The Golden Panthers have been inching closer to blocking a kick recently.

“We sit in this meeting room every single Sunday and review film, and I can’t tell you how many times, probably two dozen times, where we’re watching film and we are this close to blocking a field goal,” said Golden Panthers coach Mario Cristobal. “I’m talking millimeters.”

The Golden Panthers (2-6, 2-3 Sun Belt), finally got that extra measurement when Tourek Williams blocked Tyler Albrecht’s field goal attempt in overtime to secure a 20-17 victory over the University of Louisiana (4-4, 2-2 SBC) on Oct. 31 at FIU Stadium.

The 6-foot-4 defensive end extended his left arm and tipped the football as it was kicked from 29 yards out, sending the Golden Panthers’ sideline into commotion and drawing the 8,593 announced fans into cheers on a fervent afternoon.

“He always says we’re going to block a field goal to win a game,” Cristobal said about defensive coordinator Phil Galiano. “It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Trailing 17-10 with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Golden Panthers quarterback Paul McCall found Greg Ellingson open in the end zone to tie the game. The Golden Panthers then got a field goal from Dustin Rivest in overtime to take their first lead of the contest. Linebacker Tyler Clawson had a crucial tackle for loss on third down to stop ULL’s drive in the extra period.

Williams’ left hand did the rest.

“Tourek Williams is a guy that you probably haven’t heard much about but he has been a co-starter since day one,” Cristobal said of the freshman.

Williams’ finishing touch came on a day when the FIU defense manufactured its most complete defensive game of the season. The Golden Panthers’ front seven played tenaciously, and held the Ragin’ Cajuns to 126 rushing yards on 44 carries. Ragin’ Cajuns running back Yobes Walker, who was coming off an impressive 105-yard performance against Florida Atlantic University last week, was stifled for 40 yards. The Golden Panthers entered the game second to last in the SBC in rushing defense.

“We had some pretty good defensive line play this game, we seemed to knock the line of scrimmage back more than we usually have,” said defensive tackle Jonas Murell. “I think the new scheme that we have put in with the movements that we are doing up front have really been working to our favor.”

The sudden success for the Golden Panthers’ defensive line was complemented by sound linebacker play. Williams pointed to discipline and players filling their gap assignments. Murell was encouraged by the consistent pursuit against the Ragin’ Cajun offense.

“They were coming downhill in a hurry,” Murell said. “There were several plays where I would come off the line and I would think ‘it might break’ and I turned around and they got a play in the backfield.”

Leading the group was sophomore Aaron Davis, who took the place of injured starting linebacker Toronto Smith.

The dreadlocked Davis, an imposing figure at 245 pounds, led the team with nine tackles and two tackles for loss.

“The kid’s a monster, isn’t he?” said Clawson, who had seven stops. “It’s definitely good playing beside him.”

Ironically, FIU has won its second game this season in a contest T.Y. Hilton did not score in. In 2008, Hilton scored in all of the team’s five victories. Hampered by a knee injury, Hilton was barely on the field for FIU, but freshman Wayne Times picked up the slack with five catches. After the game, Cristobal was asked to clarify if it was Murell or Williams who blocked the decisive field goal. Although he clarified Williams got the block.

“It doesn’t matter if the popcorn guy got it,” he said. “Bottom line, that thing was blocked, and we were able to pull out the victory.”