Brown and Bourgeois lead Middle Tennessee past FIU, 26-23

Terrence Brown Jr. ran for 158 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, Dominic Bourgeois made four field goals, and Middle Tennessee kept the ball for the final 6:06 to beat FIU 26-23 on Tuesday night in Miami.

The Blue Raiders improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA. FIU fell to 3-4 and 1-2, according to the official gamebook, after drawing within a field goal on JJ Kohl’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Joseph.

FIU never got another possession. Middle Tennessee answered with an 11-play, 71-yard drive, reaching the Panthers’ four-yard line after a pair of kneel-downs ended the game. The possession supplied the final answer in a game the Blue Raiders finished with a 448-347 advantage in total offense.

A long run breaks the tie

Brown’s 54-yard touchdown run with 2:06 left in the third quarter broke a 16-16 tie and put Middle Tennessee ahead for good. He finished with 18 carries, averaging 8.8 yards, and added two catches for 25 yards.

Bourgeois extended the advantage to 26-16 with a 28-yard field goal at 10:26 of the fourth quarter. His four successful attempts came from 51, 39, 50 and 28 yards, and he also made both extra points.

The Panthers had opened the scoring on Kohl’s 49-yard pass to Kyle McNeal. Kohl’s two-point conversion run gave FIU an 8-0 lead. Roman Gagliano found Brody Benke for a 30-yard touchdown later in the first quarter, and Bourgeois’ two second-quarter field goals put Middle Tennessee ahead 13-8 at halftime.

After a third Bourgeois field goal, FIU tied it on a one-yard Kohl pass to Kevin Schaeffer and a Devonte Lyons two-point run. Brown’s long touchdown came less than two minutes later.

Gagliano and Lacy help finish it

Gagliano completed 16 of 27 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown without an interception, adding 41 rushing yards. Cam’ron Lacy caught six passes for 68 yards, including a 25-yard completion on the closing drive. Brown then ran 14 yards to the FIU one before Middle Tennessee finished with the kneel-downs.

The Blue Raiders rushed for 248 yards and committed no turnovers. Antonio Martin Jr. contributed 47 rushing yards, while Neo Clifton had three catches for 62 yards.

Kohl threw for 179 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Lyons ran for 115 yards on 19 attempts, but FIU’s offense had to watch the final six minutes from the sideline.

Middle Tennessee hosts Kennesaw State on October 28. FIU’s next game is at Liberty on October 31.