University of North Texas
1-6 , 1-3
Florida International
2-4 , 2-0
FIU Defeats Mean Green, 34-10
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON, Texas (10/16/10) -Wes Carroll passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the Golden Panthers 34-10 victory against the North Texas football team on Saturday night at Fouts Field.
The Mean Green falls to 1-6 and 1-3 in the Sun Belt, while FIU improves to 2-4 and 2-0 in the conference. The Golden Panthers extend the series record to 4-2.
FIU scored on all three of its possessions in the first quarter to take a 17-3 lead. The Golden Panthers used a 50-yard touchdown pass, a 30-yard field goal and a 10-yard rush to take an early lead. FIU added 10 more points in the second quarter to take a 27-3 halftime lead. The Mean Green did not score a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
The FIU defense held the Mean Green offense to just 285 total yards. North Texas converted four third downs in the game. Running back Lance Dunbar was limited to 30 rushing yards.
Carroll completed 17 of 31 passes for 288 yards for FIU. He completed touchdown passes of 50 and 43 yards in the game. NT's Chase Baine completed 13 of 28 passes for 142 yards.
Craig Robertson recorded his first career carry on a fourth-quarter fake punt that set up the Mean Green's only touchdown of the game. The 64-yard rush by Robertson was the longest run of the year. Dunbar scored on a nine-yard carry.
Zach Olen's 38-yard field goal was the Mean Green's only score of the first half. The FIU defense forced the Mean Green to punt on four of its five possessions in the first half.
The Golden Panthers needed just over two minutes to jump on the scoreboard first. Carroll found Greg Ellingson for a 50-yard touchdown pass on the fifth play of the drive. FIU scored on its opening possession to extend the streak of NT opponents scoring on their opening first drives. All seven North Texas opponents in 2010 have scored on their opening possession.
Brelan Chancellor's 73-yard kick return helped set up Olen's 38-yard field goal on NT's first offensive possession at 11:26 in the first quarter. The kick return is a season long. The field goal was a personal best for the freshman. Olen is now 5-for-6 in field goals this season after missing a 33-yard attempt in the third quarter.
Chancellor has the second-most kick return yards ever in a Sun Belt game with 198 yards. Robertson registered a game-high 12 tackles tonight. That brings his career total to 321, which is just four short of fifth place in NT history.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday, October 30 when it faces WKU on the road at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
FIU 7, NT 0
FIU - Ellingson, Greg 50 yd pass from Carroll, Wes (Griffin, Jack kick) 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:17
FIU 7, NT 3
NT - Olen, Zach 38 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:17
FIU 10, NT 3
FIU - Griffin, Jack 30 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:15
FIU 17, NT 3
FIU - Times, Wayne 10 yd run (Griffin, Jack kick), 6 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:36
FIU 24, NT 3
FIU - Hilton, T.Y. 43 yd pass from Carroll, Wes (Griffin, Jack kick) 6 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:03
FIU 27, NT 3
FIU - Griffin, Jack 33 yd field goal 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 1:56
FIU 34, NT 3
FIU - Rhodes, Kedrick 2 yd run (Griffin, Jack kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:01
FIU 34, NT 10
NT - Dunbar, Lance 9 yd run (Olen, Zach kick), 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:03
