Raiders fall in Florida
MIAMI(AP) Paul McCall threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Florida International to a 31-21 win against Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.
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McCall completed 13 of 29 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception, running for another score and 53 yards on nine carries for the Golden Panthers (3-3, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference).
Phillip Tanner rushed 18 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Raiders (2-4, 1-3).
Florida International reached the .500 mark for the first time since 2002, and tied a school record with its third consecutive win.
McCall's 9-yard touchdown run gave Florida International a 7-3 lead with 4:12 before the half, and Dustin Rivest's 20-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-3 at halftime.
Anthony Gaitor opened the second half with a 27-yard interception return for the Golden Panthers, and A'mod Ned's 1-yard touchdown run gave Florida International a 24-6 lead at the 3:29 mark in the third quarter. Tanner's 3-yard touchdown run cut Middle Tennessee's deficit to 11 points at the end of the third.
But McCall hit T.Y. Hilton on a 63-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-13, and Tanner's 3-yard run with 4:41 left wouldn't be enough for the Blue Raiders.