MIAMI (AP) — T.Y. Hilton caught a 42-yard touchdown from Wes Carroll with 1:42 left and Florida International rallied to beat Arkansas State 31-24 on Saturday to clinch the Sun Belt Conference.
Hilton finished with 11 catches for 140 yards for the Golden Panthers (6-5, 6-1), who also won the school’s first football conference title. Carroll was 21-for-27 for 266 yards with one interception.
Hilton caught a pass on slant route — surrounded by Arkansas State players — but he evaded the four defenders and sped towards the right corner of the end zone. Wayne Times scored on a 2-point conversion off a bootleg play to give FIU a seven point cushion.
Jarvis Wilson broke up a pass by Arkansas State quarterback Phillip Butterfield with 49 seconds left to clinch the victory for FIU.
Ryan Aplin threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns for the Red Wolves (4-8, 4-4).
