By
Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin
It has been an historic 2017 season for FIU. The Panthers have matched the program record for wins in a season, broken all kinds of FIU records and can cap an outstanding first season for FIU coach
Butch Davis by defeating Temple in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 21.
The Gasparilla Bowl is the third bowl game in FIU's short history and the last time the Panthers were in the postseason was in the same building – Tropicana Field – in the 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.
Today marks 2 days until kickoff between FIU and Temple. Until Dec. 21 we're going to count down the days until the Gasparilla Bowl by re-visiting the Top 10 moments of the 2017 FIU football season.
Of course, the No. 1 moment could happen in the Gasparilla Bowl, but until then there is another No. 1 moment that we'll reveal on Dec. 20. Let's continue the countdown:
2. CLIMBING THE HILL
With a record 10 bowl-eligible teams out of Conference USA this season, six wins did not guarantee a postseason spot for any one of the those 10.
Entering its game against Western Kentucky the day after Thanksgiving FIU stood at 6-4. The Panthers needed to win at least one more game and possibly two in their final two games of the regular season to assure their first postseason berth since 2011.
After leading the Hilltoppers at halftime 13-10, the Panthers poured it on in the second half outscoring WKU 28-7 and putting points on the board in a variety of ways.
Besides scoring via the field goal, a rushing touchdown and passing touchdown, the Panthers scored two their final two touchdowns on special teams.
Near the end of the third quarter with WKU facing fourth-and-12 on the 50, Hilltoppers punter Jake Collins attempted a fake punt but stumbled when FIU defensive lineman
Jordan Guest closed in. Collins fumbled the ball which
D'Vonte Price scooped up to return it 38 yards for a touchdown. FIU led 34-17.
Midway through the fourth quarter FIU punter
Stone Wilson executed a fake punt that worked and at the same time made FIU history.
From the WKU 24, Wilson and kicker
Jose Borregales initially were going to lineup for a 41-yard field goal. However, Wilson moved into the shotgun position with Borregales lining up as the slot receiver. Wilson took the snap rolled right and found tight end
Pharoah McKever near the left sideline. Wilson delivered a perfect pass and McKever rumbled into the end zone for the 24-yard touchdown.
The play marked the first time in FIU's 16-year history that a Panthers punter had thrown a pass. Before Wilson's pass, several FIU receivers had been the only FIU non-quarterbacks to throw a pass in an FIU game.
FIU won 41-17 and just about assured its first bowl game in six years.
TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2017 FIU FOOTBALL SEASON COUNTDOWN
10. TWO-YARD SPECIAL
9. SWEET "HOME" ALABAMA
8. TULANE BECOMES ONE LANE
7. OVER HERD
6. UNSUNG PANTHERS
5. COOKED RICE
4. RECORD FINISH
3. GREEN ZONE
