FIU is a better football team since the firing of Ron Turner this season. Interim coach and defensive coordinator Ron Cooper is making more points appear on the scoreboard since taking over but one thing remains the same. Mistakes.
With less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and FIU Panthers were tied at 35. Blue Raiders linebacker D.J. Sanders’ 48-yard pick-6 of Alex McGough with 1:22 left sent Middle Tennessee past FIU 42-35 on Saturday night.
“We have to cut the mistakes, I believe in this team,” Cooper stated.
The Panthers were down 21-0 in the first quarter. They were able to gather themselves in the roller coaster of rain during the evening, but the biggest mistake of the night cost them.
McGough threw for 307 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Blue Raiders quarterback Brent Stockstill threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Both teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. Middle Tennessee did not commit one turnover in the game.
The Blue Raiders are in a race for first in the Conference USA East Division. The Panthers need to win their final three games of the season to be considered for bowl eligibility with two of those games on the road.
Photo/RomanGaray/WORLDWIDEWEST
