FIU undefeated after 17-10 win over UCF

FIU’s defense forced a pair of fumbles and returned one for a touchdown as the Panthers beat the UCF Knights, 17-10, Saturday night in Miami. With the win, the Panthers move to 3-0 on the season.

Isame Faciane returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown in the first half. Photo courtesy FIUSports.com.

With star receiver T.Y. Hilton having to leave the game in the second quarter due to an injury, FIU’s defense stepped up and held UCF’s Jeff Godfrey to just 41 yards rushing and sacked him six times. The biggest play of the contest came with just six seconds to go in the first half when Tevin Blanchard sacked Godfrey and forced a fumble that Isame Faciane returned 51 yards to tie the score at seven.

On offense, Kedrick Rhodes led the way for the Panthers with 90 rushing yards on 16 carries. Wes Carroll completed 15-of-29 pass attempts for 126 yards.

Defensively, Jordan Hunt led the way with 11 tackles, and Winston Fraser added 10, including a pair of sacks.

The two high-powered offenses, which came into the game averaging a combined 35+ points-per-game, battled to a scoreless tie after one quarter. The Panthers threatened a couple of times, but both drives ended in punts that backed UCF inside its own 10-yard line.

At the start of the second quarter, UCF was in the middle of a drive that culminated on a 1-yard Godfrey touchdown run. The drive lasted 18 plays and ate up 10:40 of game clock. With the score, UCF took a 7-0 lead at the 10:32 mark of the second quarter.

On the ensuing drive, FIU appeared primed to get on the board when Carroll found Hilton over the middle for what looked like the game-tying touchdown. However, Hilton suffered a leg injury on the play that caused him to drop the pass. After the play, Hilton was helped to the locker room by the training staff.

With six seconds to go in the first half, UCF was driving for a score when Blanchard sacked Godfrey and forced a fumble that Faciane picked up and ran in for a 51-yard touchdown to tie the score at seven going into halftime.

On FIU’s first drive of the second half, the Panthers were forced to punt, but UCF’s returner muffed the punt and Colt Anderson recovered it for FIU at the UCF eight-yard line. Two plays later, Darriet Perry found the endzone to give the Panthers the lead at the 9:43 mark of the third quarter. The touchdown was Perry’s 24th-career rushing touchdown, tying Rashod Smith’s program-record.

After a UCF punt, FIU took over on its own six-yard line and drove all the way down to the UCF 10, but was unable to find the endzone. However, Jack Griffin made the drive count as he drilled a 27-yard field goal to push FIU’s lead to 17-7 with 1:41 to go in the third.

With 12:05 to go in the game, UCF lined up for a 51-yard field foal, but Nick Cattoi’s attempt sailed wide left, keeping the FIU lead at 10 points.

Cattoi added a field goal to cut FIU’s lead to seven points with 1:52 to go in the game. The Knights’ ensuing onside kick was recovered by Colt Anderson, and FIU ran out the clock to seal the victory.

The win improved FIU’s record to 3-0 while UCF falls to 2-1 on the season.

Up next for FIU is a home matchup with Sun Belt foe Louisiana on Saturday, Sept. 24. The game is set for 6 p.m.