Defending SBC co-champions to face off at FIU

Photo by Kristi Camara

By: Jackson Wolek / Staff Writer

The historic start of the season for FIU has now quickly turned into desperation mode with a recent loss to Arkansas State, which now places FIU three games behind first place Louisiana with five games remaining on the season.

When the Panthers face off against Troy on Oct. 25 at home at 8:05 p.m. on ESPN2, a win will keep first place within striking distance, while a loss will push a repeat of a Sun Belt championship even further back.

“We treat all games with extreme importance, but as things start to shake out, the awareness heightens,” said head coach Mario Cristobal. “They are a good football team and in a very similar situation (2-4, 1-2 SBC), they’re talented and have won the conference for many years and I think still one of the best teams in the conference.”

Last year FIU went on a scoring spree by putting up 52 points against the Trojans on the road while on the way to a 52-35 victory. In a story on www.usatoday.com, Troy’s defensive tackle Tony Davis was quoted saying, “I still think about that, to the day. It would definitely be sweet revenge to go down there and beat them on national TV. It still leaves a bitter taste.”

“I think our tackles Rupert and Caylin won’t allow that. They’re pretty tough, so I think those two guys will lock them down,” sophomore running back Kedrick Rhodes said.

Rhodes is the second leading rusher in the Sun Belt with 85 yards per game, and the Trojans have given up 173 yards per game on the ground this season.

“I get excited because I know in the back field we got a lot of potential, so we can take advantage of that and make it even more, raise the bar,” Rhodes said about Troy’s rush defense.

This year, the offense is producing even better numbers than last year with 26 points per game compared to 21, and quarterback Wesley Carroll has passed for 1,455 yards as well as the rushing attack gaining 1,002 yards.

Still, the Panthers have had trouble in the redzone all season long, getting in 12 out of 26 chances. Out of the 12 times they have scored a touchdown while in the redzone, 11 of them have been rushing, while only one has been a passing touchdown.

Troy, however, comes in with a redzone defense that has allowed 11 touchdowns, six rushing and five throwing, and six field goals out of a combined 19 chances. This makes them tied for the worst redzone defense in the conference with Middle Tennessee, allowing a score 89.5 percent of the time.

Offensively, quarterback Corey Robinson has helped the Trojans gain an average of 298 yards passing per game, which is 18th in the nation. Even so, he has still thrown seven interceptions and just nine touchdowns thus far.

His favorite targets have been Eric Thomas (32 rec, 435 yards, 5 tds) and Corey Johnson (26 rec, 200 yards). The FIU defenses have allowed 231 yards through the air and eight passing touchdowns in seven games.

“We’re a hard working football team and we’re just going to continue to work hard,” said senior defensive back Jonathan Cyprien. “We have great defensive backs and a great defense, we’re just working hard, and we know we have a good football team coming in and we’re a good football team. We’re just ready to compete.”