MIAMI — Dalton Sturm had 187 yards of offense and La'Kel Bass and Marcus Davenport combined for 15 tackles, but it was not enough in a 14-7 setback to FIU in Conference USA action on Saturday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
Sturm rushed for a game-high 82 yards and added 105 through the air for the Roadrunners, who fell to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in league play. The senior quarterback completed 13 passes to seven different receivers, including three apiece to Josh Stewart and Kerry Thomas Jr., who at one point became UTSA's career receiving yards leader only to fall back below Kam Jones' standard of 1,478 by just three yards.
Meanwhile, Bass led a defense that held the Panthers (6-2, 4-1) to 315 yards of offense with eight tackles, including five solos and a tackle for loss. Davenport added seven stops and his third forced fumble of the season, which led to one of three FIU turnovers on the night.
Alex McGough completed 18-of-25 passes for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead FIU's offense. Thomas Owens hauled in eight of those passes for a game-high 72 yards and one of the scores.
After a scoreless first half that saw the two teams combine for just 246 yards, FIU broke through for the game's first points with 3:40 left in the third quarter when McGough hit Thomas Owens in the flat for a 13-yard touchdown pass to help put the home team up 7-0.
UTSA coughed up the football on the ensuing kickoff and FIU recovered at the 15-yard line. On the next play, McGough found Shawndarrius Phillips open over the middle for his second TD pass of the night.
The Roadrunners got on the board early in the final frame. Sturm completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brady Jones with 13:59 left to play, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
On the next possession, Austin Jupe picked off a long pass by McGough at the UTSA 31 for the senior cornerback's first career interception. The Roadrunners then marched all the way down to the FIU 1-yard line and threatened to tie the score but were stopped short of the end zone on fourth down with 6:44 remaining.
That goal-line stand would prove to be the difference, as FIU's defense stopped another UTSA threat deep in Panthers territory with a little more than four minutes to go.
FIU ran out all but the the remaining 16 seconds of the game and evened the all-time series with UTSA, 1-1.
The Roadrunners will open up a two-game home stand next Saturday, Nov. 11, when they host UAB (6-4, 4-2). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will be televised on KCWX-TV in San Antonio.
