Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Logan Kilgore completed 17-of-30 passes for 267
yards and one touchdown to lead the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to a victory
over the FIU Panthers in a 34-30 Sun Belt Conference thriller at FIU Stadium.
Middle Tennessee (4-2, 2-1 Sun Belt) running back Ben Cunningham had 230 yards
rushing on 36 carries and two touchdowns but it was Reggie Whatley's seven-
yard run late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory. The leading
receiver was Anthony Amos, who had eight catches for 148 yards and one
touchdown.
As for FIU (1-6, 0-3) Jake Medlock completed 24-of-38 passes for 380 yards and
two touchdowns. His two favorite targets were Glenn Coleman and Willis Wright.
Coleman caught five passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. Wright caught
three passes for 109 yards and one touchdown.
On the first possession of the game, FIU drove down the field before Kedrick
Rhodes fumbled in the red zone was recovered by James Roberson of Middle
Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders moved right down the field after that turnover and Carlos
Lopez made a 33-yard field goal to put the first points on the board.
The Panthers responded with a Medlock touchdown pass to Coleman for 25 yards
but missed the extra point pitting the score at 6-3.
FIU regained possession and De'Andre Jasper took a 26-yard run into the end
zone to put the Panthers' lead at 13-3.
The Panthers scored again on a 15-play drive when Mallary punched it in from
one yard out to add on to their lead, 20-3.
Right before the end of the first half, the Blue Raiders quickly marched down
the field and Kilgore connected with Amos for a 20-yard touchdown, to take a
20-10 deficit into the locker room.
The Blue Raiders opened up the second half with a one-yard touchdown run by
Cunningham, but they still trailed 20-17.
Jack Griffin made a 45-yard field goal for the Panthers to make the score
23-17.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Lopez connected on a 31-yard field
goal, but the Blue Raiders still trailed 23-20.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Cunningham scored on a 24-yard touchdown
run to give the Blue Raiders a 27-23 lead.
FIU came right back when Medlock connected with Wright for a 30-yard touchdown
to give the Panthers a 30-27 lead with one minute to go in the game.
On the ensuing possession, Whatley had the game winning touchdown run from
seven yards out to give the Blue Raiders a 34-30 victory.
Middle Tennessee outgained FIU on the ground 256-142.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network