NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 26,2016) -- Old Dominion used a balanced offense to defeat FIU 42-28 in the season finale of the 15^th season of FIU football Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
The Panthers finished the 2016 season 4-8 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA play. The Monarchs, who are headed to a bowl game, are 9-3 and 7-1 in C-USA.
 
ODU snapped a 21-21 tie late in the third quarter on an 18-yard touchdown pass from David Washington to Travis Fulgham. The Monarchs scored 28 unanswered points after the Panthers took a 21-14 lead at the outset of the third quarter.
 
FIU grabbed the early third quarter advantage when Isaiah Brown returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers led 21-14 before the Monarchs scored four straight touchdowns.
ODU rushed for 312 yards and threw for 209 yards. FIU had 232 total yards.
 
FIU got its first two scores Saturday from tight ends. Jonnu Smith caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Maurice Alexander to tie the score 7-7 with 9:39 left in the first quarter. A.J. Branisel hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Christian Alexander with 51 seconds left in the first half.
 
Smith had two catches for 50 yards. When Smith caught a 14-yard pass from Maurice Alexander in the second quarter, the senior tight end became the fifth player in FIU history to amass 2,000 or more career receiving yards.
 
Smith caught a pass in his 43^rd consecutive game, which left him one shy of the FIU record held by Cory McKinney. Smith caught a pass in every FIU game he played during his career.
 
Smith, who finished his FIU career with 2,001 receiving yards, joined T.Y. Hilton 3,531 yards, McKinney (2,745 yards), Chandler Williams (2,519 yards) and Greg Ellingson (2,018 yards) in the FIU 2,000-yard receiving club.
 
FIU scored its fourth touchdown late in the game. Christian Alexander scrambled 28 yards for the score with 1:23 left in the game.