• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Smith's five touchdown passes lifts FAU over Memphis

Dec 22, 2007 - 6:21 AM By William Dunn PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Already known as a coach that can resurrect a program, Howard Schnellenberger might soon be known for not losing bowl games as well.

Rusty Smith tossed five touchdown passes - all to different receivers - to lead Florida Atlantic to a 44-27 triumph over Memphis on Friday night in the seventh annual New Orleans Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome.

Schnellenberger, who helped build both Miami, Fl. and Louisville into national prominence, is now 5-0 as a coach in bowl games. It was also the first bowl victory for Florida Atlantic (8-5), which joined the Football Bowl Subdivision three years ago.

"We're thrilled," Schnellenberger said. "I'm particularly proud of the offense, satisfied with the defense, and our special teams really came alive tonight."

Smith led a constant Owls' attack that never trailed during the contest. He drove them down for a score on their first possession, finding running back Charles Pierre for a four-yard touchdown less than three minutes in.

The Tigers (7-6) responded on the ensuing drive when Martin Hankins threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brett Russell with 9:20 remaining in the opening quarter.

Smith was nearly flawless in the first half, completing 15-of-20 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns as Florida Atlantic jumped out to a 30-20 halftime lead. He went on to pass for 333 yards with one interception.

"I'm so happy that I could help my team come out with a victory," Smith said. "My goal for the year was to try to be the very best I could and do the most to help my team win, and I think I did that tonight."

Memphis had struck just before the half as Hankins connected with Earnest Williams for a 19-yard touchdown pass and looked to be mounting a comeback after Hankins found Carlos Singleton on an eight-yard strike to cut the deficit to 30-27.

"We knew we were going to have to play four quarters, and fight every play like it was our last," Tigers senior running back Joseph Doss said.

With the Tigers knocking on the door, the Owls responded by holding them to a three-and-out before junior wide receiver Wilfred Rivera blocked a punt to set Florida Atlantic up with great field position at the Memphis 19-yard line.

"I told the kids that we had to return the kickoff and allow our offense to go back out there and score a touchdown," Schnellenberger said. "I didn't give some kind of special speech or something, which I never do. We just had to go back about our business."

Two plays later, Smith set a New Orleans Bowl record by throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the night, a 16-yard strike to tight end Jason Harmon, to extend the Owls' advantage to 37-27.

"Disappointed we didn't do the things we needed to do," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "We knew we had to play defense and special teams, and we didn't do either. I thought the turning point of the game was when they got the blocked punt. That kind of took the wind out of us."

The next possession killed the Tigers' chances of coming back as Hankins suffered a left leg injury and had to be carried off the field. Hankins finished with 283 passing yards and three scores.