The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Florida International – INSIDE SLANT
In what has to be the irony of ironies in a frustrating season, on an afternoon that kicker Jack Griffin became Florida International’s all-time leader scorer, it was his missed extra point that was the difference in the game.
At the very least, Griffin’s miss following FIU’s fifth touchdown on safety Jack Halley’s 62-yard run on a fumble recovery cost the Panthers at shot at overtime against Troy.
But instead, when Troy’s Will Scott managed to get a 42-yard field goal try through the uprights with 11 seconds left, the host Trojans were a 38-37 winner.
Not to put all the blame for the loss on a kicker who as a sophomore hit the game-winning field goal as time ran out in FIU’s bowl win over Toledo in 2010.
Among other things, the defense let an opponent come back from a double-digit deficit for a second straight game, running back Darian Mallary had key fumble that marred what was otherwise a solid performance as a backup (41 yards on just nine rushes, one touchdown), and cornerback Sam Miller was flagged for late hit out-of-bounds, giving the Trojans a free 15 yards on their final drive.
Oh, yeah. A blocker also got in the way of the snap on a punt, giving Troy the ball deep in FIU territory.
“Nobody understands what’s going on,” Mallary was quoted in the Miami Herald’s game report. “It’s like the same thing’s happening every week. We can’t pull it together.”
The loss was FIU’s sixth in a row and erased whatever hopes the Panthers were nurturing for a strong closing run to get to six wins and bowl eligibility.
Those chances were slim at best entering the day. They are mathematically impossible now as the loss dropped them to 1-7 overall.
The Panthers also are winless in four Sun Belt Conference games and tied with neighboring Florida Atlantic for last place in what will be their final year in the conference. Next year FIU moves into Conference USA.
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NCAAF Team Report – Florida International – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: FIU next returns home to host Western Kentucky, which is coming off a disheartening overtime loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe. The Panthers open the final month of the season with a trip to South Alabama on Nov. 3, then have their only bye week of the season on Nov. 10. They will have two games left after that — at Florida Atlantic in a Friday night affair on Nov. 16 and the finale against Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 24.
–The extra point miss for senior PK Jack Griffin was only the second of his career but also his second in two games. His miss the previous week in the four-point loss to Middle Tennessee State forced the Panthers to go for a touchdown in the closing seconds rather than try a long field goal to send the game to overtime. Middle Tennessee escaped with a 34-30 victory when WR Willis Wright was stopped a foot or so short of the end zone as time ran out.
–Griffin’s seven points gave him 239 for his career, giving him the school record in less than three full seasons. He went into the game one point behind Adam Moss’ total of 233 points (2002-05).
–FS Justin Halley’s 62-yard return of a fumble recovery was the first score for the FIU defense this season and first since SS Johnathan Cyprien’s interception return against Louisiana-Monroe last Nov. 11.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Freshman WR Nick England had three catches for 64 yards against Troy with his 56-yard reception setting up a three-yard touchdown pass to WR Wayne Times. England now has eight receptions for 87 yards on the season.
LOOKING GOOD: Sophomore QB Jake Medlock doesn’t seem to be showing any lingering effects from the foot injury that sidelined him for two-plus games, at least in his passing. He was 18-of-29 for 316 yards in the loss of Troy with three touchdown passes. He was intercepted once, ending his streak of pass attempts without a pick at a school-record 203, and it could be his escapability was hampered as he was sacked three times.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Once again the Panthers’ defense gave up a double-digit lead. After S Justin Halley’s 62-yard run with a fumble recovery gave the Panthers a 37-21 lead, Troy scored 17 unanswered points. The Panthers let a 17-point first-half lead get away in the loss to Middle Tennessee the previous week.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Things we’ve never even done in practice showed up at pretty critical times today.” — Coach Mario Cristobal, in the Miami Herald, on the Panthers’ mistakes in the one-point loss at Troy.
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NCAAF Team Report – Florida International – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–Senior RB Darian Mallary scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season on a one-yard run in the first quarter. He has rushed for at least one touchdown in every game he has played in this season (seven in all). He missed one game because of injury.
–Senior WR Wayne Times had four receptions for 28 yards, extending his streak of games with at least one catch to 25 consecutive games. His three-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was the fifth of his career.
–Junior WR Willis Wright had a touchdown reception for the second consecutive game, scoring on a 49-yard play in the first quarter. He finished the game six receptions for 129 yards, both career highs.
ROSTER REPORT
–Junior RB Kedrick Rhodes, who was questionable coming into the game because of an ankle injury, started at Troy and carried 18 times for 83 yards to lead FIU in rushing.
–Junior TE Zach Schaubhut made his first career start.
–Senior LB Winston Fraser will tie Lance Preston’s record for most career starts by an FIU linebacker with his next start. Preston had 40 starts from 2002 through ’05. Fraser’s start against Troy was his 39th. Fraser had 13 tackles against Troy.
–Senior RT Rupert Bryan made his 39th career start in the loss at Troy. He needs two more to tie Andy Leavine (2006-09) for most starts by a Panthers offense lineman.
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