Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Game Notes
--- This was it. Everything we had worked for all season. Despite an unfavorable bowl slot against a powerhouse team like USC, we were as ready as we would ever be. Coming in at 6-6, USC at 8-4, we had to win if we wanted to send our seniors out with a winning season. It was going to be difficult however, with our star halfback, Darriet Perry, out for the game with a broken elbow, and our second string halfback, Darrian Mallary, listed as probable after being out for much of the year with a broken tailbone. This looked to be one we’d have to fight through the air. There was nothing but sun today and a light 5 MPH wind, so weather wasn’t going to have an effect on the results. We won the coin toss and elected to kick. May our defense actually show up today.
Somehow, by god, our defense stopped the Trojans offense. A sack for a loss of 7 yards on 1st down and a holding penalty on 3rd and 5 proved too much to overcome, even after completing passes of 13 and 12 to make up those lost yards. The Trojans would punt for the first time today from our 48 yard line on 4th and 2. The USC defense meanwhile, was more than ready for us, as we would only gain a paltry 6 yards before punting the ball back. Or maybe not. A 5 yard encroachment penalty on 4th and 4, and our offense found life again. But, three straight incomplete passes, and this time we would actually punt. It turned out we weren’t the only ones stuck in neutral. The USC offense was unable to get anything going on their second drive, ultimately gaining only 2 yards before punting the ball right back to our offense. Mallary was able to find some yards on the ground, however, a WR screen pass on 3rd and 2 would only net us one yard, and our punt team returned to the field once again.
Our defense showed a moment of weakness, giving up a 24 yard pass on 3rd and 10, but they quickly buckled down, and with the help of a holding penalty, were able to force the Trojans to punt in a 4th and 20 situation from their own 25. Finally, on our third offensive possession of the game, we were able to achieve our first 1st down of the game, thanks to a 7 yard pass to Jonathan Faucher. The USC defense meanwhile showed it was going to be nigh impossible to find any success on the ground. Things would then quickly come crashing down for our offense, as a pass attempt on 3rd and 6 was intercepted by the USC defense, giving the Trojans the ball back at the 50 yard line. Our defense however continued to be our savior, allowing only 7 yards over the three downs, forcing another USC punt. Wide Receiver Junior Mertile would come through big for us, hauling in a 19 yard pass on 1st down to get our offense kick started and get us away from our 20 yard line. A 12 yard pass to Dudley LaPorte on 2nd down and we were able to reach the 50 yard line. Unfortunately, Wesley Carroll threw his second interception of the game, brought down by the Trojan defender at the USC 38 yard line, and that would kill our offensive drive, and the first quarter.
Start of the second quarter, and our defense finally broke. USC needed only 7 plays to drive 62 yards before finding the end zone. It was now up to our offense to try and find an answer and respond. Our offense would fail to reply. A quick three and out, and the ball was punted back into the hands of a potent and dangerous Trojan offense. USC would need a couple more than just 7 plays this time, but the result was the same, as the offense drive 66 yards down the field and scored another touchdown to expand their lead. I suppose one shining string of hope from that USC drive, was that their kicker missed the extra point, making their lead only 13 rather than 14. Small victories I suppose. Our offense still couldn’t figure out a way to beat the USC defense, as another offensive drive ended in a very quick three and out and another punt. Our defense finally again found their footing, forcing Matt Barkley to throw away three straight passes from our 40 yard line, and force the Trojans to punt the ball. While we would actually manage to gain 7 yards this drive, it ended like every previous drive had, us punting the ball away.
Our defense continued holding tough after finding their strength again, and forced another quick three and out of the Trojans offense. With less than 3 minutes left in the first half, our offense had to do something this time if we wanted any hope of even staying close in this game. This time, our offense finally came alive, as we were able to start connecting on medium range passes against the USC defense. We were able to piece together an 11 play, 80 yard drive before eventually stalling out on the USC 4 yard line. We would finally get on the scoreboard as Jack Griffin kicked a 21 yard field goal with 6 seconds left to play in the 1st half.
Start of the second half, and we were receiving the ball. This was potentially the drive of the game for us. If we could score here, it would put us right back into the thick of things. The Trojan defense continued to be a thorn in the side of our running game, and a secondary ready for the pass, shut us down after only three plays. USC’s offense was ready to move in for the kill, driving 62 yards in a mere 4 plays to score another touchdown. A penalty on the kicking team gave us great field position on our own 43 yard line to start our next drive. Unfortunately we wouldn’t even get to fully run one play, as Mallary fumbled the ball during a run play, to which the USC defense picked it up and ran it clear down to our 13 yard line before Carroll was able to catch up and tackle the defender. Two rushes later, and USC had another touchdown.
We would manage to drive the ball 34 yards out to the USC 46 yard line on our next drive, unfortunately, we failed to convert on 3rd and inches as USC once again slaughtered our running attack, and we were forced to punt for yet another time. USC refused to let up, driving 80 yards in 9 plays for their 5th touchdown of the game. A 15 yard penalty on the kickoff team once again gave us great field position as we started our offensive drive at our own 48 yard line. Our offense would catch a huge break, as USC stacked the box and pinched down the defensive line, ready for the run play we had just called. A quick audible to a pass, and Carroll was able to connect with Jacob Younger for a 46 yard gain, carrying us all the way down to the USC 6 yard line. A quick pass from Carroll to Wayne Times, and we finally found the end zone for the first time of the game with 2:50 left to play in the 3rd quarter.
While it ultimately may not affect the outcome of the game, it was certainly a small victory for our offense. Our defense looked like they were about to once again fold up and collapse to the USC offense, they finally settled down after USC made it as far as our 35 yard line, forcing a loss of a yard and putting USC into a 4th and 11 situation. An incomplete pass on 4th down, and our defense had done their job. We would advance the ball 8 yards, before our punt team came out yet again. It’s a shame it’s the end of the season. Our punt team is getting one heck of a workout that could have came in handy at the start of the year. Despite giving up a 21 yard pass on 1st down to end the 3rd quarter, our defense held their own once again, forcing a USC punt thanks to a sack on 3rd down. Unfortunately for us, our first offensive drive of the 4th quarter ended much the same as our last offensive drive of the 3rd quarter. A quick three and out, and it was back to the sidelines for our offense.
Despite draining the game clock to less than 5 minutes during their ensuing offensive drive, the Trojans were not about to take it easy on us, as they proceeded to score another touchdown after a 71 yard drive with 4:48 left in the game. Trying to keep some team morale up, and trying to actually find another first down, Carroll was able to hit T.Y. Hilton along the right sideline, and thanks to a missed diving tackle by the cornerback, Hilton was able to race 57 yards up the sideline before being tackled at the USC 12. We would get down as far as the USC 2 yard line before an incomplete pass forced us into a 4th and 2 situation. With only 3:24 left in the game, Coach Cristobal decided to let us go for it. Unfortunately, it would end up being intercepted in the end zone. The Trojan offense appeared to not care what the score was or how little time was left, driving right down the field on our defense, making it all the way down to our 1 yard line before time would finally run out before they could attempt to score another touchdown.
With the loss, we end our season with a 6-7 record, certainly not the way, and memories, we wanted to say goodbye to our seniors with. With the win, USC ends their year with a 9-4 record.
Final Score
40,
10
Stat(s) of the Game:
FIU Offense – Only 11 first downs. 21 yards rushing on 18 carries. 1 for 14 on 3rd down conversions. 4 turnovers.
FIU Defense – While we were playing the USC freaking Trojans, still gave up just barely shy of 600 yards total offense.
Scoring Summary
| Team |
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Final Score |
| |
0 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
| |
0 |
13 |
21 |
6 |
40 |
| Team |
Result |
Play |
Score |
|
First Quarter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Quarter |
|
|
|
Touchdown |
M. Tyler, 1 yard run (A. Heidari kick) |
7-0 |
|
Touchdown |
B. Carswell, 3 yard pass from M. Barkley (missed kick) |
13-0 |
|
Field Goal |
J. Griffin, 20 yard field goal |
13-3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
|
|
Touchdown |
B. Butler, 1 yard pass from M. Barkley (A. Heidari kick) |
20-3 |
|
Touchdown |
M. Tyler, 7 yard run (A. Heidari kick) |
27-3 |
|
Touchdown |
B. Butler, 18 yard pass from M. Barkley (A. Heidari kick) |
34-3 |
|
Touchdown |
W. Times, 6 yard pass from W. Carroll (J. Griffin kick) |
34-10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
|
Touchdown |
H. Simmons, 7 yard pass from M. Barkley (missed kick) |
40-10 |
| Florida International |
Stat |
USC |
| 10 |
Score |
40 |
| 11 |
First Downs |
26 |
| 314 |
Total Offense |
595 |
| 18-21-0 |
Rushes - Yards - TD |
46-221-2 |
| 20-42-1 |
Comp - Att - TD |
27-44-4 |
| 293 |
Passing Yards |
374 |
| 0 |
Times Sacked |
3 |
| 1-14 (7%) |
3rd Down Conv |
12-20 (60%) |
| 0-1 (00%) |
4th Down Conv |
0-1 (0%) |
| 0-0 (0%) |
2-Point Conv |
0-0 (0%) |
| 5-1-1 (40%) |
Red Zone - TD - FG |
9-6-0 (66%) |
| 4 |
Turnovers |
0 |
| 1 |
Fumbles Losts |
0 |
| 3 |
Intercepted |
0 |
| 19 |
Punt Return Yards |
44 |
| 139 |
Kick Return Yards |
63 |
| 472 |
Total Yards |
702 |
| 9 - 44.9 |
Punts - Average |
7 - 44.7 |
| 5 - 36 |
Penalties |
6 - 58 |
| 16:17 |
Time of Possession |
19:43 |
| Fail Impact |
Goal |
Progress |
Pass Impact |
 |
500+ rushing yards in each season |
1/3 Passed |
 |
|
Win 8 games in one season |
6 |
|
|
2000+ total offensive yards in each season |
1/3 Passed |
|
| |
7+ passing TD in one season |
 |
|
|
10+ points per game in each season |
25 PPG |
|
| |
2400+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
 |
Win 4 games in one season |
|
 |
 |
2000+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
Originally Posted by souljahbill
The teams I'm rooting for- Naturally
- Living in Baton Rouge, things are better here in the city when they win
- Because that would just be awesome
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The offers I received from Arkansas State, Army, Baylor, Idaho and Western Michigan, I would have instantly jumped ship for if I was allowed to.
Tackle and 
ratings of 73.00 and 66.00 blew the Sparq ratings of my committed recruits out of the water. Oh what I could have done with them. 
I got huge boosts in my HB and MLB corps for next season. I just have to suffer through this season before getting them on the field. 
), Army, Western Michigan, and Idaho, I would have left and jumped to any of those jobs in a heartbeat if I was allowed to. Some great upgrades over what I'll have to roll with this season after the losses I had from graduation.
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