BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic struck early and often as it handed Bethune-Cookman a 49-28 decision Saturday at Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium.

FAU's Devin Singletary scored five touchdowns in the game's first 22 minutes as the Owls (2-1) stormed out to leads of 29-0 and 36-7 before the Wildcats (1-2) settled down and held their own the rest of the way.

Akevious Williams finished 18 of 27 for 201 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another to give B-CU some bright spots in their final tune-up before opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play against Howard at the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.

After FAU scored 29 first quarter points, B-CU got on the board with a six-play 74-yard drive that saw Williams connect with Jimmie Robinson on a 31-yard touchdown pass on a fourth down.

FAU capitalized on a B-CU interception to make it 36-7, but B-CU answered after Kennedy Ndukwe's pick  sparked a late first-half drive.

Queshaun Byrd got the march started with a 31-yard run, then two passes to Kyreree Wallace for a combined 29 yards put the Wildcats in the red zone. Williams hit Keavon Mitchell on a six-yarder with 46 seconds remaining to make it a 36-14 game.

Williams' 41-yarder to Jonathon Thomas in the third quarter capped off a 94-yard drive. The quarterback concluded the scoring with a four-yard fourth quarter run.

Thomas finished with seven catches for 87 yards, while Wallace had four catches for 33. Byrd led B-CU on the ground with 69 yards on five carries.

Trevor Merritt and Jamauri Laguerre each had eight tackles to lead the Wildcat defense. Laguerre also had an interception.