FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Down by six in the fourth quarter, FIU went for it on fourth-and-goal from the FAU one-yard line and was stopped. Florida Atlantic scored on the ensuing possession as the Owls beat the Panthers 21-9, Saturday afternoon at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale.

T.Y. Hilton led all receivers with eight catches for 124 yards. FIU quarterback Wesley Carroll completed 20-of-32 passes for 210 yards, but he was picked off three times. Freshman Kedrick Rhodes ran for a game and career-high 100 yards, becoming the first Panther to eclipse the century mark in rushing this year.

After the FIU defense forced a punt on the opening possession, the Panthers drove 67 yards on their first possession and took a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Jack Griffin. On the drive, T.Y. Hilton caught a 34-yard pass and Kedrick Rhodes picked up another 35 yards on one run.

With 8:57 to go in the first half, Griffin connected on a 35-yard field goal to double FIU's lead to 6-0.

The Owls took a 7-6 lead at the 4:55 mark of the second quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Van Camp to Lester Jean.

After the Panthers turned the ball over on downs near mid-field, FAU had a chance to add to its lead but a field goal attempt with 12 seconds to play in the first half sailed wide left, keeping the score at 7-6 going into the break.

FIU re-took the lead with 10:39 to go in the third quarter on Griffin's third field goal of the day, this one from 26 yards. Griffin's third field goal gave the sophomore a career-high three field goals in a game.

Alfred Morris put the Owls ahead once again with 6:07 left in the third on a 16-yard touchdown run that capped a 76-yard drive.

Midway through the fourth quarter, FIU began a drive on its own one-yard line, and drove all the way down to the FAU one. Down by five, FIU chose to go for it on fourth-and-goal, but was stopped. On the ensuing possession, FAU scored on a 65-yard run by Willie Floyd to extend the Owls' lead to 21-9.

The Panthers could not muster any more offense, as they turned the ball over three times in the final nine minutes of the game as the Owls took home the 21-9 victory. The loss drops FIU to 2-5 on the year and 2-1 in Sun Belt play. FAU is now 2-5 and 1-3 in the conference.

Up next for the Panthers is a home game against ULM next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at FIU Stadium. The game will be the Homecoming Game for FIU and will be televised as the Sun Belt Network Game of the Week.