SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 27, 2014
Florida International 34, Alabama-Birmingham 20: Alex McGough threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns as the visiting Golden Panthers rolled past the Blazers in Conference USA play.
Jonnu Smith and Glenn Coleman caught scoring receptions for Florida International (2-3, 1-0). Richard Leonard and Demarkus Perkins each returned interceptions for touchdowns.
D.J. Vinson ran for a touchdown and Gerald Everett had a scoring reception for Alabama-Birmingham (2-2, 0-1). Cody Clements rushed for a score and passed for 136 yards and one interception while Jeremiah Briscoe was intercepted twice.
The Golden Panthers scored 27 unanswered points, including 20 in the second half to turn it into a blowout. McGoughกฏs 85-yard scoring pass to Coleman and two Austin Taylor field goals pushed the lead to 27-13 and Perkins expanded the lead to 21 with a 31-yard interception return with 13:40 remaining.
UAB took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Vinsonกฏs 2-yard run before the Golden Panthers knotted it when Leonard returned an interception 25 yards for a score. Clements connected with Everett on a 29-yard touchdown to give the Blazers a 13-7 lead but McGough hit Smith on a 75-yard scoring play to give Florida International a one-point lead with 3:37 left in the half.