Panthers beat Warhawks in Homecoming thriller, 42-35

Rushing touchdowns by Darriet Perry and T.Y. Hilton gave the FIU defense a chance to win Saturday’s game in double overtime as the Panthers held on to a 7-point lead. A sack by Toronto Smith on second down and a fourth down stop by Ash Parker sent the Panthers and their fans into a frenzy as FIU beat ULM 42-35 on Homecoming at FIU Stadium.

Hilton had a career-day, scoring four times and amassing 291 yards to lead the Panthers’ attack. The FIU running game had another stellar day, picking up 242 yards on the ground led by Perry’s 112. On defense, Smith led all defenders with 11 stops, two for losses, and a sack in overtime. Tourek Williams also had a career-best performance, recording four tackles for loss and two sacks.

The Panthers jumped ahead right away, when Wes Carroll found Greg Ellingson in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown with 13:10 to go in the first half. The score was set up by 32 rushing yards on the drive from Jeremiah Harden, including a 26-yard scamper on the play before the score.

ULM responded with a score of its own on the next drive, tying the game with 9:15 to go in the first with a three-yard run by Frank Goodin.

Hilton made sure the score didn’t remain tied for long as he took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for his first return touchdown of the year. It was Hilton’s fourth-career return for touchdown, tying him for first all-time at FIU.

FIU appeared to have stopped ULM on its next drive, but a personal foul prolonged the drive and the Warhawks capitalized, picking up three on a 42-yard field goal by Radi Jabour to make the score 14-10.

Hilton struck again with 2:17 to go in the first half, hauling in a 20-yard toss from Carroll to extend the Panthers’ lead to 21-10. The touchdown capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive, and sent the Panthers into the halftime break with a double-digit lead.

Coming out of the half, the Warhawks cut the FIU lead to four at 21-17 on a 26-yard pass from Kolton Browning to Tavarese Maye with 11:11 to go in the third quarter. The Warhawks added another three on a 37-yard field goal with 4:51 to go in the third to pull within one at 21-20.

FIU increased its lead to 28-21 at the 11:36 mark on a highlight-reel, 67-yard touchdown catch by Hilton. On the play, Hilton beat a ULM defender on a jump-ball, and then broke the same defender’s attempted tackle before strolling into the end zone for his third receiving touchdown of the year.

ULM came right back with a touchdown of its own on a 17-yard pass. The play was set up by an 81-yard reception by Maye. The Warhawks tied the score with 10:42 to go in the game with a successful two-point conversion.

After ULM interception was brought back deep into FIU territory with 15 second left in the game, Winston Fraser returned the favor picking off a pass to send the game into overtime.

FIU won the toss in overtime and chose to be on defense first. ULM found the end zone on a TD pass from Browning to Anthony McCall.

The Panthers responded right away as Hilton scored his fourth touchdown of the game, this one on the ground on a reverse that tied the score at 35.

The start of the second overtime saw Perry put FIU up 42-35 with a 17-yard touchdown run. On ULM’s possession in the second overtime, Smith picked up a sack on second down to force a 3rd–and-20. On the following play, Browning was pressured and forced to scramble, setting up a 4^th-and-12 for the game. On the final play of the game, ULM connected on a pass, but Parker came up with a stop, sealing the victory for the Panthers.

With the win, FIU improves to 3-5 on the year and 3-1 in Sun Belt play. The Warhawks fall to 4-5 and 3-3 in conference play. FIU’s victory sets up a showdown at Troy next week as the Panthers and Trojans will play for first place in the conference. That game is set for a 4:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff and will be carried by the Sun Belt Network.