Reed's 4 TD passes carry Western Kentucky past Florida International, 41-28

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Dalvin Smith throws 32-yard touchdown pass vs. Florida International

Dalvin Smith throws 32-yard touchdown pass vs. Florida International

Nov 26, 2023, 01:06 am

MIAMI -- — Austin Reed threw four touchdown passes and Western Kentucky scored early to post a 41-28 win over Florida International in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

Western Kentucky beat FIU for the fifth straight time and now is 11-6 all-time against the Panthers. The Hilltoppers (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA) will finish their season by going to a bowl game for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons and the fifth time in coach Tyson Helton's five years at the school.

Reed and the Hilltoppers took the opening kick and drove 75 yards in 13 plays. Reed hit Malachi Corley with a 2-yard pass for a 7-0 lead then hit Jimmy Holiday with a 39-yard touchdown with :57 left in the quarter. Upton Stout returned a FIU fumble 16 yards for a score as time expired for a 21-0 lead to start the second quarter.

FIU got on the board when Keyone Jenkins tossed a 3-yard pass to Rocky Beers, but Reed answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Easton Messer and Dalvin Smith pulled up and threw a 32-yard touchdown to Craig Burt Jr. to take a 34-7 lead at the break.

Reed added a 45-yard touchdown to K.D. Hutchinson late in the third quarter.

Corley had six receptions to pass Taywan Taylor for the most in program history. He has 225 career receptions with a bowl game remaining.

Jenkins was 27-of-49 passing for 249 yards and three touchdowns and was intercepted twice for FIU (4-8, 1-7).

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