NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Rusty Smith threw for five touchdowns Friday, as Florida Atlantic won in its first post-season appearance -- 44-27 over Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl.
Howard Schnellenberger, who at 73 is the third oldest coach in major college football behind Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden, earned a bowl victory more than two decades after leading Miami to a national title.
Smith hit five different receivers with his scoring tosses, completing 25 of 32 passes with one interception.
Memphis climbed within three points in the third period on the third touchdown pass of the night by Martin Hankins. But Smith boosted the lead back to 10 with a 16-yard scoring pass to Jason Harmon with 46 seconds left in the third.
The Owls then put the game away with a 96-yard, 11-play drive in the fourth quarter that ended on a four-yard run by Di'Ivory Edgecomb.
Edgecomb also caught Smith's second touchdown pass, a 29-yarder late in the first period that gave the Owls a 17-7 lead.
Florida Atlantic finished its season at 8-5 and Memphis at 7-6.
