NEW ORLEANS (Aug. 29, 2019) – The FIU football team couldn't overcome a slow first half, as the Panthers fell to Tulane 42-14 on the road to open the season.
With the loss FIU falls to 0-1 on the young season, while Tulane improves to 1-0. FIU returns home to face WKU next weekend, as the Panthers and Hilltoppers meet on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
James Morgan finished the game with 208 yards passing and one touchdown toss. Anthony Jones scored the first touchdown of the night for FIU and finished the game with 48 yards on the ground. Stantley Thomas-Oliver III earned a career-high nine tackles to lead FIU on the defensive side of the ball.
Tulane's Justin McMillan led the Green Wave on Thursday night as the quarterback passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 51 yards on the ground and a score.
After falling behind 21-0, the Panthers orchestrated a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive for their first points of the ball game as Anthony Jones scored from one-yard out. Tulane scored just before the half to make the margin 28-7 at the break.
Tulane pushed its lead to 42-7, before Morgan found Shemar Thornton in the corner of the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown pass and trimmed the lead to 42-14 late in the third quarter. The two squads played a scoreless fourth quarter to leave the final margin at 42-14.
UP NEXT
FIU returns to the 305 on Saturday, Sept. 7 as the Panthers host WKU to kickoff the C-USA slate. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling 305-FIU-GAME or by visiting here.
GAME NOTES
- Attendance for Thursday's game was 16,361.
- After the season opening loss, the series is tied 1-1 between FIU and Tulane.
- FIU is now 3-9 against teams from the American Conference.
- Stantley Thomas-Oliver III earned a career-high nine tackles.
- Anthony Jones has now scored five touchdowns on the ground in his last three games.
Offensive Starters James Morgan (QB), Anthony Jones (RB), Napoleon Maxwell (RB), Kamareon Williams (TE), Shemar Thornton (WR), Austin Maloney (WR), D'Antne Demery (LT), Shane McGough (LG), Dallas Connell (C), Shacquille Williams (RG), Devontay Taylor (RT).
Defensive Starters: Kevin Oliver (DE), Teair Tart (DT), Jordan Woods (DT), Noah Curtis (DE), Jamal Gates (WLB), Sage Lewis (MLB), Daniel Jackson (SAM), Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (CB), Richard Dames (FS), Olin Cushion III (SS), Isaiah Brown (CB).
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
