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Jean shreds Ball State secondary to lead FIU to 1st bowl win ever
FIU Football News

As the saying goes, you should always leave the best for last.

Junior QB DeMarcus Jean completed an amazing season for the #22-ranked FIU Golden Panthers in the Motor City Bowl against Ball State, dicing the Cardinal secondary for 443 yards passing and 5 TDs to lead FIU to a 62-41 shootout victory. The win gives FIU their 1st bowl victory in program history and gives them a school-record 11 wins on the year.

"Ball State really focused on stopping the run," Jean said after the win. "Coach kept trying to mix it in but it wasn't working like it should. He turned to the passing game and we had a good day. My receivers were awesome and the line gave me enough time to find the open man. It was a good team effort."

Jean completed 22-of-34 passes in the win, throwing TD passes to four different receivers. Three receivers went over 100 yards on the day as FIU rolled up 641 yards of total offense. Senior WRs Jason Morgan (176 yards, 1 TD), Donald Anderson (145 yards, 2 TD) and J.J. Smith (101 yards, 1 TD) each eclipsed the 100-yard mark and scored at least once in their final games as a Golden Panther. Morgan also returned a 2nd-quarter kickoff for a TD. All-American TE Chris Hendrix added 21 yards and caught Jean's final TD pass.

As for the running game, FIU totaled 198 yards on the ground but it wasn't due to any true running backs. Freshman QB Lamont Whitworth piled up 166 yards rushing on only 9 carries and scored on two long TD runs of 71 and 57 yards. Senior RB Ray Brooks, playing in his final game as well, tallied only 49 yards on 17 carries.

On the other side of the field, Ball State played well despite the loss and the game really lived up to its shootout expectations. QB Nate Davis did a great job finding holes in the FIU secondary, which was missing a big piece due to suspension. FIU freshman All-American CB Melvin Johnson was suspended for the bowl game due to violation of team rules. Davis threw for 380 yards on only 14-of-23 passing and 4 TDs to keep the Cardinals in the game for the most part. WR Daniel McClellan led Ball State with 175 yards receiving and a TD, while RB DeMarcus Walker had 132 yards from scrimmage (74 rushing) and scored 2 TDs.

FIU finishes the season 11-2 overall with a Sun Belt championship and now a win in the Motor City Bowl. It was an incredible year 3 for head coach Kyle Borland and the Panthers.

Box Score

BALL 10 16 8 7 - 41
FIU 10 24 21 7 - 62

1st --- FIU --- Woodard 25 FG
1st --- BALL --- Russell 37 FG
1st --- FIU --- Whitworth 71 run (Woodard kick)
1st --- BALL --- Owens 60 pass from Davis (Russell kick)
2nd --- BALL --- Russell 44 FG
2nd --- FIU --- D. Anderson 29 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
2nd --- BALL --- Walker 43 run (Russell kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Morgan 97 kick return (Woodard kick)
2nd --- FIU --- Woodard 28 FG
2nd --- BALL --- Walker 51 pass from Davis (kick blocked)
2nd --- FIU --- D. Anderson 19 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
3rd --- FIU --- J. Smith 59 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
3rd --- FIU --- Morgan 17 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
3rd --- BALL --- McClellan 71 pass from Davis (Davis pass to Thompson)
3rd --- FIU --- Whitworth 57 run (Woodard kick)
4th --- FIU --- Hendrix 12 pass from Jean (Woodard kick)
4th --- BALL --- Horn 47 pass from Davis (Russell kick)

Team Stats

1st Downs: BALL --- 13 ... FIU --- 26
Total Offense: BALL --- 459 ... FIU --- 641
Rushes-Yards: BALL --- 24-79 ... FIU --- 44-198
Passing (C-A-I): BALL --- 14-23-2 ... FIU --- 22-34-0
Pass Yards: BALL --- 380 ... FIU --- 443
Times Sacked: BALL --- 2 ... FIU --- 6
3rd Down Conversions: BALL --- 4-9 ... FIU --- 10-17
Turnovers: BALL --- 4 ... FIU --- 1

Individual Stats

BALL STATE

Nate Davis, QB --- 14 - 23 - 380 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT; 6 att. - 5 yds

DeMarcus Walker, RB --- 18 att. - 74 yds, TD; 2 rec. - 58 yds, TD

Daniel McClellan, WR --- 5 rec. - 175 yds, TD
Vernon Owens, WR --- 3 rec. - 72 yds, TD
Seth Horn, TE --- 1 rec. - 47 yds, TD

David Porter, MLB --- 9 tkls (3 TFL)
Michael Brown, CB --- 9 tkls (1 TFL), FR
Marvin Brown, FS --- 9 tkls (1 TFL), 1 sack, FF
Byron Southall, DE --- 6 tkls (4 TFL), 2 sacks
Joe Bennett, DT --- 6 tkls (3 TFL), 1 sack

FIU

Jean, QB --- 22 - 34 - 443 yds, 5 TD; 10 att. - (-36) yds

Whitworth, QB --- 9 att. - 166 yds, 2 TD
Brooks, RB --- 17 att. - 49 yds
Chance, RB --- 7 att. - 19 yds
Fisher, RB --- 1 att. - 0 yds

Morgan, WR --- 9 rec. - 176 yds, TD; 170 KR yds, TD
D. Anderson, WR --- 7 rec. - 145 yds, 2 TD
J. Smith, WR --- 4 rec. - 101 yds, TD
Hendrix, TE --- 2 rec. - 21 yds, TD

Owens, FS --- 7 tkls, INT
Goins, DE --- 6 tkls (4 TFL), 2 sacks
R. Anderson, OLB --- 5 tkls (1 TFL), FF, 1 blk