FIU holds LIU to three points in 20-3 win at Pitbull Stadium

Florida International scored a touchdown on its first scoring drive and never trailed in a 20-3 win over Long Island University on Saturday at Pitbull Stadium. JJ Kohl hit Tyson Carter for a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and the Panthers added seven more points in the second before two late field goals. LIU's only scoring came on a 46-yard Will Johnson field goal. The Sharks were shut out after that second-quarter kick.

The opening touchdown drive covered 78 yards in six plays. FIU had to recover from penalties and long-yardage situations, then Kohl connected with Greg Gaines III for 30 yards to move the ball toward midfield. Carter's 48-yard catch finished the possession. Carter ended with two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, making that first big play the chief scoring contribution from the FIU passing game.

LIU responded with a 13-play, 46-yard drive that produced Johnson's field goal early in the second quarter. The Sharks cut it to 7-3, but the Panthers took the following possession 65 yards. Carrie broke a 13-yard run on the march, and Kohl found Gaines III for 20 yards. Maguire Anderson was credited with a fumble-recovery touchdown at 9:38 in the quarter, extending FIU's lead to 14-3. Anderson also had three catches for 58 yards in the game.

FIU used long possessions to control the second half. A 14-play, 91-yard drive ended with Robert Czeremcha's 25-yard field goal with 1:56 left in the third quarter. Another 11-play, 53-yard possession ended with his 37-yard kick early in the fourth. Those drives produced only six points, but they reduced the time LIU had to make up a two-score gap. The Sharks reached the FIU end of the field on one third-quarter drive, but Luca Stanzani was intercepted at the goal line, ending a 72-yard possession without points.

The Panthers gained 394 total yards, including 227 through the air and 167 on the ground. Kohl completed six of 11 throws for 135 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Zach Marker also played at quarterback and went six of 10 for 92 yards. Anthony Carrie led the rushing game with 71 yards on 14 carries. FIU converted nine of 14 third downs and had 18 first downs to LIU's 11, according to ESPN's final box score.

Stanzani went nine of 20 for 109 yards with an interception for LIU. The Sharks had 209 total yards and converted three of 14 third downs. Josiah Brown caught two passes for 56 yards; Chris Howell led LIU rushers with 23. LIU entered the game after a narrow loss to Villanova, but could not reproduce that scoring pressure against FIU. The Panthers move to 2-2, while the Sharks are 0-5. FIU's defense, ball control and Carter's early touchdown made this a steadier win than the modest 20-point output might suggest.