BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The FIU football team dropped a 73-0 decision to Western Kentucky in the Conference USA opener for both program on Saturday afternoon at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
 
The Hilltoppers took control from the outset with 42 points in the first half – totaling 399 yards of total offense in the opening 30 minutes.
 
Western Kentucky (3-1, 1-0 CUSA) opened the scoring with a 76-yard touchdown burst by Malachi Corley with just over five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
 
The Hilltoppers increased the advantage to 14-0 when Austin Reed connected with Joey Beljan on a nine-yard scoring strike on the final play of the first quarter.  WKU went 84 yards in seven plays on the scoring drive – with 42 rushing and 42 passing yards.
 
The lead stretched to 21-0 at the 10:36 mark of the second on a 21-yard scoring catch by Corley – his second touchdown of the game. 
 
Following an interception by WKU's Kahlef Hailassie, which set up the Hilltoppers at the FIU 42-yard line, Dalvin Smith scored four players later on a 12-yard reception – making the score 28-0 with just over eight minutes remaining before the break.
 
WKU added its final two touchdowns of the half in the final five minutes of action.  Davion Ervin-Poindexter capped a four-play, 80-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown burst before Daewood Davis scored on a four-yard reception to up the score to 42-0 with 26 ticks left in the opening half.
 
Western Kentucky added four more touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to account for the final margin.
 
FIU was paced in the loss by Demetrius Hill – who led the defense with 10 tackles.  Offensively, the Panthers totaled 185 yards overall – 61 rushing and 124 passing.
 
WKU was led in the win by quarterback Reed, who completed 29-of-35 pass attempts for 381 yards and four touchdowns. 
 
Eleven different players caught passes for the Hilltoppers, led by Davis who snagged seven catches for 90 yards and one touchdown.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers (1-2, 0-1 CUSA) conclude their current three-game road trip next Saturday, Oct. 1 at New Mexico State.  Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET and will be aired on FLO Sports.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Saturday's game marked the Conference USA opener for both programs as well as the second time that FIU opened conference play against Western Kentucky.
• FIU slips to 5-5 all-time in C-USA openers following the loss at Western Kentucky.
• The Panthers are 2-6 all-time vs. Western Kentucky in road match ups and 6-10 overall dating back to 2002.
• Saturday's game marked FIU's second consecutive road contest as well as the second of three straight on the road, concluding with a game at New Mexico State on Saturday, Oct. 1.
• Sophomore Hayden Carlson entered the contest at quarterback for FIU at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter.
• FIU played the game without the services of two key defensive starters – Davon Strickland (DL) and Shaun Peterson (LB) – each were out with injuries.
• The shutout was the first for FIU since dropping a 38-0 decision at Marshall on Oct. 30, 2021.

 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office
 
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