--- Well, this ought to be interesting. Coming off a multiple month hiatus, the first game back, while thankfully against an underperforming Louisiana-Monroe squad, it is also a dangerous squad. Louisiana-Monroe comes into this game with a 2-4 record for the year, 1-1 in the Sun Belt. We’re 5-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play, leading the conference ahead of 2-0 Arkansas State. It was a sunny and mild day in Louisiana, with weather looking to have little to no effect on this game. We won the coin toss to start the game and elected to kick.
Louisiana-Monroe tried to get something going after a 23 yard kickoff return, but they quickly stalled out against our tough defensive unit, resulting in a punt, giving us the ball to start the day on our 21 yard line. A failed pitch to the right resulting in a three yard loss, followed by a sack that lost an additional 7 yards, quickly showed the rust our offense had accumulated. An incomplete pass later, and our offense trotted off the field as we punted on 4th and 21 from our own 10 yard line. After a short punt gave the Warhawks the ball back at their own 47, their offense found some life, as a 35 yard pass advanced them down inside the 15 yard line. Our defense however finally toughened up and stopped them on 3rd and 5 from our 8 yard line, forcing them to settle for a 25 yard field goal.
After a 24 yard kickoff return set our offense up with the ball on our 33 yard line, the offense was itching to go. A quick 14 yard strike to Darrian Mallary showed the offense was ready to go this time. Unfortunately, the offense wasn’t as ready as they thought, as the drive stalled out and we were forced to punt 3 plays later. After allowing the Warhawks offense 15 yards, the defense buckled down and shut them down, forcing a punt on 4th and 5 from their 27 yard line, giving us the ball back and giving our offense great field position. Exactly like our last possession, another quick strike from Jake Medlock, this time for 19 yards to Glenn Coleman, and we had another new set of downs, also getting us across midfield for the first time of the game. However, another three and out, and we would punt the ball right back to ULM.
Their drive however came to a sudden end as a pair of dropped passes left them facing 3rd and long, of which they could only get 6 yards on a 3rd down rush, forcing yet another punt. After an incomplete pass on 1st down, Medlock started to find his rhythm and quickly led the Golden Panthers down the field, including a 31 yard pass to Coleman to give us 1st and 10 on the ULM 24 yard line, the farthest we had advanced the ball all game. A pair of big gains on the ground by Lee Robinson, followed by a great run off the left side by Dominique Rhymes, and we had the ball first and goal on the Warhawks 8 yard line. Medlock would only need one play, a strike to Jacob Younger in the back left corner of the end zone, and we claimed the lead 7-3 with 21 seconds left in the first quarter. A 4 yard rush followed by a 15 yard pass interference penalty on the defense, and the first quarter would come to a close.
The beginning of the second quarter found ULM on their 39 yard line, with a new set of downs thanks to our defense. However, the drive would stall there as three straight incomplete passes would bring them screeching to a halt. Our offense would quickly pick right back up where it left off, as Robinson would pick up a first down on 2nd and 5 by break loose and scampering for a 24 yard gain to give us a new set of downs at midfield. A 12 yard pass to Junior Mertile on 3rd and 4, and the Golden Panthers had new life on the ULM 30 yard line. Mertile came through for us again three plays later on 3rd and 8, as he hauled in a 16 yard pass to give us a first down on the ULM 13 yard line, but not without some drama as the Warhawks defense proceeded to strip the ball from him, before our left guard Ceedrick Davis managed to jump on it. Two rushes later gave us 1st and goal on the 2 yard line, before Rhymes managed to take in it for the touchdown with 4:33 left to play.
Things would only get worse for the ULM offense, as a 10 yard sack on 1st down put them into an immediate hole. While they were able to connect on a pass for 20 yards, they still came up inches short from a first down, one that they would fail to get as an incomplete pass on 3rd and inches would doom them to another punt. Our offense however proved to not be up to the task, as they quickly went three and out and punted the ball right back. After ULM punted the ball back, our offense finally got things clicking, as they were able to advance the ball down the field, getting to the ULM 36 yard line, before three straight incomplete passes doomed our drive. Jack Griffin would trot out to attempt a 53 yard field goal, however it was no good as it went wide left. A 32 yard pass by ULM would get them as far as our own 29 yard line before they went three and out. However, instead of attempting the field goal, they were able to convert on 4th and 10 and connect on a 23 yard pass, setting them up with 1st and goal on our 7 yard line with 30 seconds left in the half. Two passes later, ULM found the end zone on a 1 yard pass to tighten the score to 14-10 with 18 seconds left to play in the half. Three straight incomplete passes and that would be the end of the quarter as the first half came to a close.
Our offense came out ready to start the second half and build our lead back up, as Medlock found Jeremiah Harden open on 1st down for a 20 yard gain to get the half started off on the right foot. A sick move by Mertile to get separated from a defender, and our offense quickly got deep into ULM territory as Mertile hauled in a pass then scampered for a 58 yard gain before being tackled at the Warhawks 6 yard line. Our left guard Davis once again proved a savior, as Robinson nearly screwed our offense on the first play as he fumbled the ball backwards, where there was no one to tackle a ULM defender if they had picked it up. Thankfully, Davis was able to fall on top of it and keep the ball in our possession. After that fumble caused us to get pushed back to the ULM 8 yard line, it was decided to abandon the run for the rest of that drive, which turned out to be a good call, as Medlock found tight end Yakeem Griner in the back of the end zone for an 8 yard touchdown pass on the very next play. An extra point later, and we had extended our lead out to 21-10.
After our defense was able to force ULM three and out, our offense quickly started advanced thanks to passes of 17 and 7 yards to Harden, moving us from our own 38 yard line to the ULM 38. However, the drive would come to an immediate halt as Robinson, in his third fumble of the day, lost the ball on the ULM 25 yard line as he was tackled in the open field after breaking loose on a rush up the middle, giving the ball right back to the Warhawks. Thankfully, our defense was able to hold Louisiana-Monroe to another three and out, giving us the ball back without any damage. After Robinson went out with an injury, we decided to open up the running game again, giving Rhymes a chance to do his stuff. While it went well for a while, as Rhymes singlehandedly got our offense all the way to the ULM 29 yard line, Rhymes eventually went down with a sprained wrist, forcing him out for the rest of the contest. As our only other backup at fullback was our tight end Griner, we were essentially limited to only our passing game for the rest of the day. We were able to advance the ball as far as the ULM 13 yard line, before our worst fears came true.
On 3rd and 11, Medlock dropped back to pass and just as he was about to start throwing the ball to an open receiver in the end zone, ULM’s safety, Henry Mitchell, broke loose from his blocker, hit Medlock, forcing the ball to come loose, and with no one back there with him, except for Medlock lying on his back, Mitchell picked the ball up and essentially moon walked the fumble recovery 79 yards for a touchdown with 6 seconds left to play in the third quarter. We would get one small victory however, as the extra point attempt was no good, leaving us with a 21-16 lead as we entered the fourth quarter.
Things were worrying at first as Medlock’s confidence appeared to be shaken, with two horribly thrown passes that had no chance of being completed. The ULM home crowd also roaring with renewed hope probably didn’t help much either. However, Medlock would finally show he was still capable of leading us to a win as he connected with Mertile on a 63 yard strike on 3rd and 10, that quickly quieted down the crowd and gave our offense new life at the ULM 16 yard line. Thanks to a couple of big rushes by Harden, we were able to advance the ball all the way to the ULM 1 yard line with first and goal. However, two stuffed runs and we were facing 3rd and goal from the 5 yard line. An attempted outside run on 3rd and goal, and once again the fumble bug bit us, as Kevin Van Kirk fumbled the ball, which ULM promptly pounced on at the 8 yard line, leaving us with no points and only a 5 point lead on the scoreboard with five minutes left in the game. Our defense however would again save us, forcing a three and out, followed by a 14 yard punt return by Mallary to give us the ball on the ULM 39 yard line with 4:36 left to play. And just like that, ULM got the ball right back as Robinson somehow found his way back into the game, and immediately fumbled the ball and gave it right back to the Warhawks on their own 41 yard line. They were able to advance the ball as far as our 25 yard line, before a couple busted runs and a false start penalty forced the Warhawks into a 4th and 17 situation from our own 32 yard line. With only 3 minutes left to play, instead of kicking the field goal, they went for it, with the pass falling incomplete, and turning it over on downs.
Unfortunately, we were only able to advance the ball 9 yards and were unable to get the first down. A pair of timeouts by ULM, and we punted the ball back to the Warhawks with 2:09 left to play. Things, however, could not have gotten worse for ULM. Taking over on their 12 yard line, a rush for a loss of 1 yard, followed by an incomplete pass, followed by a 10 yard holding penalty, setting up 3rd and 21 on their own one yard line, followed by two more incomplete passes, gave our offense the ball back on the ULM 1 yard line with 1:30 left to play. While we could have just gone the safe route and kneeled it three times and left the clock run out, we wanted blood. And first and goal on the one yard line is too good an opportunity to pass up. Two plays later, Robinson at least slightly redeemed his multiple fumbles, as he plowed into the end zone with 1:24 left to play. The extra point by Griffin, and we extended our lead to a game clinching 28-16. That touchdown did come with a cost however as Robinson ended up injuring himself on that play, ending up out for the next two weeks with turf toe.
ULM meanwhile showed they weren’t ready to go down without a fight, despite insurmountable odds, as they quickly moved downfield behind passes of 35 and 12 yards, even converting on 4th and 6 with an 18 yard pass. However, they would run out of time, as the clock hit zero with them only at our 9 yard line.
With the victory, we are officially bowl eligible as we improve our record for the season to 6-2, and remain perfect in the Sun Belt at 4-0. With the loss, UL Monroe drops to 2-5 for the year, 1-2 in conference play. Up next, we hit the home stretch of our two game road trip, as we travel to Mid Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders come into the game at 2-5 on the year, 2-2 in the Sun Belt. The Bleu Raiders opened up their season with a 52-13 loss at Georgia Tech and a 25-0 loss at home to Illinois. They would find the win column the following week as they defeated Western Kentucky on the road 31-13, but would quickly return to their losing ways with beatdowns of 69-3 at North Carolina and 44-14 at Troy. They would get back in the win column with a 14-7 edging of Lousiana-Lafayette, before falling to Florida Atlantic 29-12.
Meanwhile, our chances at winning the Sun Belt Conference title just got a big boost, as we are now the lone unbeaten team in conference play, with Arkansas State dropping to 2-1 in conference after getting whooped by Troy this week, 45-14.
Final Score
28,
16
Stat(s) of the Game:
FIU Offense – Medlock was so-so, with some horrible passes, but also some great throws. Rushing game was horrible and they all deserve to be shot. 5 fumbles, 4 of them lost.
FIU Defense – We lose without the defense. Game ball goes to the entire defensive unit.
FIU Kicking – Made all his extra points today, however still missed a field goal, even if it was from 50+ yards out.
Scoring Summary
| Team |
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Final Score |
|
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
|
3 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
16 |
| Time |
Team |
Result |
Play |
Score |
| First Quarter |
| 6:00 |
|
Field Goal |
C. Grant, 25 yard field goal |
3-0 |
| 0:21 |
|
Field Goal |
J. Younger, 8 yard pass from J. Medlock (J. Griffin kick) |
7-3 |
|
| Second Quarter |
| 4:33 |
|
Touchdown |
D. Rhymes, 2 yard run (J. Griffin kick) |
14-3 |
| 0:18 |
|
Touchdown |
J. Edwards, 1 yard pass from K. Browning (C. Grant kick) |
14-10 |
|
| Third Quarter |
| 7:31 |
|
Touchdown |
Y. Griner, 8 yard pass from J. Medlock (J. Griffin kick) |
21-10 |
| 0:18 |
|
Touchdown |
H. Mitchell, returned fumble 79 yards (missed kick) |
21-16 |
|
| Fourth Quarter |
| 1:24 |
|
Touchdown |
L. Robinson, 1 yard run (J. Griffin kick) |
28-16 |
| Florida International |
Stat |
Louisiana-Monroe |
| 28 |
Score |
16 |
| 19 |
First Downs |
10 |
| 470 |
Total Offense |
290 |
| 35 - 113 - 2 |
Rushes - Yards - TD |
18 - 58 - 0 |
| 18 - 39 - 2 |
Comp - Att - TD |
15 - 47 - 1 |
| 357 |
Passing Yards |
232 |
| 2 |
Times Sacked |
1 |
| 6 - 15 (40%) |
3rd Down Conversion |
3 - 18 (16%) |
| 0 - 0 (0%) |
4th Down Conversion |
2 - 4 (50%) |
| 0 - 0 (0%) |
2-Point Conv |
0 - 0 (0%) |
| 9 - 4 - 0 (44%) |
Red Zone - TD - FG |
3 - 1 - 1 (66%) |
| 4 |
Turnovers |
0 |
| 4 |
Fumbles Lost |
0 |
| 0 |
Intercepted |
0 |
| 27 |
Punt Return Yards |
3 |
| 55 |
Kick Return Yards |
42 |
| 552 |
Total Yards |
335 |
| 5 – 45.2 |
Punts - Average |
9 - 43.4 |
| 3 - 38 |
Penalties |
6 - 41 |
| 24:59 |
Time of Possession |
10:58 |
| Fail Impact |
Goal |
Progress |
Pass Impact |
 |
500+ rushing yards in each season |
2/3 Passed |
 |
|
Win 8 games in one season |
6 |
|
|
2000+ total offensive yards in each season |
2/3 Passed |
|
|
7+ passing TD in one season |
 |
|
|
10+ points per game in each season |
35 PPG |
|
|
2400+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
 |
Win 4 games in one season |
|
 |
 |
2000+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
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Originally Posted by morsdraconis
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