Written by
The Sports Network TSN
Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Wesley Carroll threw for two touchdowns
and Kedrick Rhodes ran for one, as the FIU Golden Panthers closed out the
regular season with a 31-18 win over Middle Tennessee in Sun Belt Conference
action at Floyd Stadium.
Rhodes carried 20 times for 117 yards to help the Golden Panthers (8-4, 5-3
SBC) notch their third straight win and establish a program record with eight
victories on the year.
Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders (2-9, 1-6) suffered their fifth straight loss.
Jeff Murphy and Logan Kilgore combined to throw for 291 yards and two
interceptions.
FIU took a 7-0 lead on Carroll's five-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Faucher
at the 2:30 mark of the opening quarter.
Middle Tennessee could only manage a pair of field goals by Alan Gendreau (37,
25 yds) in the second quarter. The Panthers' second touchdown came on a one-
yard run by Rhodes midway through the second quarter. That touchdown was set
up by a 77-yard kick return from T.Y. Hilton all the way down to the MT 3, as
FIU took a 14-6 lead into the half.
The Golden Panthers added to their lead with a pair of third-quarter
touchdowns. The first came on a two-yard pass from Carroll to Hilton at the
5:46 mark. The second was set up by Gregory Hickman's interception, as
Jeremiah Harden found the end zone on a one-yard run to give FIU a 28-6 lead
entering the final quarter.
Middle Tennessee capped a 13-play, 96-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run
by Benjamin Cunningham midway through the fourth quarter. The Panthers tacked
on three more points with a 25-yard field goal from Jack Griffin later in the
frame, and MT's Reggie Whatley closed out the scoring with a one-yard
touchdown run in the final seconds.
The Blue Raiders held a 393-324 edge in total offense for the game, but they
had to settle for field goals on two of their four trips inside the red zone.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network
You Might Be Interested In