The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders showed their heart and their mettle, coming back from a 42-17 deficit to tie the game at 42-42. FIU kicked a go-ahead field goal and amazingly the Blue Raiders matched it with just 56 seconds to go, but a tired defense couldn't stop the big play as the game got completely out of control and FIU moved right down the field for the winning field goal with two seconds remaining.

After both teams punted to lead off the game, Middle Tennessee State got a huge break when an unaware FIU player touched a punt and it rolled into the end zone. Rod Davis recovered the muff (just don't use that word around your mom) and it was 7-0. Rod Davis then made another huge play moments later, intercepting a pass and giving the Blue Raiders great field position. Anthony Singleton helped the team capitalize with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Douglas

What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game. Florida International managed to score 35 points before halftime, taking a 35-17 lead into the break. Quarterback Kevin Coles threw four touchdown passes in that ugly first half.

"The whole game was ugly, not just the first half," countered Coach Clark. "I like defense. Sure, I like offense too, but you have to at least play fundamentally sound defense for the game to be respectable. When the other team gives you six turnovers and you still can't beat them, then that means you're a piss poor defense. We don't deserve to win another game this year."

The Blue Raiders kicked a field goal early in the second half, but were then stunned by a 93-yard kickoff return by Matt Brewer for a touchdown.

Still the Blue Raiders made an epic comeback.

The Blue Raiders were forced to punt, but player of the game Rod Davis then made his second interception of the game to give the Blue Raiders the ball again. Singleton cashed in again with a 30-yard touchdown pass to J.P. Gilbert.

MTSU then kicked a field goal a few minutes later before FIU quarterback Coles threw another interception, this time to Reggie Jackson. Mr. October's interception gave the offense even more momentum and Singleton threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to the old man of the team, Gene Smith, with seven seconds to go in the third.

A four-yard touchdown pass to Douglas early in the fourth quarter brought the Blue Raiders to within two, and Singleton ran in the two-point conversion himself to tie the game at 42-42.

Heartbreak was soon to follow, as the Golden Panthers finally decided to stop turning the ball over and kicked the go ahead field goal. After MTSU tied it up again with a field goal of their own, FIU's Lawrence Gutierrez caught his only pass of the day - a 46 yarder - after a solid kickoff return and FIU got into field goal range easily for the game-winning kick.