Box Score
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Photo by Geoff Anderson
Tight
end Samuel Smith comes down with one
of his eight receptions for a two-year
TD catch that gave FIU a first-quarter
10-0 lead. But fumbles and interceptions
helped North Texas stay in the game
en route to a 13-10 victory. |
• Final
Game Statistics | North
Texas Photo Gallery
On a night when FIU out-gained four-time
Sun Belt Conference champion North Texas,
322-226, eight Golden Panthers turnovers proved
fatal in a 13-10 setback to the Mean Green.
Johnny Quinn’s seven-yard
touchdown reception from quarterback
Daniel Meager brought North Texas
back from a 10-6 deficit with 1:59 to play
in the third quarter.
The Golden Panthers (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) drove
the field late in the fourth quarter, driving
62 yards on eight plays. But on a fourth-and-one
from the North Texas 24-yard line, FIU head
coach Don Strock called on
placekicker Adam Moss to
attempt a tying 41-yard field goal. The kick
sailed wide left. The drive ended and so did
the game.
“We have great confidence in Adam,”
said Strock. “It’s not like he
can’t kick a 40-yard field goal. This
one he didn’t make. But there were other
opportunities—I’m not placing
the blame on one guy, there’s enough
to go around for everyone.”
FIU jumped off to a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
After a fumble ended their first drive, the
Golden Panthers went 79 yards in 13 plays,
capped off by a Moss field goal from 25 yards,
his sixth straight of the year.
Te FIU defense forced a punt on NT’s
ensuring possession with Julius Eppinger’s
27-yard return giving the Golden Panthers
a first-and-10 at the Mean Green 31. Six plays
later, Josh Padrick found
tight end Samuel Smith for
a 2-yard TD pass.
North Texas (2-3, 2-1 SBC) converted two
field goal attempts by Nick Bazaldua,
from 20- and 41-yards, cutting the lead to
10-6 at the half.
But the Golden Panthers were their own worst
enemy, losing the ball on fumbles for a school-record
six times to go along with a pair of interceptions.
“Obviously, you can’t win any
game when you commit turnovers, and we certainly
had our share,” said Strock. “It’s
a mystery. These are the same drills we work
on every day. You just can’t turn the
ball over eight times. Last time we turned
the ball over that many times, we had the
same outcome. Whether you lose by one point,
three points or 30 points, you can’t
do that. We’ll take a look at the film
and go from there.”
Padrick finished the game 20 of 32 for 243
yards and the one touchdown to Smith, who
caught eight balls for 98 yards.
Julian Reams was the leading
rusher for FIU with 78 yards on 15 carries.
It was Reams first game back since suffering
a neck stinger last Sept. 24 at Arkansas State
and he replaced sophomore Ben West
who has been suspended indefinitely by Strock
for violations of team policy.
Last season’s leading NCAA rusher Patrick
Cobbs finished with 112 yards on 27 carries,
but the FIU defense forced nine North Texas
punts.
“Our defense played very well tonight,”
said Strock. “We put them in some bad
situations and held up against an excellent
running attack. North Texas has probably the
best running game we are going to face this
year.”
It will be a short work week for FIU as the
Golden Panthers return to the practice field
Monday in preparation for a Thursday night
national TV game at Troy. The team plays its
next home game in two week with a Homecoming
league contest against Middle Tennessee.
For tickets and information, call toll free
(866) FIU-GAME or (305) 348-4263 in Miami-Dade
County.
