FIU busts out of offensive funk, drops 62 on USF
FIU Football News
It seems the early season funk seems to be over.
FIU broke out of their 2-game offensive struggles to light up the visiting South Florida Bulls for 535 total yards of offense in a 62-21 romp. Junior QB DeMarcus Jean threw for 5 TDs, senior RB Ray Brooks eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground and the FIU defense held the Bulls to only 161 total yards of offense and forced 6 turnovers.
"What an incredible turnaround," Coach Borland said after the game. "This week we preached every day in practice about staying focused, keeping the eye on the prize and staying sound in our assignments. Apparently the preaching worked, as they came out fired up and ready to play. I'm very happy with the performance from both sides of the ball."
Jean, who had thrown 9 interceptions in the past two losses compared to only 3 TDs, tossed five TDs to 4 different receivers and was not intercepted. Jean hit WR J.J. Smith, TE Chris Hendrix and WR Brandon Turner for a score each, while slot WR Jason Morgan nabbed 2 TD catches. Jean finished 17-of-35 for 281 yards on the day.
Jean got a lot of help from the running game and the defense though. Senior RB Ray Brooks, who has averaged only 39 yards in the past two games, broke out with 206 yards on 23 carries and scored on two very long TD runs to spark the Panthers to a 28-point 2nd quarter. Brooks scored on runs of 79 and 63 yards as FIU turned a 7-7 stalemate into a 35-7 halftime blowout.
As for the defense, which got pounded last week for 50 points, they stepped up in a big way in shutting down USF QB Matt Grothe and a usually proficient offense. The Panthers held the Bulls to only 161 total yards of offense and only 7 first downs. USF scored on their 1st possession but did not find the red zone until the 4th quarter. FIU also forced 6 turnovers, including freshman CB Chad Smith's 1st career interception return for TD in the 4th quarter. Smith picked off Grothe and took it 44 yards untouched to the end zone for FIU's final score. Leading the way for the defense was sophomore DE Harvey Diggs, who was in Grothe's face all game. Diggs finished with 8 tackles (5 for a loss) and recorded 2 sacks, forced 2 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles.
FIU's offensive explosion happened without the help of senior offensive captain WR Donald Anderson. Anderson, FIU's top receiver, went down following a block in the 2nd quarter and did not return to the game. Anderson suffered a torn pectoral and will miss next week's conference opener.
The Golden Panthers will hit the road to open Sun Belt play next week, taking on 1-3 Arkansas State. FIU came back to beat the Indians in overtime last season.
Box Score
USF 7 0 7 7 - 21
FIU 7 28 10 17 - 62
1st --- USF --- Rose 56 pass from Grothe (Humphrey kick)
1st --- FIU --- J. Smith 2 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Brooks 79 run (Woodard kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Brooks 63 run (Woodard kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Hendrix 14 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Turner 21 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
3rd --- USF --- Downing 74 punt return (Humphrey kick)
3rd --- FIU --- Morgan 27 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
3rd --- FIU --- Woodard 24 FG
4th --- FIU --- Woodard 40 FG
4th --- FIU --- Morgan 4 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
4th --- USF --- Ryan 21 run (Humphrey kick)
4th --- FIU --- C. Smith 44 INT return (Woodard kick)
Team Stats
1st Downs: USF --- 7 ... FIU --- 28
Total Offense: USF --- 161 ... FIU --- 535
Rushes-Yards: USF --- 27-71 ... FIU --- 42-254
Passing (C-A-I): USF --- 7-18-3 ... FIU --- 17-35-0
Pass Yards: USF --- 90 ... FIU --- 281
Sacked: USF --- 6 ... FIU --- 3
3rd Down Conversions: USF --- 2-12 ... FIU --- 3-12
Turnovers: USF --- 6 ... FIU --- 1
Individual Stats
SOUTH FLORIDA
Matt Grothe, QB --- 7 - 17 - 90 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Ralph Ryan, WR --- 3 att. - 39 yds, TD
Brian Downing, RB --- 6 att. - 31 yds; 74-yd
PR TD
Brad Rose, WR --- 3 rec. - 72 yds, TD
George Selvie, DE --- 12 tkls (7 TFL), 3 sacks
Drew Berg, OLB --- 6 tkls (2 TFL)
Anthony Flynn, MLB --- 5 tkls, FF, FR
FIU
Jean, QB --- 17 - 35 - 281 yds, 5 TD
Brooks, RB --- 23 att. - 206 yds, 2 TD
Chance, RB --- 4 att. - 36 yds
Whitworth, QB --- 5 att. - 19 yds
Harris, FB --- 1 att. - (-1) yds
Jean, QB --- 9 att. - (-6) yds
Hendrix, TE --- 6 rec. - 104 yds, TD
Morgan, WR --- 4 rec. - 67 yds, 2 TD
Turner, WR --- 2 rec. - 46 yds, TD
Ernst, WR --- 2 rec. - 34 yds
J. Smith, WR --- 1 rec. - 2 yds, TD
Diggs, DE --- 8 tkls (5 TFL), 2 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR
R. Anderson, OLB --- 7 tkls (1 TFL), 1 sack, FF
M. Johnson, CB --- 4 tkls, INT
Jenkins, MLB --- 4 tkls (3 TFL), 3 sacks, FR
C. Smith, CB --- 4 tkls, 44-yd INT ret TD, FF