Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Stumble as Florida International Panthers Pounce at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers faced a challenging matchup against the Florida International Panthers, resulting in a 6-25 loss at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. The defeat brought the Hilltoppers' record to 5-2, while the Panthers improved to 3-3.

First Quarter

The game began with both teams trading field goals, but it was Jack Cassidy who stood out for WKU with an impressive 55-yard field goal. Despite this early success, the Tops struggled to maintain momentum as FIU's defense held strong.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, FIU capitalized on their opportunities and extended their lead by scoring two touchdowns and an additional field goal. The Tops' defense showed resilience with Demarko Williams contributing half a sack and Nazir Ward adding another half sack alongside his five tackles.

Third Quarter

As play resumed after halftime, FIU continued their offensive push by adding another touchdown to their tally. WKU's offense found it difficult to penetrate FIU's defensive line despite Rodney Tisdale Jr.'s accurate passing performance of completing seven out of eight attempts for 66 yards.

Fourth Quarter

The final quarter saw no points added by either side as defenses dominated proceedings. Cole Maynard showcased his punting prowess for WKU with an average of 48 yards per punt over five attempts, including two inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Despite this setback in Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Florida International Panthers final score of 6-25, there were notable individual performances from players like Marvis Parrish who rushed for a total of 74 yards on nine carries.

Looking ahead, Western Kentucky will travel to face Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston on October 21st at 7:30 PM EDT. Fans can catch all the action live on CBS Sports Network.

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