CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Nov. 17, 2018) – FIU posted another impressive effort on the road Saturday, as the Panthers rolled up Charlotte, 42-35, setting up a potential Conference USA East Division crown next week at home against Marshall.    

With the win, FIU improves to 8-3 overall and 6-1 in C-USA play, while Charlotte falls to 4-7 on the year and 3-4 in league play. The eight wins for FIU matches a program-best for the team, last set in 2011 and 2017. The six victories in C-USA play is the most in school history for the Panthers.
 
FIU was led once again by James Morgan, who threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Morgan now has 2,855 yards this season, which ranks fourth-most in a single season at FIU. The junior quarterback broke the school's single-season record for most touchdown passes last week.
 
Joining Morgan in the backfield was the duo of Anthony Jones and Napoleon Maxwell, who combined for four scores on the day. Jones finished with 72 yards on 11 carries, while catching both of Morgan's touchdown passes. Maxwell rushed for 102 yards, while busting off touchdown runs of 39 and 52.
 
After allowing an opening drive touchdown, Sage Lewis kicked off a 13-point swing for the Panthers after the linebacker took a 61-yard fumble to the house, before Jose Borregales tacked on a pair of field goals to put FIU up 13-7. The 49ers scored on fourth and goal to retake the lead, but Napoleon Maxwell responded with a 39-yard touchdown run to reclaim momentum and a 20-13 advantage heading into the locker room.
 
The Panthers opened the second half with a methodical drive that ended on a six-yard shovel pass from Morgan to Jones, who crossed into the endzone for the first time since coming back from injuries sustained from a drive-by shooting.
 
The 49ers earned a long drive themselves to follow, as Charlotte's Benny LeMay punched in his third touchdown of the day to narrow FIU's lead to 27-21 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter. FIU didn't waste any time opening the fourth quarter however, as Morgan dumped off a three-yard pass to Jones who scored his second receiving touchdown of the day to put the Panthers up 35-21 following a two-point conversion.
 
The 49ers wouldn't go away quietly however, as LeMay earned his fourth rushing touchdown of the day to trim the Panther lead to 35-28 with 9:33 remaining in the game. Much like the entire game, the Panthers answered back as Maxwell took a 52-yard run down the sideline for his second touchdown of the day.
 
Charlotte scored its final touchdown with 1:14 left, after Hasaan Klugh found Chris Phillips for a 12-yard score. The lead was just at seven with seconds to spare, but Stone Wilson pinned the 49ers at the two-yard line to douse any comeback hopes for Charlotte as its final attempts failed.
 
UP NEXT
FIU will wrap up the regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 24 at noon as the Panthers host the Marshall Thundering Herd for Senior Day. For those still wishing to purchase tickets, click here.
     
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.