DAYTONA BEACH - Florida Atlantic's dream season is not over yet.
Jared Allen threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns and the Owls survived a fourth-quarter rally to beat Bethune-Cookman 32-24 in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs Saturday.
Florida Atlantic, in only its third football season, travels to Northern Arizona in Saturday's quarterfinal.
"They rose to the occasion," FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "They made it happen."
Scott Austin threw 191 yards and two scores for Bethune-Cookman with Eric Weems making 11 receptions for 124 yards.
B-CC outgained FAU 400-316 and sacked Allen six times, but could not overcome four lost fumbles, two interceptions and 16 penalties for 142 yards.
Bethune-Cookman played much of the game without starting quarterback Allen Suber, who bruised his sternum in the first quarter and did not return.
"I don't think people will realize what type of a good program FAU has," coach Alvin Wyatt said. "We just overachieved this year."
The Owls, making the school's first playoff appearance, scored 14 in the first 2:28. The lead went to 17-0 with 2:11 left in the first when Mark Myers connected on a 47-yard field goal.
Bethune-Cookman, which was ousted in the first round a second straight year, pulled within 17-10 on a 23-yard field goal by Jesus Cortez, followed by a 53-yard touchdown from Austin to Jonathan Summers with 11:12 left in the third.
Florida Atlantic stretched the lead to 27-10 after a 48-yard field goal by Myers and a 46-yard TD by Allen to Brittney Tellis with 13:20 left. Two quick touchdowns brought the Wildcats within 27-24, but B-CC's last chance stalled on an intentional grounding call in the end zone with nine seconds remaining.
N. ARIZONA 35, McNEESE ST. 3: Jason Murrietta threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns to knock off the top-seeded Cowboys. Murrietta completed 24-of-34 in handing McNeese State its worst home loss since 1990, when Louisiana Tech won 51-3.
Division III
ST. JOHN'S 38, ST. NORBERT 13: Ryan Keating threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns to lead the host Johnnies in the second round. Coach John Gagliardi, college football's all-time winningest coach, notched his 411th win.
