FIU opens conference play with 28-21 victory over WKU

The FIU football team tied a program-record with four rushing touchdowns en route to a 28-21 victory over the WKU Hilltoppers Oct. 9 at FIU Stadium. The win, FIU’s first of the season, is all the more important as it comes on FIU’s Sun Belt Conference opener.

The Panthers got off to a 21-0 lead with 12:24 left in the first half, but WKU battled back to make a game of it late as the score was 28-21 with under a minute to play. On fourth down, from FIU’s 22, WKU quarterback Kawaun Jakes launched a pass into the endzone, but senior cornerback Dez Johnson broke up the play to seal the game for the Panthers.

Sophomore running back Darian Mallary led the rushing attack for the Panthers, scoring once and racking up a career-high 97 yards on nine carries. Junior Darriet Perry added 65 yards and a score on 14 carries, while freshman Kedrick Rhodes ran for 59 yards. T.Y. Hilton and Wesley Carroll each added a rushing touchdown.

On defense, safety Jonathan Cyprien set a career-high with 13 tackles. Jose Cheesborough and Winston Fraser added eight tackles apiece. Senior cornerback Anthony Gaitor had another big game for FIU, picking up a sack, and two tackles for loss, including one on a crucial third-down play during WKU’s final possession.

After the both teams punted on their first possessions, FIU jumped ahead on their second drive as Hilton scored his first touchdown of the season. The Panthers drove 73-yards in just 1:37 to take a 7-0 lead with 9:23 remaining in the first quarter. On the drive, Kedrick Rhodes got FIU into the redzone on a 39-yard run, and Hilton put FIU on top on a 12-yard reverse.

FIU doubled its lead with 12:24 to go in the second quarter when Mallary scored on a five-yard carry. The score was set up by a 37-yard run by Mallary, which was the longest of his career. The score was made possible by a Hilton 33-yard catch on third down that extended the FIU drive.

The Panthers made the score 21-0 with 8:09 to go in the first half when Perry scored on a four-yard run. It was Perry’s 10^th career rushing score, which is tied for third all-time at FIU. The scoring drive lasted eight plays and covered 60 yards. On the drive, Carroll completed six passes for 51 yards.

WKU cut into the FIU lead with 3:28 left in the first half when Kawaun Jakes found tight end Jack Doyle for a six-yard touchdown, making the score 21-7.

An interception on the first play of the ensuing FIU drive, an interference call and a facemask penalty set the Hilltoppers up at the FIU four with three seconds remaining in the half. WKU chose to go for it instead of taking the three points, but Jakes’ pass sailed high and out of the endzone, keeping the score at 21-7 going into the half.

The start of the second half saw WKU and FIU trade punts on each team’s first possession. However, at the 5:22 mark of the third quarter, the Hilltoppers cut into the FIU lead on a one-yard TD run by Jakes that capped off a 13-play, 71-yard drive that made it a 21-14 game.

FIU was forced to punt on their next drive, and punter Josh Brisk pinned the Hilltoppers down on their own four. In that drive, Jarvis Wilson forced a fumble that Toronto Smith recovered and ran back to the WKU 33. Set up with great field position, the Panthers capitalized with a one-yard TD run by Carroll that made the score 28-14 with 13:22 to go in the ballgame.

With 5:47 left on the clock, WKU made it a seven point game on a 53-yard TD pass from Jakes to Dexter Haynes.

After an FIU punt, WKU had a chance to tie the score as they got the ball at the FIU 36. However, on fourth down, Johnson’s pass breakup in the endzone ended the Hilltopper threat.

The win moved FIU’s record to 1-4 and 1-0 in the Sun Belt, while WKU dropped to 0-5 and 0-1 in conference play.

The Panthers will be back on the road next week as they travel to Denton, Texas, to face the Mean Green of North Texas.