MIAMI – The FIU Golden Panthers need some respect put on their name after capturing their third conference victory Saturday night.
The Panthers (5-2, 3-0 Conference USA) have arrived, so to speak. They have the conference in a slight semi-chokehold after downing Rice, 36-17.
Rice came out and did not look like a team that was 1-6 and last in the conference.
The Owls would score on a run by walk-in quarterback Evan Marshman with 7:20 left in the first quarter to make it 7-0.
The Rice defense would blank FIU in the first quarter, and it didn’t seem like the road team wanted to let up anytime soon.
FIU Kicker Jose Borregales would get the Panthers in the game with a 32-yard field goal with 12:32 left in the second quarter to make it 7-3.
With 9:40 left in the second quarter, it was evident that Rice came to play. But FIU would snuff the Owls defense out on a 51-yard jet sweep to the house by Maurice Alexander with 7:37 left in the second to make it 10-7.
FIU linebacker Edwin Freeman intercepted Rice’s quarterback. After the interception, the Panthers offense would score on a 33-yard bomb pass from Morgan to wideout Austin Maloney with 4:28 left in the second to make it 16-7.
Rice went into the half with some momentum after a 47-yard field goal by Haden Tobola to cut into the Panthers lead and make it 16-10.
Borregales extended the Panthers lead on a 38-yard field goal with 11:05 left in the third to make it 19-10.
FIU would start to pull away with 3:30 left in the third, as Morgan threw his second touchdown of the night to wideout Shemar Thornton. The touchdown, plus an extra point by Borrageales, made it 26-10.
Rice would find some life before the end of the third quarter, as Marshman scored on a 22-yard scramble play to make it 26-17 going into the fourth.
Morgan would score his third touchdown on a quarterback draw play with 9:45 left in the game to make it 33-17.
The Panthers defense would get the ball back for the offense on the ensuing drive on an interception by Rishard Dames. They would put the nail in the coffin and extend their lead on another Borregales field goal to make it a final score of 36-17.
FIU’s offense would get the ball back again after a interception by defensive back Isaiah Brown. The Panthers would take a knee to end the game.
Morgan would be the star of the game, as he finished with 20-29 passing for 229 yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing.
“It feels good to have success,” Morgan said. “I think the mentality you have to have is never be satisfied, right? It’s great to have success with these guys, and we have to approach each game the same every week and not get bored with the mundane routines.”
This may seem like a medium win for FIU from the outside looking in, but this was definitely one of those “trap games”, per say. You had Rice with nothing to lose literally and FIU with everything to gain and then some.
Rice put out an exerted effort to pull of an upset, but this hot FIU team isn’t trying to lose its fire any time soon.
“Happy to win the game,” FIU head coach Butch Davis said. “It was a good win, and I’m glad to get that one over with.”
It will be interesting to see how the Panthers handle their remaining five games. They are in the driver’s seat right now.
FIU will be on the road to face Western Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 27, with a 7:30 p.m. start.
