A phrase heard around the FIU football program for several years has been ``Times are tough on Southwest 8th Street.''

Not lately.

The good times kept rolling at FIU on Saturday night as the Golden Panthers won their third consecutive game and equaled the best start in the program's six-year history.

Backed by a suddenly explosive offense and another stout defensive performance, FIU cruised past Middle Tennessee 31-21 in front of 15,108 fans at FIU Stadium.

When FIU quarterback Paul McCall took a knee to end the game, fans prepared to storm the field before police stepped in front of the stands to deny them.

A jubilant coach Mario Cristobal ran across the field pumping his fist, jumped in the stands and kissed his wife.

''Well, that was fun,'' said a beaming Cristobal. ``We're getting better. We're playing hard. We're physical and we are making plays.''

Said McCall: ``The attitude is different from the top, down. It's invigorating. Every day someone is stepping up for us.''

FIU is now 3-3 tying the 2002 inaugural team for the best start in program history. The Golden Panthers (2-0, Sun Belt) also are tied atop their conference standings with Troy. FIU plays at Troy next Saturday with first place in the Sun Belt on the line.

BIG PLAY

FIU held a tenuous 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter, when McCall connected with T.Y. Hilton on a 63-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to help FIU salt away the game at 31-13.

Hilton, who is nicknamed ''T.Y. Goodbye'' by FIU fans, pointed to the student section after the catch as the well-known AOL sign-off ''Goodbye'' played on the stadium speakers.

''I kind of laughed,'' Hilton said of hearing the AOL sign-off. ``Our fans are fantastic. They gave us an extra boost. They gave us that extra energy. We live off of them.''

The FIU offense continued its high-flying ways, scoring 30 or more points for the third consecutive game and now totaling 108 points in those three games.

But it was the Golden Panthers defense that set the tone early against the Sun Belt's top passer.

FIU harassed quarterback Joe Craddock, who was eventually pulled from the game by the Blue Raiders coaching staff.

Craddock averaged 268 yards passing per game entering Saturday's game. He threw for just 25 yards against the Golden Panthers, and Anthony Gaitor intercepted him twice.

Gaitor's second pick extended the FIU lead to 17-3 in the third quarter.

'I heard [defensive coordinator Phil] Galiano screaming `Slant, slant' from the sideline,'' Gaitor said. ``We watched film on their offense all week, and we picked up what their receiver was going to do before the play.''

FIU's defense held the Blue Raiders to just 75 yards and six points until late in the third quarter, when Middle Tennessee scored its first touchdown.

GETTING `PAYBACK'

''In the back of our mind, we had payback,'' said linebacker Scott Bryant of last year's 47-6 loss to Middle Tennessee. ``So we got together on defense and we stopped them.''

Since allowing 40 and 42 points to Kansas and Iowa, respectively, to start the season, FIU has given up an average of 16 points in its last four games.

FIU's offense has been on a roll thanks to solid play from the offensive line. For the third consecutive game, the line gave McCall time to throw as well as run.

McCall threw for 223 yards, but more surprisingly, the not-so-nimble-footed quarterback led FIU with 53 yards rushing.

''It's amazing how far screen passes go when our O-line is pounding their defense,'' said McCall, who leaped over Middle Tennessee defenders on his 9-yard touchdown run for FIU's first score.

``And our offensive success is also because of the blocks downfield from receivers like Greg Ellingson, Jeremy Dickens. Those guys helped us open it up tonight.''

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