Despite being assured of not reaching a .500 record this season, FAU hoped to end the year and possibly their time at Lockhart Stadium on a good note as they faced bowl-eligible Troy University.

Instead, FAU (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt) fumbled, punted and dropped their way to a 44-7 loss at home in their season finale.

“It’s an embarrassment to FAU to lose to a team like that at home. It can’t happen,” said senior quarterback Jeff Van Camp. “That’s just not how FAU, a program that has two bowls wins, can’t be losing at home like that to Troy in the last game of the year.”

FAU started the game on a three and out following a dropped Van Camp pass by senior tight end Rob Housler. It didn’t get much better for the Owls’ offense, as they fumbled twice and couldn’t convert long drives into points.

Troy responded with a drive lasting five minutes, 24 seconds, that led to a touchdown by Troy sophomore running back Shawn Southward. That was the most time-consuming scoring drive of the night for Troy (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) as they rolled over FAU’s defense for 37 more points.

FAU’s lone score came with 12:59 left in the game on a Van Camp pass to senior wide receiver Avery Holley. Holley had a career high in receiving yards with 129 on the night, while Van Camp finished with 302 throwing yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who coached his 300th game,is hoping that this game will serve as motivation in the offseason for his returning players.

“I’m going to help them remember all these things and we’re going to have to work very hard in this offseason to develop the things that we didn’t develop this offseason,” said Schnellenberger. “It’s going to require an all-out effort by every player and every coach to improve this situation fast enough to see improvement by next season.”