It wasnt the happy homecoming the 20 Illinois State football players from the Sunshine State were hoping for, as the Redbirds (4-7, 2-5 Gateway) wrapped up the 2004 season with a 28-0 loss to Florida Atlantic (7-3) at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale.
The loss marked the first time the Birds had been shutout since a 9-0 loss at Western Kentucky on Nov. 2, 2002.
Florida Atlantic pushed toward the end zone on the first possession of the game, scoring on a 2-yard Daveon Barron run with 8:54 left in the first quarter. Mark Myers point after attempt was good to give FAU a 7-0 lead, which held until the end of the first quarter.
Following a 25-yard field goal by Myers, the Owls went up 16-0 on a 9-yard pass play from quarterback Jared Allen to Larry Taylor with 2:41 to play in the half. Florida Atlantic took an 18-0 lead into the locker room after blocking and ISU punt for a safety.
An FAU interception of a Yance Vaughan (11-27, 169 yards, 5 interceptions) pass in the third quarter set up a Doug Parker score on a 13-yard pass with 10:27 left in the third quarter, increasing the Owls lead to 25-0. Myers added a 34-yard field goal with 11:14 left for the final tally.
Brian Thompson led the Redbirds on the ground with 30 carries for 113 yards, while Laurent Robinson, Jason Horton and Kevett Mickle combined for 120 yards receiving.
