MIAMI (Oct. 13, 2018) – FIU scored the final 11 points on Saturday night, as the Panthers downed Middle Tennessee 24-21 to earn a thrilling Homecoming win at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
 
For game notes on tonight's victory, click here.
 
With the win FIU improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in C-USA action. MT fell to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in league play after the loss. FIU is now in sole possession of first place in the C-USA East Division.
 
MT threatened to tie or take the lead late in the game, but junior Olin Cushion sealed the Panther win with an interception at the back of the endzone.
 
James Morgan led FIU with 311 yards on 27-of-36 passing and two scores. His favorite target was sophomore Bryce Singleton who hauled in eight receptions for 81 yards. Fellow sophomore Jose Borregales scored 11 points on the night, after nailing three 40-plus yard field goals – including a school-record 53-yarder in the first half.
 
Saturday's game began as a defensive battle as the Panthers owned the lone points of the first quarter following a 44-yard field goal from Borregales. Entering the second quarter, the two squads combined for 24 points with MT getting on the board after a marathon, 92-yard, 22-play drive that was capped off by a seven-yard touchdown scamper from Thomas Tavares.
 
Morgan led the Panthers to their first touchdown soon after as the signal caller led FIU on a 13-play, 77-yard scoring drive that resulted in seven points. Morgan completed nine passes on the drive, with his final connection finding Shemar Thornton for a 26-yard strike. The Blue Raiders capped another long drive with time winding down in the opening half, as replacement quarterback Asher O'Hara rushed in an 11-yard score to put MT up 14-10.
 
With only 36 seconds left before halftime, Morgan led FIU to the 36-yard line as Borregales booted a school-record 53-yard field goal to narrow the gap to just 14-13 entering the locker room.
 
Coming out of the break, MT's Tavares scored his second rushing touchdown of the night after bouncing it outside for a short two-yard run to stretch the Blue Raider lead to 21-13. FIU's Borregales added three points to cut the deficit to 21-16 with just over 10 minutes remaining, after the Panther kicked nailed his third 40-plus yarder following his connection from 45 yards out.
 
On the final score of the night, Morgan led FIU down the field once more as the junior found CJ Worton for a 23-yard strike over the middle to put FIU up 22-21. The Panthers used some trickier with Maurice Alexander on the two-point conversion as the Panthers earned the three-point cushion to go up 24-21.
 
MT marched all the way to FIU's 15-yard line, but the Blue Raider comeback was extinguished by Cushion who picked off Asher's pass at the back of the endzone.
 
UP NEXT
FIU stays home next Saturday as the Panthers continue their C-USA stretch against Rice on Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET. For those still wishing to purchase tickets, click here.
 
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