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Indiana State spoils FIU's season opener with 13-10 home victory

Box Score

 


Photo by Geoff Anderson

Indiana State defender Terrance Miles stops apparent FIU scoring drive when he forces Cory McKinney to fumble down near the goal line.

Terre Haute, Ind.--Jake Shields rushed for 213 yards on 29 carries to lead host Indiana State to a 13-10 victory over FIU on Saturday.

Kyle Hooper kicked field goals of 32 and 25 yards in the second and third quarters to give Indiana State (1-1) the lead for good.

Down 13-7, FIU was knocking on the door of its first lead of the game with 14:27 remaining. On a first-and-goal from the ISU eight, Golden Panthers quarterback Jamie Burke found Cory McKinney with a pass.

McKinney hurdled defenders in an attempt to score, but his legs were knocked out from under him by the Sycamores Terrance Miles. The hit jarred the ball loose and ISU’s Larry Thompson came up with it at the three-yard line to end the FIU scoring threat.

After a short drive by ISU, FIU (0-1) regained possession at the ISU 42-yard line and marched down to the 14 before they had to settle for an Adam Moss 31-yard field goal to pull within 13-10 with 10 minutes remaining.

With time running out, Shields took things into his own hands, bursting through the left side for a 63-yard scamper--the longest opponent rushing play in the brief history of Golden Panthers football--down to the FIU seven.

ISU went for a touchdown on a fourth and goal at the one with 1:02 left in the game, but quarterback Jake Schiff was sacked for a loss, giving the Golden Panthers one final opportunity.

But the ISU defense held, sealing the 13-10 victory.

“We should have won this football game, there was no doubt about it. We had all kinds of opportunities, but we couldn’t take advantage of them,” said FIU head coach Don Strock.

“This was a team we knew was going to run the football, yet I thought our defense played excellent. We held them to 13 points. You’re supposed to win the game when your defense holds somebody to 13 points.

“We put the ball on the ground. We had overthrows by the quarterbacks. But this is what happens when you have a young team. They need to learn how to win.


Photo by Geoff Anderson

Rashod Smith races for a gain of 35 yards, the longest play from scrimmage on the day for the Golden Panthers.

 

“Somebody needs to step up and make a big play on offense. Somebody needs to step up and make a big play on defense. And somebody needs to step up and make a big play on special teams. Nobody did that today.

Schiff, who completed his first nine passes of the game en route to a 10 of 13 performance for 102 yards and a touchdown, connecting on a 24-yard pass with Matt Beste to give the Sycamores an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Rashod Smith countered with a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7, set up by a 17-yard pass completion from back-up quarterback David Tabor to Andre Rollins.

Smith finished as the Golden Panthers chief offensive weapon with 59 yards on nine carries and another 70 yards in the air on seven receptions.

Burke completed 18 of 31 passes for 139 yards for the Golden Panthers.

The season home opening win was the first for Indiana State against a Division 1-AA opponent since a 1993 win over Eastern Illinois. ISU has now won six of their last seven games inside Memorial Stadium.

Defensive backs Greg Moss was forced to leave the game early with a lower back contusion and Randy Arnold sustained a right ankle sprain. He will be x-rayed Sunday. Wide receiver Harold Leath suffered a right shoulder sprain and he, too, will be x-rayed.

FIU is back on the road next Saturday, traveling to Portland, Maine, for a contest against No. 20-ranked Maine (1-1), a 44-21 winner over Hofstra, today.

The Golden Panthers opens their home season on Saturday, Sept. 20 against No. 8 Bethune-Cookman (2-0) at FIU Stadium. Good seats still remain. Call (866) FIU-GAME for information.

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Players Mentioned

Jamie Burke

#13 Jamie Burke

QB
6' 3"
Sophomore
Randy Arnold

#1 Randy Arnold

DB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Cory McKinney

#86 Cory McKinney

WR
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Rashod Smith

#4 Rashod Smith

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Greg Moss

#8 Greg Moss

DB
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Andre Rollins

#80 Andre Rollins

WR
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Adam Moss

#14 Adam Moss

K
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jamie Burke

#13 Jamie Burke

6' 3"
Sophomore
QB
Randy Arnold

#1 Randy Arnold

5' 10"
Sophomore
DB
Cory McKinney

#86 Cory McKinney

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Rashod Smith

#4 Rashod Smith

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
RB
Greg Moss

#8 Greg Moss

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Andre Rollins

#80 Andre Rollins

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Adam Moss

#14 Adam Moss

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
K