MIAMI - FIU turned an interception, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery into 21 second-half points to complete a 35-28 come-from-behind homecoming victory over North Texas Saturday. Though the Mean Green outgained FIU 513-268 and held the ball for more than 39 minutes, three big plays were all the Panthers needed to escape with their second straight home win.

Peter Riley returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown, Jonathan Faucher blocked a punt and Anthony Gaitor forced a fumble to help FIU shut UNT out in the second half.

"It was a pretty wild football game," said FIU head coach Mario Cristobal. "A tale of two halves, for sure."

After winning the coin toss, UNT needed only 61 seconds to drive 69 yards for the game's first touchdown. Freshman quarterback Riley Dodge faked a handoff before scampering 38 yards to give the Mean Green a 7-0 lead.

On UNT's next possession, Dodge did handoff, to Lance Dunbar. The sophomore tailback spun out of a tackle and ducked another for a 42-yard touchdown run.

FIU, which fell behind 34-0 at Middle Tennessee last week, wrestled away the momentum when Kendall Berry flew through a hole on the right side of the offensive line for a 35-yard touchdown run.

When the Panthers regained the ball, Daunte Owens accounted for 51 yards before Berry plunged into the end zone for his sixth touchdown rush in the last three games.

Now tied at 14, the Panthers' newfound confidence strengthened as they tackled Dodge for a loss four times on UNT's ensuing drive. But Dodge converted a 4th-and-13 with an 18-yard completion along the left sideline to B.J. Lewis. Faced with 3rd-and-goal from the FIU 15, Dodge again attacked the left side, finding Darius Carey for a momentum-killing touchdown.

Dodge completed 11 of his first 12 passes for 120 yards.

UNT followed its 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with a 14-play, 73 yard effort as Dodge converted three third downs to give the Mean Green a 28-14 lead going into halftime.

Dodge made his first mistake following the break, throwing an interception that Riley returned 26 yards to bring FIU within seven. 

Though the Panthers struggled offensively, Faucher blocked a punt to set FIU up at the UNT 16-yard line with 12:16 to go.

"This team takes a lot of pride in special teams play," said Cristobal. "We felt like special teams could be the difference in this game and ultimately it ended up being a big part of it."

Facing 4th-and-1 at the UNT 7, Berry appeared to be stopped for a loss before his second effort allowed him to pick up the first down.

Three plays later, Paul McCall found T.Y. Hilton wide open to tie the game.

Field position continued to favor FIU after Gaitor jarred the ball loose from Michael Outlaw. Jonathan Cyprien recovered and had his face mask yanked, allowing FIU to begin what would become its game-winning drive at the Mean Green 32-yard line.

Following back-to-back rushes by Berry, Wayne Younger, who shared snaps with McCall, play-faked and dashed 23 yards untouched to give FIU a 35-28 lead with 5:08 remaining.

"There are some things Wayne does that we wanted to use and expose their defense with and it worked," said Cristobal. "It made a big difference for us on the last drive."

UNT  drove from its own 14 to the FIU 10 in the waning moments, but Dodge's last-gasp pass was dropped by Jamaal Jackson, allowing the Panthers to earn their third conference win.

Dodge starred in defeat, completing 28-of-37 passes for 314 yards and rushing 19 times for 103 more. Berry and Owens paced FIU with 82 rushing yards each.

The Panthers are now Gainesville-bound, looking forward to their first-ever meeting with No. 1 Florida on Nov. 21.

-FIU-