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DETROIT -- Florida International University sharpened their claws in the second half to blow away the University of Toledo by the surprising close score of 34-32. Throughout the game, it was mostly the Rockets, who was picked as the favorite by 1.5.

"I'm happy, it's a great time, we just won our first bowl game," said FIU Wide Receiver Greg Ellingson. "We're now undefeated 1-0 in bowl games. I'm a senior now. This is a good way to go out. I always have faith in my team. When there was 1:30 left on the clock, I knew we could score on a limited amount of time."

Highlights of the game include an 84-yard touchdown return by Rockets running back Adonis Thomas (#28) four minutes in the second quarter that not only put him in the 1,000 yard mark, but it also became the fourth-longest in Toledo's history that gave them a 14-0 lead.

"It feels pretty good, but I give all my thanks and glory to God," said FIU Running Back Darriet Perry . "He's the one that gives me the strength and let me come out here and showcase my talent every single day. It's like another game for us, but we took it more serious. We came out in the second half. We progressed and executed like we should. We made it our game."

However, halfway through the quarter, Panthers' Darriet Perry (#28) ran for 74 yards, which became the longest non-score in the team's history, and helped cut down the lead by seven thanks to a one-yard TD return.

"A big momentum swing, big plays on defense," said Tyler Godlewski, a fan who attended the game from Tampa Bay, Fla. "That was a huge grab. Defense wins championships. Senior leadership. Detroit is a great city. I love this city."

After a field goal that gave the Rockets a 24-7 lead, Florida started to put the heat on them in the second half with a 89-yard return from wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (#4), followed by an interception from DB Kreg Brown (#18), and another TD run from Perry that ended the third quarter with a score of 24-21.

"Eighty-two [Greg Ellingson] with the big catch up the middle," said Austin Fleming, another fan from Tampa Bay, Fla. "Four [T.Y. Hilton] with the return was big. Defense held them all the way through. It proved this game. I'm just happy to be here. We'll be back, we'll be back. Little Caesars Bowl next year, I love it."

By the fourth, it was anyone's game, as Florida took over for the first time with the score of 31-24, but Toledo fired back with a 14-yard TD return from quarterback Terrance Owens (#2) along with a two-point conversion that gave them the lead by one. An FIU field goal with four seconds left on the clock helped sealed the comeback.

Final attendance figures came in with 32,431 people watching the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford Field. That is about 2,000 more than the attendance at last year's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. However, it is considered to be the second-lowest attended bowl game in Detroit, since it all started in 1997.

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PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Florida International University fans

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Florida International University faced the University of Toledo in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.