FIU Panthers (4-3; 1-2 SBC)
vs. Troy Trojans (2-4; 1-2 SBC)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 • 8:05 p.m. (ET)
Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium (18,000) • Miami, Fla.
Series: Troy leads, 6-1
Last: 11/13/09 – FIU 52, at Troy 35
Radio: WHIM-1080 AM (Tony Calatayud, pbp/Rick Sanchez, color)
TV: ESPN2 (Dari Nowkhah, pbp/Danny Kanell, color)
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
THE GAME - The Panthers host Troy this week in their second of back-to-back Tuesday games broadcast on ESPN2. FIU and Troy face off in a clash of the top-two preseason favorites in the Sun Belt. Both 2010 SBC Co-Champions are coming off tough losses to conference opponents and will look to keep their hopes of repeating as Sun Belt champs alive in this primetime collision.
Last season FIU beat Troy for the first time ever, and did so in record-setting fashion, beating the Trojans 52-35 and breaking several offensive records in the process.
HILTON RUNS PAST EVERYONE - With 144 receiving yards against Akron (10/8), T.Y. Hilton surpassed former Troy Trojan Jerrel Jernigan on the Sun Belt Conference all-time receiving yards charts. Hilton now has 3,134 receiving yards, surpassing Jernigan's previous mark of 3,128. Hilton and Jernigan are the only receiver's in SBC history to go over 3,000 receiving yards. Earlier this season, Hilton surpassed Jernigan's record for career all-purpose yards of 5,985, becoming the first player in conference history to break the 6,000 all-purpose yard mark. Hilton currently has 6,553 yards.
With his touchdown reception against Arkansas State (10/18), the 22nd of his career, Hilton tied Middle Tennessee's Kerry Wright for the most receiving touchdowns in Sun Belt history. Hilton also tied Corey McKinney for the all-time FIU record (pre-Sun Belt era).
Another record within Hilton's grasp is the SBC all-time kickoff return record of 2,696 held by Arkansas State's Brandon Thompkins. Hilton is currently second with 2,525.
FRASER'S BIG DAY - Winston Fraser had one of his best games statistically against Arkansas State (10/18), setting a new career-high for tackles with 17. His 17 stops are the most by a Panther since Michael Dominguez was credited for 18 tackles against Louisiana on November 17, 2007. For the season, Fraser leads the Panthers and is second in the Sun Belt Conference with 72 stops.
GOOD TIMES - With so much attention being put on T.Y. Hilton by opposing defenses, junior receiver Wayne Times is having a breakout season. With Hilton nursing an injury against Louisiana (9/24), someone needed to step up in the receiving and return games, and junior receiver Wayne Times did just that. Times caught just two passes, but he racked up 75 yards. In the return game, Times had 158 yards, including an FIU season-long 69-yard kickoff return at the end of the first half that set up an FIU touchdown to cut Louisiana's lead to just one point going into the break.
After catching a touchdown against Duke (10/1), Times had a career-best eight receptions against Arkansas State (10/18).
STOUT STARTS - FIU has done a great job of jumping ahead of opponents this season, holding opponents scoreless in the first quarter in four of their first seven games. For the season, the Panthers have outscored the opposition 62-29 in the opening period. However, FIU has had troubles in the fourth quarter, being outscored 61-27.
THIRD DOWN TURNAROUND - After not having much success on third down through the first four contests, FIU has improved drastically over the last three games, converting 22-of-47 third down tries (47%).
KEYS TO SUCCESS - FIU's key to winning has been no surprise this season: run the football, stop the run and get after the quarterback. In FIU's four victories, the Panthers have averaged 142.5 rushing yards and allowed just 101.0, while sacking the quarterback 17 times. In the three losses, while FIU ran for 144 yards-per-game, the Panthers have allowed 158 rushing-per-game while getting to the quarterback just two times.
300 IF BY AIR - By throwing for 308 yards against Akron (10/8), Wes Carroll became the first QB in FIU history to toss for over 300 yards in back-to-back games. He threw for a season-best 335 against Duke (10/1).
DP STANDS ALONE - With two touchdown runs against Akron (10/8), Darriet Perry broke a tie with Rashod Smith for first place on FIU's all-time rushing touchdown leaderboard. Perry now has 26 career scores.
