NORFOLK, Va. – Butch Davis has said that his FIU players will not quit on each other in any situation.
The Golden Panthers head coach was proven right in last night’s weather-delayed road game against the Old Dominion Monarchs. They overcame an early 17-0 deficit to win its Conference USA season opener, 28-20.
FIU (1-1; 1-0 in Conference USA play) was led by the steady play of transfer quarterback James Morgan, who finished with 17 completions on 27 attempts for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Morgan’s leadership shined through in the second quarter as evidenced by a 47-touchdown pass to wide receiver C.J. Worton that cut Old Dominion’s lead to 17-7. And just before the game went into halftime, the Bowling Green transfer added a touchdown pass – an 11-yarder – o
O m Tony Gaiter IV, which cut the day molead further to 20-14.
The game totally changed in the third frame, when a two-hour weather delay actually played a role in how FIU would complete the comeback effort.
Guess who ended up making it happen?
It was Delray Beach’s own Shawndarrius Phillips, who scored the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard run. The junior running back’s end-zone score completed a 19-play, 86-yard drive that was accentuated by a go-ahead extra point by kicker Jose Borrageales.
At that point, FIU took a 21-20 lead over Old Dominion (0-2; 0-1 in Conference USA play) and never looked back.
The game’s final score was a 36-yard touchdown pass from Morgan to Austin Maloney. It was a 99-yard scoring drive that followed a stout defensive effort from FIU, which was a forced three-and-out effort to make the game-winner possible.
LOCAL STANDOUTS
Phillips led all running backs with 18 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown. The Delray Beach Atlantic alum now has 29 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns in two games played this season.
It was a coming-out effort for sophomore defensive lineman Noah Curtis, who was third on the team with six tackles last night. The Delray Beach American Heritage alum could be a force on the front four for the next few years.
Fellow defensive lineman and Dwyer alum Jamal Gates recorded two tackles, while special teams standout and Suncoast alum Josh Powell had one tackle against Old Dominion.
NEXT GAME: Home vs. UMass on Saturday, Sept. 15, with the kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
