU in the nearly-annual Shula Bowl series.

Earlier this season, Simmons led FIU to a win against Bethune-Cookman. Prior to that game, FIU had been 0-4 against the Wildcats.

FIU (2-1) will now open its 2025 Conference USA schedule with a game on Saturday at 6 p.m. against visiting Delaware (2-1).

Here are your five FIU takeaways following the win over FAU:

1. BIG SECOND HALF: Trailing 21-17 with 11:31 left in the third quarter, FIU responded by scoring 21 consecutive points.

Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins got the comeback going by completing all three of his passes on FIU’s first possession of the second half, capping off the 75-yard drive with a 4-yard, rollout touchdown run to his left.

FIU also scored on its next two possessions, initially getting a 26-yard Jenkins touchdown pass to wide receiver Alex Perry in the corner of the end zone. That was followed by a 1-yard punch-in by running back Anthony Carrie, a play that was set up by consecutive runs of 48 yards and 21 yards by Kejon Owens.

“We ran the ball,” Simmons said, when asked how the Panthers were so successful coming out of the half. “And when you run the football, it opens up everything else.

“[FAU] started getting closer to the line of scrimmage. Those defensive ends were really crashing, trying to take away the run game. We broke containment a few times.”

2. OWENS NAMED SHULA BOWL MVP: It took a little bit for the senior running back to get going. FAU held him to just 25 yards on eight carries in the first half, although he did cash in for two touchdowns.

Simmons attributed the early struggles to some erratic snaps by center Julius Pierce along with FIU’s inability to execute double-team blocks.

“We had to get that part controlled, because everything starts with the quarterback-center exchange,” Simmons said. “And once we got those double teams and gave (Owens) some room, he showed his big-play ability.”

Behind a smile, Simmons said FIU isn’t afraid of riding Owens “until the wheels fall off.”

And ride him, they did.

Owens finished the game with 173 rushing yards and the two scores on 19 carries for a 9.1 average per attempt.

In the second half alone, he ran 11 times for 148 yards.

“Coach kept feeding me, and I just got into the rhythm of the game,” Owens said. “I got a feel for it.”

3. TURNOVER TIME: In last year’s Shula Bowl, FAU forced five turnovers, including three Jenkins interceptions, and won the game, 38-20.

On Saturday, FIU’s offense turned the ball over just once on a bad shotgun snap while the Panthers defense intercepted FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp three times.

For FIU, Jessiah McGrew, Shamir Sterlin and Mister Clark all grabbed their first career interceptions. None of those three players had ever started a college game prior to this season.

But now true freshman McGrew and second-year freshman Sterlin are starters at safety, and redshirt sophomore Clark is the starter at slot corner. McGrew had the interception to put the game away as FAU, trailing 38-28, was driving late in the fourth quarter.

Veltkamp had completed three consecutive short passes before McGrew sprinted across the field and made his pick without breaking stride.

4. COACHES GET THUMBS UP: Former Panthers star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton — inducted into FIU’s Sports Hall of Fame on Friday night — said he’s a fan of Simmons.

“I told [Simmons] I love what he’s doing,” Hilton said. “The players are buying in with him.”

Hilton is also fond of Frank Ponce, who was his position coach during his days at FIU. Ponce is now FIU’s associate head coach/tight ends.

“He’s a standup guy,” Hilton said. “He’s a father figure to me, a guy you can trust.”

5. NEXT GENERATION: Perhaps it should come as no surprise but Hilton’s two sons are wide receivers just like their dad. Eugene Hilton Jr., who is 6-1, is a true freshman who plays for the Wisconsin Badgers; and Ty, 12, is getting coached by his father at the youth-league level, most notably at Miami’s Gwen Cherry Park.

“Ty already has an offer from Miami,” said T.Y. Hilton, who never got one of those from the Hurricanes. “He’s going to get plenty more offers.”

Perhaps from FIU?