Box Score

The FIU football game against Middle Tennessee, which was postponed by Hurricane Wilma on Saturday, Oct. 29, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, 7:00 p.m., at FIU Stadium.

Photo by Geoff Anderson Tight end Samuel Smith reaches out for the first down marker during Saturday's game at Louisiana-Lafayette. The Golden Panthers fell to the Cajuns, 28-7, Saturday night in Lafayette.

Louisiana-Lafayette (5-5, 4-2 Sun Belt) scored its fourth consecutive victory with a 28-7 home win over FIU (2-6, 1-4) Saturday night in Lafayette, La.

UL quarterback Michael Desormeaux, subbing for starting quarterback Jerry Babb who re-injured his right shoulder in the second quarter, completed five-of-seven passes and ran for 47 yards, while true freshman running back Tyrell Fenroy continued his record-setting season with 147 yards on 27 carries.

FIU's A'mod Ned showed flashes of 2004, when he led Broward County in high school rushing, with 73 yards on 15 carries, but the Golden Panthers failed to capitalize several scoring chances. Quarterback Josh Padrick completed 18-of-34 passes with a touchdown and without an interception. The 34 attempts now give him 1,003 on his collegiate career.

"Physically, we were ready to play but I'm not sure mentally we were and that's my fault," said head coach Don Strock "But as long as they're going 100 miles per hour physically, we can correct the other parts.

"Not turning the ball over is very important, but not making plays isn't going to help you win either. There's a very fine line there. I just don't think that mentally, we weren't all on the same page out there tonight."

UL Lafayette took the opening kickoff and methodically marched down the field behind Babb. A 26-yard run by Fenroy gave the Cajuns a first-and-goal from the six before Babb called his own number for the six-yard TD run. It marked the sixth straight game that Louisiana scored on its opening possession.

Early in the second quarter, FIU drove the length of the field but on a fourth-and-seven from the UL 22, Padrick's completed pass to tight end Samuel Smith ended a yard short and the Cajuns took over at the 15.

Louisiana used the opportunity to move down to the FIU five, but on a second-and-goal play, Desormeaux's pitch was fumbled and recovered by Lance Preston at the 16.

FIU couldn't capitalize, however, giving the ball back on a turnover. On a fourth-and-nine from the 36 a bad snap on a punt attempt gave Louisiana a first-and-10 at its own 45. With Babb watching the sideline, Desormeaux directed a 55-yard drive that culminated on a 12-yard quarterback keeper and a 14-0 UL lead at the half.

FIU failed to score on its first drive of the second half, but a Chris Patullo punt pinned the Cajuns back at their one. The Golden Panthers looked to get the ball back at the UL 25-yard line after a short punt from the end zone, but a roughing the kicker penalty, called even though the ball appeared tipped by FIU defensive end Antwan Barnes, gave Louisiana new life at the 16 and ignited a 14-play, 99-yard drive that ended with a five-yard TD run by Fenroy, his seventh score in the last three games.

"The punt was tipped. It was a bad call," Strock said. "I can't believe the referee didn't see that, The ball came out like a helicopter. That changed the whole complexion of the game. We were going to get the ball back at the 25-yard line and hopefully get back in it. A touchdown would have made it 21-14 and then it's a different ball game."

The Golden Panthers finally cracked the scoreboard with 1:49 to play in the third quarter when Padrick directed a seven-play, 67-yard drive. The junior quarterback hit on four of five passes on the drive with his last completion going for a 23-yard TD pass to Cory McKinney, the senior's school record 20th scoring grab.

With time running out, FIU tried to keep a drive alive on a fourth-and-two play from its own 12-yard line. After a failed pass attempt turned the ball over, UL scored on its first play from scrimmage on an end-around by Derrick Smith for the final margin of victory.

Strock made no excuses that his team had to travel to Lafayette on the day of the game instead of arriving at the venue the day before.

"That we had to travel up here on the day of the game is no excuse," he said." Other people have had to do it, too. That's a matter of being mentally and physically tough and being able to do it. We always talk about starting games fast and not waiting. In this one, like so many times in the past when we waited until the second quarter, this one was like half time. We had so many opportunities in the first half but just didn't cash in."

The Golden Panthers close out the regular season with their last three games at home, beginning with the rescheduled Homecoming game next Saturday, Nov. 19 against Western Kentucky. For tickets and information, call toll-free (866) FIU-GAME or (305) 348-4263 in Miami-Dade County.

"We'll go back to work and prepare for Western Kentucky just like we do every week," Strock said. "We're not going to make any wholesale changes. This isn't like the pros were there's a waiver wire, you have what you have.We'll go back to work on Monday and make ourselves better."