MIAMI GARDENS (Sept. 22, 2018) - Eleven years since their last football game, FIU and Miami renewed their crosstown rivalry Saturday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hurricanes defeated the Panthers 31-17.
For complete game notes from Saturday's game, click
here.
UM scored 24 first-half points to take control of the game and led 24-0 going into halftime.
The Hurricanes got a 35-yard touchdown run by Travis Homer to open the scoring and led 7-0 after the first 15 minutes.
A pair of touchdown passes by quarterback N'Kosi Perry and a 30-yard field goal by Bubba Baxa in the second quarter put the Hurricanes up by 24.
FIU outscored UM 17-7 in the second half, helped by two terrific catches by receiver
CJ Worton.
On the first Panthers touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, Worton caught a 29-yard pass from quarterback
James Morgan to the UM 49. Three plays later Morgan connected with Worton on a 35-yard touchdown pass.
After a 28-yard field goal by
Jose Borregales, the Panthers recovered an onside kick after
Richard Dames secured the ball at the FIU 46.
On the second play of the ensuing drive, Worton made a tumbling catch on a 44-yard pass from Morgan. Worton bobbled the ball as he fell to the ground but secured it coming up.
Two plays later Morgan found Worton in the back of the end zone as the junior receiver tapped his toes inbounds before falling out of bounds. The 5-yard touchdown catch was the third receiving score of the season for Worton.
Worton finished the game with five catches and a game-high 123 receiving yards. Morgan was 12 of 24 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Edwin Freeman led the FIU defense with 10 tackles.
Sage Lewis had nine tackles to add to his team-leading total of 45 stops.
Fermin Silva had two sacks for the Panthers.
FIU returns home for its next game. The Panthers host Arkansas-Pine Bluff next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. for the Panthers final non-conference game of the season.
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