Stephen F. Austin
Florida International
SFA Falls To Florida International, 31-24
10/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 2004
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Lumberjacks came up short Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium as the Golden Panthers of Florida International rolled up 434 yards of offense en route to a 31-24 win over the fifth ranked Lumberjacks.
SFA missed a scoring opportunity on its second possession when Ryan Rossner missed from 37 yards out, then FIU took the ball and went 80-yards in 13 plays to pull out to a 7-0 lead. Rossner later connected on a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
FIU then put up 10 points in the second quarter to build a 17-3 lead with 1:58 to play before the half. SFA answered with a six play, 80-yard drive capped by a 38-yard touchdown reception by Tony Tompkins. That made the score 17-10 at the half.
The 'Jacks could not establish the running game as FIU held SFA to only 46 yards rushing in the first half of play on 19 carries. The 'Jacks did run the ball a little better in the second half, but still could not stop the Florida International offense. FIU scored twice in the third quarter to build a 31-10 lead before the 'Jacks battled back to score 14 points in the final quarter of play and make it interesting down the stretch.
Louie Runnels scored the game's last touchdown to make it FIU 31, SFA 24 with 5:50 to play. The 'Jacks got the ball back with 2:08 remaining, but failed to convert on fourth and 10 at the FIU 43-yard line. Michael Williams appeared to have connected with Tony Tompkins for the first, but the ball came loose when Tompkins hit the ground at the FIU 30-yard line.
Williams ended the night completing 21 of 39 passes for a career high 294 yards and two touchdowns. Tompkins was on the receiving end of seven of those for 76 yards and a TD. Miguel Toulon also picked up his first 100-yard receiving game with five catches for 100 yards and a score.
SFA goes on the road for its next two games beginning next week at UC-Davis. Game time is 3:30 Central.
