MIAMI – What a game we have had in here at FIU Stadium tonight (Sept. 9).
North Texas came down to take on FIU here in the 305 and showed out early on by putting the first points on the board.
Mean Green quarterback Stone Earle threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Landon Sides, which helped put them 7-0 with 10:50 left in the first quarter.
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to come back and answer with their own touchdown. A handoff to running back Shomari Lawrence resulted in a score on the ground that helped to tie the game up 7-7 with 9:39 left in the first.
The clock was running down and before the end of the first, North Texas was able to put three points up on the board with a field goal made by Noah Rauschenberg.
The first quarter ended with North Texas having a 10-7 lead over FIU.
To start the second quarter, FIU had the ball but was unable to score.
After North Texas took over on downs, the quarterback dropped back for a pass. But it was intercepted by defensive back Hezekiah Masses for an FIU pick-six.
The play – plus the extra point by Rauschenberg – put FIU up 14-10 with 13:47 left in the second.
North Texas received the ball back and was intercepted again. But this time, it was by defensive back CJ Christian from FIU with 13:15 left in the second.
On the first play after the interception, FIU’s quarterback dropped back for a pass and was instantly intercepted by North Texas. The next drive was not a success, as North Texas was unable to score on it.
With 6:50 left in the 2nd, FIU settled for a field goal attempt by kicker Chase Gabriel, which put them up 17-10.
It didnt take long for North Texas to answer back with a handoff to running back Oscar Adaway III for the touchdown run. With Rauschenberg’s extra point, it made the score 17-17 with 4:22 left in the second.
With 1:08 left in the first half, North Texas was able to put three points up on the board by Rauschenberg, cutting the FIU lead to 20-17.
Coming out of halftime, FIU received the ball, and just like that, they scored. A handoff to running back Kejon Owens resulted in a touchdown run, which helped put FIU up 24-20 with 11:31 left in the third.
It didn’t take North Texes much time to answer, as Earle came with a pass touchdown to wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin. This, along with an extra point, put North Texes up 27-24 with 9:26 left in the third.
FIU took some time to drive, but answered with a touchdown run by Owens, which helped put FIU up 31-27 with 4:37 left in the third.
FIU found its flow and scored another touchdown. Freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins dropped back and got a scoring pass to wide receiver Kris Mitchell, putting FIU up 38-27 with 1:02 left in the third.
At the end of the third, FIU was still up on North Texas, 38-27.
With 11:18 left in the fourth, Earle dropped back for a touchdown pass to wide receiver Damon Ward, cutting FIU’s lead to just five points at 38-33. But a failed two-point conversion attempt by North Texas kept the score the same.
FIU got the ball back and on first down, the quarterback dropped back for a pass that was intercepted. Due to this, North Texas scored and took a one-point lead at 39-38 with 10:03 left in the fourth.
With 7:09 left in the game, Owens ran the ball in for a touchdown. FIU went for a two-point conversion with a quarterback keeper by Jenkins, which put FIU up 46-39.
Unable to score when North Texas got the ball back, FIU received the ball and ran down the clock.
Final score: FIU 46, North Texas 39.
Records now: FIU (2-1), North Texas (0-2)
STORY AND COVER PHOTO: Deuntay Johnson
