TOLEDO, OH ? Toledo lost three fumbles and failed to score in the second half as Florida International knocked off the Rockets, 35-16, in non-conference action at the Glass Bowl on Sept. 27.

 

FIU (1-3) outscored Toledo 21-0 in the third quarter and held on to record its first win of the year and just second in the past two seasons. Two Toledo fumbles led to Golden Panther scores in that third quarter.

 

Toledo (1-3, 1-0 MAC) led at the half, 16-14, jumping out to 13-0 in the first quarter on a trick play and a pair of field goals by Alex Steigerwald. Less than two minutes into the game, the Rockets struck when Nick Moore hooked up with Stephen Williams on a wide receiver option for a 31-yard score. Steigerwald hit field goals of 41 and 47 yards, the latter his career-long.

 

FIU struck back with a pair of TDs in the second quarter, the first on a 37-yard pass from QB Paul McCall to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. Two possessions later, running back Julian Reams scored on a two-yard run. Steigerwald's third field goal of the game, a 41-yarder with 1:02 to play, gave Toledo the halftime lead.

 

But FIU dominated the game in the second half, beginning with a 55-yard kickoff return by T.Y. Hilton to start the third quarter that gave FIU the ball on the UT 27-yard line. On the very next play Julian Reams scampered for a 27-yard TD that put the Golden Panthers ahead to stay.

 

FIU next two scores both came off Toledo fumbles. Rocket QB Aaron Opelt was sacked and fumbled deep in Toledo territory, and FIU recovered on the UT five-yard line. Reams scored on fourth down from the one-yard line to put FIU up, 28-16.

 

On the ensuing kickoff, Toledo's Greg Harris fumbled and the Golden Panthers recovred on the UT 44-yard line. Seven plays later Amod Ned scored on a run fourth-down rush from six yards out.

 

Toledo outgained FIU in total yardage, 320-239, but managed just 79 yards of offense in the second half.

 

The Rockets return to MAC action next week when they host Ball State in the Glass Bowl.