After 15 minutes of play at Tropicana Field, the Florida International Golden Panthers lead Marshall 7-3 in the Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton took it in from two yards to put the Panthers on the board. FIU utilized the explosive Hilton on the ground twice in the first quarter for 16 yards. Hilton also lead the Panthers through the air, with 31 yards on two catches from Wesley Carroll. He was taken out of the game with an apparent leg injury but was getting loose on the sidelines and attempting to get back into the game early in the second quarter.
The touchdown capped an 8 play, 47 yard march that responded to an opening field goal by the Thundering Herd. FIU had success both on the ground and in the air, gaining 96 yards of offense on three drives against Marshall. They look to build on the lead as the St. Petersburg Bowl heads to the second quarter.
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