BOCA RATON – Senior Night festivities took place in Boca Raton for the Florida Atlantic Owls as they faced the Charlotte 49ers.

The program looked to send their tenured players off the right way to conclude their 2018 campaign, but Charlotte was relentless in its efforts to spoil the fun in Paradise.

The Owls got off to a great start and stuck fast on the very first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Chris Robison tossed a shovel pass to running back Kerrith Whyte and he did the rest by racing past the 49ers defenders for a 75-yard touchdown.

With the score and extra point, the Owls took an early 7-0 lead.

It only took FAU 13 seconds to put the game’s first points on the board, which is the fastest in program history. Whyte finished as the Owls leading receiver, snagging three passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

The fun didn’t stop there, as Charlotte fought right back to show FAU that the contest would not be a one-sided match. The 49ers marched down the field and put together a 10-play, 76-yard drive that was capped off by a 11-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Hasaan Klugh and senior wide receiver Mark Quattlebaum.

The score brought the game to a tie at 7-7 with a little over nine minutes left to play in the first quarter.

Later in the first, the 49ers offense managed another 10-play drive of 50 yards, and placekicker Johnathan Cruz nailed a 30-yard field goal attempt to give Charlotte its first lead of the contest at 10-7.

FAU tried to respond back early in the second quarter with a long drive of its own. The Owls worked their way down into Charlotte’s territory in 12 plays, but kicker Vladimir Rivas could not connect on a field goal attempt that would have tied the game.

After a couple of series of four-and-outs from both teams, FAU mustered up a touchdown drive that allowed it to take the lead. Robison found tight end John Raine on a 21-yard completion, and on the very next play he found wide receiver John Mitchell on a 25-yard strike.

Two plays later Robison connected with Raine again for 25 yards for his first career touchdown, which gave the Owls a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter. Robison finished the night 13-of-22 passing for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

The Owls defense came up big on the next offensive drive by the 49ers. Defensive back Korrel Smith undercut a route and picked off a Hasaan Klugh pass to give the Owls the ball back with under two minutes left in the half.

Just six plays later, Robison called his own number and rumbled in for a 4-yard touchdown run, giving FAU a 21-10 lead going into halftime.

Charlotte running back Benny Lemay had a stellar night on the ground, rushing for a game-high 173 yards on 24 carries. In the middle of the third quarter, Lemay tore through the Owls defense for a 54-yard touchdown, closing the score to 21-17.

Klugh showed his versatility with his legs to start the fourth quarter, while stiff-arming a defender and racing in for a 13-yard touchdown, taking the lead 24-21. Klugh finished the contest with 108 yards rushing on 18 carries and one touchdown.

With under four minutes to play in the contest, quarterback DeAndre Johnson made an appearance and made himself known with his legs. After gains of 9 and 27 yards, Johnson put FAU in field goal range.

The Owls brought in kicker Vladimir Rivas, who nailed a 33-yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24.

The 49ers strategically used their clock management skills and drive the ball down into Owls territory. With 31 seconds left, Charlotte was faced with a fourth-and-long situation and they decided to bring on their kicker to take the lead.

Cruz set up and nailed a career-long 56-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 27-24 lead with only 25 seconds left in the game.

The Owls tried to respond quick, but a fumble on a hook and ladder attempt was recovered by the 49ers.

The Owls finished their season 5-7 and will not be eligible to play in a bowl this year.

Last year, FAU defeated Akron in the annual Boca Raton Bowl 50-3 to finish with a school-best record of 11-3.

This season is definitely a drop off from where they were last year, but the Owls will look to rebuild and try it all over next year.

Charlotte also finished at 5-7 and will miss out on the bowl season as well.