MIAMI – Kaylan Wiggins came into this game on a mission to prove his worth at the quarterback position.
He left last night’s home game against New Hampshire with a 30-17 win and a place in the FIU record books.
It was announced that Wiggins finished with 187 rushing yards, which is tied for fifth in school history. He also scored two touchdowns on the ground and threw for 127 yards.
In all, the backup FIU quarterback led all players with a combined total of 314 yards and the two rushing scores to give his team their first win of the season.
“It feels good,” Wiggins said of his rushing effort last night. “As a quarterback, I would like to have the passing yards. But however we get the win, I like to win.”
Wiggins (first career collegiate start) is currently at the position in place of starter James Morgan, who is dealing with an injury at this time. He spoke on how the graduate senior had helped him prepare for New Hampshire.
“This week, it was about finishing, finishing, finishing,” Wiggins said. “James was there with me every night. He’s my roommate, so he was there to make sure I had everything I needed. He asked me, ‘You got everything? You got everything?’ So James was a big help to me.”
Wiggins spoke on how FIU (1-2) fended off a tough charge from New Hampshire (0-2).
“They have a great team and a great defense,” Wiggins said. “We knew that going into the game. They came and showed us who we though they were. They’re a fundamental team.”
Late in the fourth quarter, FIU was clinging to a 20-17 lead over New Hampshire. But it was a punt return for a score that effectively sealed the Panthers first win, when Tony Gaiter IV caught a Wildcats punt from the 3-yard line and had help from Dimitry Prophete, who finished the job and went in for the touchdown with 8:36 left for a 26-17 lead.
An extra point by kicker Jose Borregales, followed by his extra point closer to the final buzzer, were the last four points score in this game.
Earlier in the game, touchdown runs by Wiggins and running back Napoleon Maxwell made the difference for FIU, which went into halftime with a 13-10 lead.
Three things stood out for FIU when it mattered most: determination, focus, and timely intensity. Without those three elements in play, New Hampshire might have left South Florida with an upset win of its own.
FIU overcame a stellar performance by Wildcats true freshman quarterback Max Brosmer, who stunned the Panthers crowd with an 86-yard touchdown pass to running back Dylan Laube early in the third frame.
Brosmer (19-38, 224 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception) looked like he has played college football for years, as his sharp focus and decision-making skills kept FIU’s secondary on its heels until midway in the fourth quarter.
FIU needed this kind of game because it let the team know that no opponent can be overlooked. An upset can happen at any time.
Next game for FIU: Away at Louisiana Tech (2-1) on Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. kickoff
Next game for New Hampshire: Home vs. Rhode Island (0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m. kickoff
PHOTO CREDIT: Ronaldo Garcia
