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.