MIAMI, Fla. (11/8/08) ? Florida International's lone touchdown of the game proved to be the difference as the Arkansas State football team fell to the Golden Panthers, 22-21, Saturday night at FIU Stadium.

FIU took the lead with 2:04 left in the game, when T.Y. Hilton took a handoff, fumbled the ball, recovered his own fumble, then reversed his field and fired off a 38-yard pass hitting a wide open Junior Mertile in the end zone, taking its final lead 22-21.

ASU drove on the following possession but fell short when junior quarterback Corey Leonard threw an interception to FIU's Franklin Brown with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

ASU held FIU to only 20 yards total offense in the first quarter. It was the lowest yard total that the Red Wolves have allowed in the first quarter all season and the second-lowest of any quarter this year.

ASU's Reggie Arnold broke for a 27-yard run in the first quarter, which marked the longest run for the junior running back since the Red Wolves matchup against Texas-Southern on Sept. 6.  Arnold also broke the 100-yard barrier for the first time since the Texas-Southern game. Arnold rolled up 113 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Leonard scored ASU's first touchdown with 59 seconds remaining in the second quarter, taking the Red Wolves first lead of the contest, 7-6.

ASU's 7-6 lead at the half marked the sixth time this season that the Red Wolves have been in control at the halfway mark.

ASU gained a 14-9 lead when Red Wolves senior tight end Vernon Caitlin reeled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Leonard.  It was the first catch of the season for Caitlin and it was the first appearance he has made for the Red Wolves in 2008.

Leonard was 13-26 with one touchdown and an interception for 149 passing yards. Leonard was also sacked five times during the contest.

Senior tight end David Johnson led the Red Wolves with 45 receiving yards on three catches.

Senior linebacker Ben Owens led ASU with eight tackles, including three solo hits. Alex Carrington recorded one sack in the game. Carrington now has 10.5 sacks on the season and has registered at least one sack in seven of ASU's nine games this season.

ASU's freshman running back Derek Lawson scored on a 12 yard scamper at the 13:31 mark in the fourth quarter. Following a Josh Arauco PAT the Red Wolves had a 21-12 lead.

FIU drove on the following possession but settled for their fifth field goal of the game coming up short on a third and 10 attempt. The five field goals set a school record for the Golden Panthers for most field goals in a single game.

The Red Wolves return to action on Nov. 22 when they return to ASU Stadium to host Florida Atlantic at 2:00 p.m.