FIU Panthers (3-5; 3-1 SBC)
vs. Troy Trojans (5-3; 4-1 SBC)
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 • 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Veterans Memorial Stadium (30,000) • Troy, Ala.
Gameday Central
Series vs. Troy: Troy leads, 6-0
Last: 10/17/09 – Troy 42, at FIU 33
Radio: 790 The Ticket (Jeremy Marks-Peltz, pbp/Jorge Sedano, color...maybe)
TV: Sun Belt Network (Joe Block, pbp/Cole Cubelic, analyst/Sandra Golden, sideline)
THE GAME - Coming off one of the most exciting wins in program history against ULM, the Panthers go into, arguably, the most important game in program history as they square off against the defending Sun Belt Conference Champions, Troy, in a battle for first place in the conference. With a win, FIU will secure its highest number of Sun Belt wins ever, and take over the lead in the conference standings.
The Trojans are coming off a win over North Texas, albeit a hard-fought one. The Trojans held on to beat the Mean Green after a North Texas interception late in the game gave the boys from Denton a chance to upset the defending champs. The Panthers have never defeated the Trojans, and as far as conference championship hopes go, there could be no better time to end that streak than this week.
T.Y. 2K - With 124 receiving yards against Florida Atlantic (10/30/10), junior wide receiver T.Y. Hilton became the third Panther ever to top 2,000 receiving yards for his career. Hilton followed that up with a 96-yard performance against ULM (11/6/10), giving him 2,165 for his career.
FOUR FOR 4 - T.Y. Hilton has had many big games in his FIU career, but none as big as his performance against ULM (11/6/10). Hilton amassed 291 all-purpose yards, scoring four touchdowns to lead FIU to a 42-35 win in double overtime. The junior from Miami became the first panther to score a TD in three different ways in the same game, as he caught two touchdowns, ran for one and returned a kick for a score.
Hilton's first score gave FIU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After ULM tied the score on the next possession, Hilton responded with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown. In the fourth quarter, with FIU clinging to a 21-20 lead, Hilton beat a ULM defender on a jump ball and then broke a tackle to score on a 67-yard catch. Then on FIU's first play in overtime, Hilton took a reverse into the end zone for a 25-yard rushing touchdown.
RETURN TO FORM - In 2008 and '09, Hilton scored a touchdown on each of his first returns of the season. Up until the game against ULM, Hilton hadn't broken through for a TD return. After ULM tied the score at seven, Hilton responded with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown and finished the game with 168 kick return yards. The return was Hilton's fourth-career return for touchdown (3 KR, 1 PR), tying him for first all-time at FIU (Nick Turnbull - 1 PR, 2 INT, 1 FUM; Lionel Singleton - 1 PR, 2 KR, 1 INT). Hilton has now returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of his three seasons at FIU.
WHEELS KEEP ON ROLLIN' - Against ULM (11/6/10), the FIU running game had its best night in nearly three years, picking up 242 yards on the ground, the best total since FIU had 264 yards against Louisiana on Nov. 17, 2007. That total bested FIU's previous season-best of 235, which came against WKU (10/9/10) in a game where FIU also scored four touchdowns on the ground, which is tied for the most-ever in a game by FIU. In its next outing against North Texas (10/16/10), FIU maintained the successful running game, picking up 191 yards on the ground. The wheels kept on rolling against Florida Atlantic (10/30/10) as the Panthers picked up 150 rushing yards. The 818 rushing yards are the most FIU has ever produced in consecutive games.
THE HONORABLE MR. HILTON - For his performance against ULM (11/6/10), Hilton was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week as well as the Special Teams Player of the Week. In addition, Rivals.com named Hilton its Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, collegefootballperformance.com named Hilton one of its Kickoff Return Performers of the Week, and he was one of four players to be selected as "Paul Hornung's Most Versatile Performances of the Week." The honors kept rolling in for Hilton as he was awarded an ESPN Helmet Sticker on ESPN.com. This marks the second time Hilton has won each weekly Sun Belt Award as he was named SBC Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 29, 2008, and Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 8, 2008. It's also the second time Hilton is honored as Kick Return Performer of the Week by collegefootballperformance.com. He won the award last year after opening the season with a 96-yard kickoff return for touchdown against eventual national champion Alabama.
13's 13 - Against ULM (11/6/10), Toronto Smith (No.13) led all tacklers with 13 stops, including 2.5 for loss and one sack. More important than his stat totals is when Smith did the most damage. With FIU up 42-35 in double overtime, Smith picked up a tackle for loss on second down of ULM's possession. After ULM picked up a first down, Smith again made a big play on second down, sacking Kolton Browning for a nine-yard loss. Two plays later, the Smith-led defense got a stop to seal the victory for FIU.
TOUR-EK de FORCE - Against ULM (11/6/10) sophomore defensive end Tourek Williams had his best day as a Panther, picking up four tackles, all for loss, including two sacks.
GAITOR BAIT - Known as one of the best pass defenders in the conference, Anthony Gaitor's biggest contributions in FIU's victory over WKU (10/9/10) came behind the line of scrimmage. With WKU driving toward a potential game-tying touchdown, Gaitor made a stop behind the line of scrimmage on an end-around that put WKU in a 4th-and-8 situation after a loss of four yards. Two drives earlier, Gaitor forced WKU to punt after sacking Kawaun Jakes on third down. Gaitor was back at it against North Texas, picking up another sack. On the season, Gaitor now has career highs of 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. After picking off five passes in 2008, Anthony Gaitor had just two interceptions in 2009. Gaitor's latest interception was a big one as he took it 54 yards for a touchdown that gave FIU a 20-6 lead over the Texas A&M Aggies. Gaitor also sacked Jerrod Johnson, forcing a fumble that FIU recovered and turned into a field goal that gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead at the time.
ELLING$ON - "Money Plays" are defined as plays resulting in a first down or touchdown. This season, senior wideout Greg Ellingson has been FIU's go-to "Money Man." Ellingson leads the team with 25 such receptions (22 1st downs/ 3 TD). Through his career, Ellingson has been one of FIU's most consistent and reliable receivers. This season has been no different as he leads the team with 410 receiving yards on 27 receptions. Ellingson now has 1,816 career receiving yards, which is the fifth-best total in FIU history.
YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS - The FIU offensive line went through a major overhaul this offseason. Not only did Alex Mirabal take over as new offensive line coach, but FIU lost three starters off last year's O-line. With the addition of Caylin Hauptmann, the
emergence of Cedric Mack, Giancarlo Revilla and Rupert Bryan, and of course, Rimmington Watchlist member Brad Serini, the FIU offensive line has been dominant in the passing game, allowing just 11 sacks through the first eight games. The 2.5 sacks-per-game allowed rank 27th in the country.
PAYDIRT FOR DP - Darriet Perry's game-winning rushing touchdown against ULM (11/6/10) was his sixth of the season, after scoring five during his first two seasons. Perry now has 11-career rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the second-best total in FIU history. Rashod Smith holds the record with 24.
