Troy, Ala. -   Led by a punishing and relentless ground game, FIU had its most prolific offensive game ever on its way to a 52-35 victory over four-time defending Sun Belt champion Troy, Saturday afternoon in Alabama.

T.Y. Hilton, Darriet Perry and Darian Mallary all rushed for over 100 yards in the contest, while Wesley Carroll threw for 220 yards and three scores as the Panthers took over first place in the conference standings. The Panthers finished the game with a school-record 668 total yards of offense, including a program-best 448 yards on the ground. On defense, Anthony Gaitor led FIU with eight tackles, and he also shut down Troy's Jerrel Jerrnigan, holding him to 32 receiving yards. The win moved FIU's record to 4-5, but most importantly 4-1 in the Sun Belt.

The Panthers struck first, taking a 7-0 lead with 11:55 to go in the first quarter on a 55-yard catch and run by Mallary. The sophomore running back caught a screen pass on 3rd-and-10 and followed his blockers all the way to the endzone for the score. The score was the longest reception of Mallary's career.

After the teams traded punts, Troy was driving in FIU territory when Kreg Brown picked off a pass that appeared to end the Trojan threat. However, a penalty gave the ball back to Troy and they took little time to capitalize. Two plays after the penalty, Shawn Southward carried the ball 33 yards for a Troy touchdown to tie the score at seven with 6:30 to play in the first quarter.

FIU's defense forced a punt on Troy's next possession, but the Trojans special teams did a good job of pinning FIU down on the Panthers' six-yard line. However, on second down Carroll found Hilton, who did what he does best and took the ball all the way down to the Troy 28-yard line for a gain of 63 yards. The FIU drive would stall after an incomplete pass on third down, but Jack Griffin made sure the Panthers wouldn't come up empty-handed as his 44-yard field goal attempt sailed through the uprights to put the Panthers back on top, 10-7, with 14:50 to go in the first half.

Another forced punt by the FIU defense gave the Panthers the ball on the Troy 20-yard line. On just the second play of the drive, Hilton exploded for an 80-yard run out of the "Wild Panther" to put the FIU ahead, 17-7, with 13:03 remaining in the first half. The run was the longest of Hilton's career. The score was also the 24th of Hilton's career, tying him with Rashod Smith for the most ever at FIU.

Troy's ensuing drive looked to have some promise as they moved into FIU's side of the field. However, on second down, James Jones tackled Troy's Chris Anderson for a loss of five to force a third-and-long situation. On the following play, Troy fumbled the snap and Jarvis Wilson pounced on the loose ball to give the Panthers the ball back at midfield.

FIU took full advantage of the good field position, gaining 55 yards, all on the ground, and eventually punching it in on a Perry four-yard run to go up, 24-7, with 9:43 to go in the first half. On the drive FIU broke its single-season record for rushing yards, surpassing the previous mark of 1,429 set in 2007.

The Panthers didn't let up on defense or offense, as Ashlyn Parker picked off a pass on Troy's next possession to put the Panthers' offense back on the field. FIU's offense took very little time to find the endzone once more, picking up 40 yards on just four plays to make the score 31-7 with 8:23 to play in the first half. The drive was capped off by a nine-yard run by Mallary.

Troy got seven back with 2:11 left in the opening half when Southward finished off an 8-yard drive with a one-yard score.

FIU got those points back before the end of the half when Carroll connected with Greg Ellingson for a 52-yard score to put the Panthers up, 38-14, with 1:02 remaining in the first half.

The Trojans would find the endzone once more before the end of the half, making the score 38-21 going into the break.

Coming out of the half, the Panthers defense forced a punt and the offense took no time to score as Hilton took a reverse 61 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the game. The score put the Panthers up, 45-21, with 13:16 to go in the third quarter.

Troy's next possession stalled, but their punt unit pinned FIU down at the one-yard line. FIU couldn't pick up a first down and the ensuing punt gave Troy the ball at the FIU 39-yard line. The Trojans took advantage of the field position, scoring on a 39-yard pass from Corey Robinson to Jamel Johnson.

The Trojans scored again with 41 seconds to go in the third quarter, cutting the FIU lead to 10 points at 45-35.

On FIU's ensuing drive, Perry broke off a 36-yard rush that eclipsed his single-game, career-high as he pushed his total at the time to 149 yards. However, the drive didn't yield any points as Griffin missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 12:52 to play in the game.

The Trojans were forced to punt once again by the FIU defense, and the Panthers offense made them pay for it, driving 79 yards in just four plays to put seven more on the board courtesy of a 23-yard touchdown catch by Jonathan Faucher. On the drive, Mallary had a 56-yard rush, putting him over 100 yards for the game. It marked the first time ever that FIU has had three 100-yard rushers. The score put the Panthers up, 52-35.

FIU would eventually get the ball back and run out the clock, sealing its first-ever victory over Troy, and taking over sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings.

Up next for FIU is a trip to Lafayette, La., on Saturday, Nov. 20, to face the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Postgame Notes

FIU vs. Troy - Veterans Memorial Stadium - Troy, Ala. - November 13, 2010

Captains: Senior linebacker No.13 Toronto Smith & senior center No.76 Brad Serini

Coin Toss: Troy won the toss and deferred to the second half. FIU received to open the game.

- Darian Mallary's nine-yard rush with 11:14 to go in the first half broke FIU's single-season team rushing record. The previous record was 1,429 set in 2007. FIU ended the game with 448 rushing yards, giving the team 1,758 for the season.

- Darian Mallary's 55-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter is the longest catch of the sophomore's career.

- Jack Griffin's 44-yard field goal in the second quarter is the longest of his career.

- T.Y. Hilton's 80-yard run in the second quarter is the longest of his career.

- Hilton's second-quarter touchdown was the 24th of his career, tying him with Rashod Smith for the most ever at FIU. Hilton then broke the record with his 61-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

- Darriet Perry's second-quarter touchdown was the 12th of his FIU career, good for second all-time.

- Perry's 182 rushing yards are a career-high. The 182 yards are the sixth-best single-game total in FIU history.

- FIU's 38 points in the first half are the most ever by a Panthers team since becoming an FBS program. The all-time record is 41 (vs. Jacksonville - 10/30/03).

- FIU's 31 second-quarter points are the most FIU has ever scored in a single quarter. The 31 points are also the most Troy has ever given up in a quarter under Head Coach Larry Blakeney.

- T.Y. Hilton, Darriet Perry and Darian Mallary all rushed for over 100 yards in this game, marking the first time ever that FIU has had three 100-yard rushers. The last time FIU two rushers go over 100 yards was October 30, 2003 vs. Jacksonville (Adam Gorman, 138 & Diamos Demerritt, 121).

- The 52 points are the most FIU has scored this season, and are tied for the second-most in program-history. (55 vs. Jacksonville - 10/30/03)

- FIU's 668 net yards of offense are the most in program history (642 vs. Jacksonville - 10/30/03)

- Beginning with FIU's first touchdown of the second quarter, FIU's next six touchdowns came on a total of 18 plays and 7:59.

- This marks FIU's first-ever victory over Troy.

- FIU now has four Sun Belt Conference wins on the season, which is the most in program history.