Post-Game Audio: HC Mario Cristobal   LB Scott Bryant   QB Paul McCall
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The Panthers made it interesting late, as Paul McCall found T.Y. Hilton for an eight yard touchdown and a 14 yard touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion with 37 seconds left in the game. However, FIU couldn't recover the ensuing onside kick as Rutgers held on for a 23-15 victory, Saturday night at Rutgers Stadium.

Paul McCall finished the game 24-37 for 197 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. T.Y. Hilton set a new career-best mark with nine receptions. He finished with 80 yards and two scores.

FIU's defense was stout for most of the game, holding Rutgers to just 13 points in the first half. However, a fourth quarter 38-yard interception return for touchdown by Rutgers' Ryan D'Impeiro proved to be the difference in the game.

Defensively for FIU, Scott Bryant led the way with 12 tackles. Thatcher Starling recorded a sack and a half while Winston Fraser also recorded his first-career sack and Toronto Smith also added a sack.

"Obviously, it was a hard fought game and we got it going too late.," said FIU Head Coach Mario Cristobal. "You have to credit Rutgers for that as they did a good job stopping us early defensively. We would like to have another quarter to play to play football.

"That's a tough locker room scene and it should be. You don't go on the road and play that well defensively early on and not produce as much as you can offensively. You want to lose as a football team and the bottom line is you have to score one more point than the other team does and we didn't."

Up next for the Panthers is their home opener as they welcome the Rockets of Toledo to FIU Stadium on September 26 at 7 p.m.

Of Note:

FIU Captains: 12 - Paul McCall, 13 - Toronto Smith, 32 - Carlos Munera, 44 - Scott Bryant

T.Y. Hilton:

T.Y. Hilton's first quarter reception extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 13 games.

With a touchdown grab in the fourth quarter, T.Y. Hilton has now scored or thrown a touchdown in seven consecutive games. The last time he didn't score a touchdown was in FIU's 33-23 loss at Troy on October, 18 2008.

The nine catches are a career-high for T.Y. Hilton (8 vs. ULM - 11/22/08)

Paul McCall:

Paul McCall's first quarter interception is his first of the season.

Paul McCall left the game with under eight minutes to go in the first quarter with a right knee injury. He was replaced by Wayne Younger for two series. McCall returned with 2:42 left in the second quarter.

Ty Frierson:

Frierson's seven receptions are a new career-high (5 vs. FAU 11/24/07)

Firsts:

Jonas Murrell's blocked field goal in the second quarter is the first of his career. It is FIU's first blocked kick since blocking two against Florida Atlantic on November 29, 2008.

Winston Fraser's third quarter sack of Tom Savage was the first of his career.

Thatcher Starling's third quarter sack of Tom Savage was the first of his FIU career.

Wayne Times' third quarter reception was the first of his career.