The Golden Panthers kept a few season-long trends going into Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 3.

T.Y. Hilton continued his stretch of offensive prowess en route to tying a team record with 11 catches in a game, while staying ahead of last season’s freshman All-American pace.

FIU also lost its fourth consecutive game in large part due to breakdowns in run defense and an inability to sustain momentum throughout the course of the game.

It was a similar setting as University of Louisiana-Monroe (3-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) defeated FIU (0-4, 0-1) 48-35 at Malone Stadium, where the Golden Panthers have never won before.

“We started fast like we wanted to do and then we stalled and let them get back into it,” said Golden Panthers coach Mario Cristobal. “I think we have these drive killers that have to be eliminated. There is no other way about it. After shutting down their offense for a quarter, to buckle like we did in the second quarter. The same plays, the same calls, and they start making plays and we don’t. The inconsistencies are what are hurting us.”

Despite a promising start, the Golden Panthers allowed ULM to amass more than 300 rushing yards and nearly 600 yards of total offense. FIU also was hurt by 11 penalties for 106 yards.

Fast start

The Golden Panthers capitalized on linebacker Scott Bryant’s first interception of the season in the first quarter to set up a 21-yard pass from Paul McCall to Greg Ellingson on the very next play. FIU forced four punts and did not allow a first down until there was 4:44 left in the quarter. After an Anthony Gaitor interception to end that drive, the Golden Panthers took a 7-0 lead into the second period.

ULM scored on its next four drives, however, and took a 24-14 advantage at halftime. After Warhawks quarterback Trey Revell scored on a 9-yard run to tie the game at 7, he connected on a 52-yard pass to LaGregory Sapp to set up touchdown run by Frank Goodin that gave them a lead they kept the rest of the afternoon. Goodin had a career-high 163 rushing yards.

“When they started running the ball successfully it opened an entire new offense for them with play action and exposing the middle of the field,” Cristobal said. “We have not put four quarters of football yet and it showed today.”

Revell, who ranks fourth in the SBC in total offense per game, was able to use his feet and his arm to keep the Golden Panthers defense off balance. The junior signal caller threw for 273 yards and ran for another 82.

“Revell was amazing,” Bryant said. “He has great footwork and an arm. We put in our game plan to stop him and not get outside our defense.”

Cristobal echoed to missed assignments as the culprit to Revell and Goodin getting loose.

“It’s assignment football. Every single call has an assignment,” Cristobal said. “We rep that a lot and in the heat of the moment when the play is called you have to make those plays. You see when you make them it’s a heck of a play for the defense but when you lose your focus it’s a gash.”

Not enough

After a Jarvis Wilson fumble recovery brought FIU back to ULM’s 15-yard line in the third quarter, the Golden Panthers had another short field and they capitalized. McCall connected with tight end Dudley LaPorte to bring FIU to within three at 31-28.

FIU could not stop ULM from scoring though, as the Warhawks pressed their lead to 48-28 midway through the fourth quarter, a deficit the Golden Panthers could not recover from.

FIU will face winless Western Kentucky next week looking for a first victory of their own.

“The bottom line is there is no magic potion. There is no magic formula,” Cristobal said. “We need to make it happen. There is a clear understanding of that in the locker room and the only way to do that is through persistence. Persistence will fix half the problems in this world and we are no different.”