Box Score
Final
Statistics
Rashod Smith ran for 199
yards on 37 carries and Josh Padrick completed
19 of 34 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown
as FIU (2-1) hung on to win on the road, 31-24,
over I-AA No. 5-ranked Stephen F. Austin (4-1),
Saturday night in Nacogdoches, Texas.
It was the first win for the Golden Panthers
against a ranked I-AA opponent in the history
of the program in their seventh try, while
the loss snapped a five-game Lumberjack win
streak and was only the seventh loss in the
last 21 home game for SFA.
"Rashod carried the ball a few more
time than we would have liked," said
FIU head coach Don Strock.
"But Adam Gorman has
been slowed with a hamstring pull and the
young kids haven't showed us in practice that
they're ready to go in and play yet."
Smith, whose total rushing yards was the
second most in FIU history (Smith's 262 yards
vs. Jacksonville on Oct. 31, 2002 is the best),
said establishing a potent running game is
important to the overall success of the team.
"It's important to us because if we
can the ground game going, that will only
help to open up the pass," Smith said.
"Both working together gives us an all-around
offense."
FIU enjoyed a 31-10 lead after three quarters
before Stephen F. Austin put on a last-quarter
run. SFA got to within 31-17 on a defensive
miscue. On a fourth-and-seven from the FIU
24-yard line, quarterback Michael
Williams lofted the ball toward the
end zone in the general direction of receiver
Miguel Toulon. Standing near
the goal line, FIU linebacker Gerrod
Bodie was about to knock the ball
to the turf when Toulon came around Bodie,
caught the ball and got into the end zone.
FIU got the ball back and tried to run some
clock, but a Padrick interception started
another SFA drive at its own 38. Williams
again moved the 'Jacks for another touchdown
to close within 31-24 with 5:50 to play, hitting
Scott Morgan was a 31-yard
pass for one big play and calling his own
number for a 12-yard pick up on another.
After FIU failed again to move the ball,
Stephen F. Austin got one more crack to tie
the score, starting at its own 13 with 2:15
to play in regulation. But on a fourth-and-11
play, Tony Tompkins failed
to come up with a first-down reception and
FIU took over on downs with 1:11 remaining,
running out the clock to claim the hard-fought
victory.
"The defense played well in spots,"
Strock said. "We're still a little soft
with our pass rush, at times we were out of
position and we had three chances for pass
interceptions that two turned into touchdowns.
If we make those alone, the game wouldn't
have even been close.
"This was a big victory tonight but
like I told the team in the locker room, we
still have a lot of things we have to work
on and we'll go back to work on Monday and
get ready for Louisiana-Monroe," he said.
On its second possession of the game, FIU
methodically marched 80 yards in 13 plays,
capped off by a one-yard plunge by Smith who
was the workhorse on the drive, eating up
44 yards on nine carries.
Stephen F. Austin answered back with a field
goal from 22 yards and trailed 7-3 at the
end of the first quarter. The Lumberjacks
had a first-and-goal from the FIU nine but
had to settle for the field goal after a third-down
play from the five was nearly intercepted
by Nick Turnbull.
The Golden Panthers scored again for a 14-3
lead with 10:33 to go before half, when Smith
took a handoff and raced 56 yards, breaking
several SFA tackles at the line of scrimmage.
Smith finished the half with 122 yard, the
third 100-yard effort in his career and the
ninth by a Golden Panthers runner in the history
of the program.
FIU extended its lead to 17-3 on a 45-yard
field goal by Adam Moss but
Stephen F. Austin scored on a 38-yard touchdown
pass from Williams to Tompkins with 49 seconds
left in the half when, what looked to be an
apparent interception by Lionel Singleton,
was misjudged and sailed over his hands into
the waiting arms of Tompkins.
After stopping the Stephen F. Austin offense
on three plays to start the third quarter,
FIU went back to work from its own 47-yard
line. Padrick hit Williams with a 28-yard
strike. After a short pass completion to Samuel
Smith, Rashod Smith raced for another
12 yards to the eight, setting up a touchdown
pass from Padrick to Cory McKinney
and a 24-10 lead with 12:50 to play in the
third quarter.
After stopping SFA again, the Golden Panthers
looked to get on the scoreboard once more
when Padrick found Williams for a 43-yard
touchdown pass. But the play was called back
for holding and two plays later FIU was forced
to punt.
But the Golden Panthers weren't done as Padrick
and Rashod Smith ignited another drive, this
time a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that
ended with Smith's third score of the game,
from a yard out. FIU led 31-10 at the end
of three quarters.
Injuries from the game included defensive
end Shaun Dudney (left knee),
wide receiver Andre Rollins
(right ankle) and linebacker Johnahan
Sturrup (right ankle). All three
will be examined by team doctors Sunday to
determine the severity of each.
The Golden Panthers are back on the road
next weekend against another I-A opponent
from the Sun Belt Conference when the team
travels to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Oct.
16. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. (ET).
The team returns to FIU Stadium on Saturday,
Oct. 23 vs. McNeese State. Call the FIU Ticket
Office at (866) FIU-GAME for more information.