HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Alex McGough threw a pair of touchdown passes to Thomas Owens as Florida International jumped out early and held on to beat Marshall  41-30 on Saturday.
The Panthers (5-2, 3-1 Conference USA) are off to their best start in school history. It was also their second straight win against the Thundering Herd and their first at Marshall (6-2, 3-1).
McGough was 14-of-18 passing, and Owens finished with seven catches for 114 yards. They capped back-to-back scoring drives late in the second half.
Napoleon Maxwell ran for 93 yards and a touchdown, and Alex Gardner added another 71 yards rushing and a score. Brad Muhammad’s 12-yard interception return for a touchdown stretched the Panthers’ lead to 35-7 midway through the third quarter.
Chase Litton threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, including two TD passes in the fourth quarter for Marshall.

Marshall stats
FIU    14    14    7    6    —    41
Marshall    0    7    7    16    —    30
First Quarter
FIU—Maxwell 1 run (Borregales kick), 13:22.
FIU—Gardner 7 run (Borregales kick), 6:59.
Second Quarter
MSH—Johnson 15 pass from Litton (Vedvik kick), 7:37.
FIU—Owens 41 pass from McGough (Borregales kick), 4:55.
FIU—Owens 19 pass from McGough (Borregales kick), 0:31.
Third Quarter
FIU—Muhammad 12 interception return (Borregales kick), 6:11.
MSH—King 26 run (Vedvik kick), 4:27.
Fourth Quarter
FIU—FG 30 Borregales, 8:15.
MSH—Williams 24 pass from Litton (Pass successful), 7:00.
MSH—Brady 8 pass from Litton (Pass successful), 2:44.
FIU—FG 38 Borregales, 0:26.
A—19,966.
———
FIU    MSH
First downs    21    29
Rushes-yards    48-224    29-142
Passing    177    363
Comp-Att-Int    14-18-0    33-52-2
Return Yards    33    124
Punts-Avg.    6-0.0    2-0.0
Fumbles-Lost    0-0    1-1
Penalties-Yards    6-60    3-35
Time of Possession    31:57    28:03
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—FIU, Maxwell 11-93, Gardner 19-71, S.Phillips 9-37, A.McGough 9-23. Marshall, Davis 11-85, T.King 13-82, Pittman 1-6, Jack.White 1-(minus 11), Litton 3-(minus 20).
PASSING—FIU, A.McGough 14-18-0-177. Marshall, Litton 33-52-2-363.
RECEIVING—FIU, T.Owens 7-114, McKever 4-43, Scott 2-18, Gardner 1-2. Marshall, Brady 9-101, M.Williams 9-92, T.King 5-45, Obialo 4-47, Yurachek 4-42, W.Johnson 1-15, Davis 1-14.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.