LYNCHBURG, Va. — FIU's football program dropped its third-consecutive game in Conference USA (CUSA) play on Saturday afternoon, falling 49-10 to Liberty on the road.
The Panthers (3-5, 1-3 CUSA) were defeated by the first place Flames (7-1, 4-0 CUSA) in a one-sided contest. Liberty led just 7-0 after one quarter, but tacked on 21 points in the second quarter to build a 28-0 halftime lead.
Kyle McNeal led the receiving effort with six catches for 56 yards while JJ Kohl completed 21 passes for 164 yards with one touchdown. Maguire Anderson added five catches in support. On defense, DeAndre Boykins led the way with eight tackles and Shamir Sterlin added seven with an interception, his first of the season, in the first quarter.
Early on, FIU was stopped on its first drive and the Flames responded with a touchdown on a three-play drive to go in front, 7-0. The Panthers got into scoring position to respond after a 33-yard gain to McNeal, but had a kick blocked from 47 yards out. Sterlin then gave FIU another scoring opportunity, handing the offense the ball on its own 40, with an interception on third down with 6:32 remaining in the frame.
The Panthers had what looked like a long touchdown to Tyson Carter to tie the game on third down, but it was called back for a penalty, and FIU had to punt. That started a string of three-straight touchdown scoring drives for Liberty to close the opening half.
The Flames received the ball to open the second half and scored another touchdown, taking a 35-0 lead to seal the result. Robert Czeremcha accounted for FIU's first three points with a field goal from 38 yards early in the fourth quarter. Jojo Stone scored a touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Kohl with 3:37 to go, breaking a streak of 11-straight quarters that Liberty had not surrendered a touchdown in CUSA play.
Postgame Notes
- McNeal's six receptions are a career-high and his 56 yards are a season-high.
- Stone's touchdown was his second of the season and his first since Week 2 vs. Buffalo (Sept. 12).
- Sterlin's interception was his first of the season and the third of his career.
- Germaine Carter had his first sack of the season.
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