Breaking down FAU’s seventh consecutive victory against FIU in the Shula Bowl

For weeks, FIU football players on their way to their main meeting room walked silently past an empty trophy case — the one with the words “Shula Bowl.”

The emptiness ate at them.

Said FIU Panthers wide receiver Dean Patterson: “What’s the point of having a trophy case if it’s empty?”

Following the Panthers’ 38-20 loss to rival Florida Atlantic on Saturday night in Boca Raton, that FIU trophy case will remain empty for at least another year.

FAU (1-2) now has seven victories in a row in its rivalry against FIU (1-2).

Here, then, are seven takeaways regarding FIU football:

1: IT’S ABOUT THE TURNOVERS: In FIU’s two losses, the Panthers have forced zero turnovers.

In FIU’s lone win, the Panthers forced six turnovers.

On Saturday, FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw three interceptions, and he also lost one fumble. Patterson also lost a fumble.

“You will have a hard time beating anybody with five turnovers to none,” FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said.

2: SHULA BOWL DOMINANCE: FAU leads the series with FIU, 17-4. FIU had a win in 2005 vacated by NCAA penalties.

Saturday’s game ended with FAU players lifting the heavy Shula Bowl trophy. Other FAU players delighted in stomping on an FIU helmet.

3: JENKINS HOT AND COLD: Jenkins looked good early, leading FIU on a game-opening, three-play, 64-yard touchdown drive.

All three plays on that drive were completions, and Jenkins capped it with a look-left, throw-right 32-yard toss to Eric Rivers.

“We started out fast,” MacIntyre said, “but then we fizzled. We’ve got to take care of the ball better.”

For the game, Jenkins completed 21 of 35 passes for 281 yards, three touchdowns and those three interceptions.

Perhaps Jenkins’ most damaging interception came in the second quarter. FIU, trailing 17-7, had a second-and-nine at FAU’s 11-yard line. Jenkins threw to his right, but Phillip Dunnam stepped in front of the floating pass and ran it back to FIU’s 11 before tripping over his own feet.

4: KICKING ISSUE: FIU’s Alejandro Prado missed the only field goal he tried — a 41-yarder, wide right.

Prado stepped in for starter Chase Gabriel.

“Chase is going through a medical situation,” MacIntyre said. “We don’t know when he’ll be back.”

5; DEFENSIVE ISSUE: The score was tied 7-7 in the second quarter when FAU’s Zuberi Mobley broke free for a 72-yard touchdown run.

That run came on a fourth-and-1 play from FIU’s own 28-yard line – a gutsy call by FAU coach Tom Herman.

“We screwed up,” MacIntyre said of FIU’s defense on that play. “We didn’t fit it right. It’s disappointing. That was a huge play.”

After that, FAU scored 24 unanswered points, and FIU never recovered.

Mobley finished with 134 rushing yards and three touchdowns. But aside from his long run, he was held relatively in check – 19 carries for 62 yards and a 3.3 average.

6: FANCY FOOTWORK FOR FANCHER: In practice last week, MacIntyre said FIU freshman quarterback Clayton Dees played the “scout team” role of FAU QB Cam Fancher.

It didn’t work.

Despite a slow start, Fancher completed 14 of 26 passes for 161 yards. He also ran for 64 yards, one touchdown and a 4.6 average.

Fancher’s TD was an impressive 12-yarder as he scrambled around, proving too elusive for FIU.

“He’s fast and athletic,” MacIntyre said of Fancher. “We tried to keep him in the pocket, but he made plays with his legs.”

7: FIU BRIGHT SPOTS: Rivers had six catches for a career-high 101 yards. A fourth-year junior from Tennessee, Rivers leads FIU this year in average per reception (22.1).

In the first quarter, Luby Maurice Jr. blocked an FAU punt. In the second quarter, Eddie Walls II blocked an FAU field goal. It was the first time in program history that FIU blocked a field goal and a punt in the same game.

Linebacker Travion Barnes led FIU with 15 tackles. With 31 tackles in three games, Barnes is on pace to break FIU’s single-season record of 121 set last year by Donovan Manuel. Barnes is on pace for 124 tackles.

Wide receiver JuJu Lewis scored his first career TD on a 16-yard catch.