Junior quarterback scores two touchdowns in Shula Bowl win

Jasmine Casimir//Asst. Sports Director

The Panthers made a major comeback at the Shula Bowl against the Florida Atlantic Owls, reclaiming the trophy and gaining their first win with team effort from everyone, including starting junior quarterback Alex McGough.

The Tampa native put the Panthers on the board in the first half, rushing for their first two touchdowns.

“It feels great. I can’t even stop smiling,” said McGough. “It was a huge win for us.”

McGough ended the night with 61 rushing yards, the most rushing yards by him this season. His play of the night was a 35-yard rush to the end zone after finding nobody open on a fourth and one play.

“I looked and there was nobody there, so I just started running as fast as I could,” said McGough. “It was in the heat of the moment.”

“It was a read option,” said interim head coach Ron Cooper. “He saw the in-squeeze, pulled it, and ran in. A lot of quarterbacks would’ve given it.”

McGough did not start when the Panthers played UCF, but Coach Cooper turned that strategy around for this week as McGough started and played the entire game for the Panthers.

“I told Alex just play ball and relax,” said Cooper. “He did a great job, and for us to be the team we need to be, we need him to keep playing well.”

The coaching change played a role in FIU’s win, and gave the team a new energy for the start of conference play.

“Coach Cooper came in and really brought up the confidence in us, and he brought it back to the team”, said McGough. “He told us that we can do it, and that we will do it.”

FIU travels away to take on University of Texas at El Paso Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m.