MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The latest injury to hit FIU came at the most important position on the football field.

Starting quarterback Paul McCall was not able to play Saturday against Middle Tennessee because of a hyper-extended right throwing elbow sustained last week against Louisiana-Lafayette.

McCall, who hurt his elbow late in the fourth quarter, tried to work through it in practice this week and in warmups before Saturday's game but couldn't go.

``We were hoping to get him ready for the game, but he couldn't,'' FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. ``He has got a lot of rehab to do. It will be a day-by-day thing. If we can get him back for next week, hopefully we can, but if not, Wayne Younger is going to step up and keep playing.''

Cristobal said he hopes to have McCall back for next week's home game against North Texas.

Younger started for the Panthers. Freshman Chris Schirripa was the backup and former quarterback-turned-tight end Colt Anderson was the third quarterback.

Without McCall, the Panthers offense struggled, totaling just 68 yards passing in the first half against Middle Tennessee -- 47 of those passing yards came on a pass from Younger to Ty Frierson that led to an FIU touchdown.

FIU lost a couple of defensive backs to injury in the first half against the Blue Raiders.

Jarrell McGee injured his left knee covering a punt and did not return.

Safety Chuck Grace left with a left ankle sprain in the second quarter and did not return.

Both players departed to Miami on crutches.

Punter Carlos Munera, who was questionable Saturday because of back spasms, played. The fifth-year senior, who is 20th in the nation averaging 43.1 yards per punt, was limited in practice all week.

Kicker Dustin Rivest, who had a nagging groin injury during the week, kicked Saturday.

FIU already has been playing this season without eight starters who are out for the season with injuries. Counting defensive lineman Reggie Jones, who is ineligible this season, the Panthers are missing nine starters.

With the injuries to McCall and starting linebacker Winston Fraser, who missed his fourth consecutive game with a neck injury and is out indefinitely, FIU played Middle Tennessee without 11 starters.

'WILDPANTHER' DEBUTS

FIU unveiled the ``WildPanther'' or its version of the ``Wildcat'' on Saturday.

The Panthers ran the scheme on two plays with running back Kendall Berry taking the snaps.

In the second quarter, Berry, a former quarterback at Haines City, gained 4 yards. In the third quarter, Berry picked up 3. On the next play, Berry took a handoff from Younger and scored on a 5-yard touchdown run.

``We tried to change up things,'' Berry said. ``I thought we did all right with it.''

PLENTY OF PENALTIES

Entering Saturday's game, FIU opponents had committed 76 penalties for 632 yards. Both numbers are the highest among Sun Belt teams.

However, Middle Tennessee had just four penalties for 35 yards in the first half.

A RECORD PERFORMANCE

Middle Tennessee quarterback Dwight Dasher needed just 153 passing yards to become the first player in the 98-year history of Blue Raiders football to reach 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in the same season.

Dasher entered Saturday's game with 1,847 passing yards and 525 rushing yards.

The junior quarterback passed for 182 yards on Saturday to go along with 178 yards rushing.

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